How do you remove popcorn texture from the ceiling?

Is it hazerdous? Are there any to help the removel?How do you remove popcorn texture from the ceiling?
Do not use water....it has a very bad effect on sheet rock... popcorn texture is a gypsum powder and syrofoam balls mixed together with water and sprayed on the cieling. Best to use a scraper...the larger the better..I sujest you get a 12 inch sheetrock blade...and srape of the bulk of the cieling then use a 100 grit sand paper for sheetrock work and sand the remaining down flat....Seal off the room with palstic after removing everything...sheetrock dust goes everywhere....also use a mask and eye protection...





If you use water to remove it...the water will soak into the sheetrock that the texture is attached too...then if you are lucky it will only stain it...if you are not lucky the moisture will activate the mold spores that are there and then they will start growing and then you will have real problems...I know this because of the years of repairs I have done to houses from water damage....this thing with people telling you to use water is just asking for problems and that mold that will cause serious health issues...for those who say to use water let me tell you a few things...this mold that causes all these health issues needs 3 conditions to grow out of control...1..Moisture, 2 ... little to no light, 3...no air cirrulation....Guess what on the other side of that sheet rock that you are going to put water on...Gee an attic...or a small space that is...Dark and has very little air cirrulation...add water and you get MOLD....but if you wish to go with these people that say use water...look up my contact info on yahoo answer and I can fix the damage that will happen...I make 45.00 an hour doing this.....How do you remove popcorn texture from the ceiling?
Spray on water till damp, use a plastic 4'; scraper to GENTLY remove the sprayed on texture. Do not rip or disturb the drywall paper underneath. 120 sandpaper will take off the rest when dry. You will have to add the final 1 or 2 coats of mud missing at the joints before you prime and seal. Those are the steps omitted that texture spraying hides!
I scraped it off while she vacuumed it up. For us, we thought that would be easier than laying plastic down. It was.





It is not hazardous.
Warm water in a spray bottle get a 10';joint knife, ladder, garbage can lid,goggles or sunglasses will do and a mask if you feel the need.


Get on ladder srpay section of ceiling about a 2x2 area.Grab your joint knife in one hand and garbage can lid in the other. As you scrap catch the debris in your garbage can lid.A 2x2 area will fill the lid up empty and repeat process. Water will help loosen but because its warm and your scraping right after applying the wet it will not have any chance of mildew or mold ( as nervous Mold man mentioned in previous answer )it will mainly cut down on the dust and aid in the scraping of material.
I am not sure if it is dangerous. First lay down some thick plastic after clearing the entire work area. Wet down the ceiling with water and a little tsp. When it is wet wipe up the floor from excess moisture. Scrape an area to see how it comes off. If it comes off hard add some more moisture. A top sheet of plastic will help to keep the mess where you can roll it up. Be careful not to remove the paper tape joints. It is a mess but if it is wet there is little chance of any harmful dust.


Good luck it is a mess. A wide blade is best for scraping.
This is very messy. Rent a steamer and start scraping. Once it gets damp, it will be soft.
Mist it with water until it is good and wet. Go cook lunch. While lunch is cooling, go mist it again. Go eat lunch. Call a friend. Chat about anything for awhile. Go mist it again. Wait twenty minutes and you should just be able to pull it off in sheets.
Spray lightly with a spray bottle of water and use a or 6 inch drywall knife to scrape it off. It's messy but should go pretty fast. It's not hazardous, just messy.
spray with water and scrape baby! Horrible job! I would highly suggest that you hang plastic from each opening to any other room overlapping 2 sheets so that you can still enter or exit of course. also - cover cover cover think sanding drywall compound - gets into EVERY little crevice imaginable...
Make sure you wear one of those small disposable masks, if you think you have allergies to dust and so on. If you do not want things get in your eyes while doing the job wear safety glasses. These items are very cheap and available in home depot.





Get a large plant spray bottle. Fill with water. After Spraying sections, scrape them off using a scraper. If you see the thin set getting damaged, you can always at the very end make some easy fixes.





After it is dry and completely off the wall, vacuum and seal with a primer. Use flat paint for a dramatic impact.





It is also wise to not let house pets around the work zone, since their lungs are smaller and easier to suffer. Make sure you cover all the furniture with clear plastic or bed sheets, since it is difficult to clean the mess up afterwards.





If you have people to help you it can be a fun family experience. You may not end up getting so tired.





Vacuum all the dust and small pieces, after picking up larger pieces with a shop vac or broom.





You are going to love the ceiling without the popcorn effect. If you love texture, you can add after priming the ceiling one of those textures other than popcorn effect. They sell them in pressurized cans. They are costly. I would leave it flat and fix the thin set if it is not looking that great.





good luck
First follow most of the advice everybody else gives, bag the room off, add water (but forgo the spray bottle and bring in the garden hose with a mist setting, you will need to fill a standard spray bottle a few time to get enough water and get cramped forearms) Second check to see if its painted, most people says if its painted it cant be scraped off, they are wrong. If its not painted, mist away, wait a few, then scrape, comes off like butter. If its painted start with a dry ceiling, wear some gloves or u will get scraped knuckles, and scrape the tips off the popcorn, then mist away, scraping the painted tips allows the moisture in as if there was never any paint.
I removed mine last year and the only thing I did was use a scraper. Wasn't to bad. But if you do it yourself make sure you wear goggles. And I found wearing one of those paper masks helps to with all that flying around.