Popcorn ceilings were popular from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. The appeal was mostly to builders because a popcorn ceiling was able to hide many imperfections. This allowed builders to cover mistakes and to complete the building process much faster. Today many people choose to remove the popcorn ceilings, but removing them is very expensive, messy, and can be dangerous. Some materials used early on in popcorn ceiling mixtures contained asbestos. If the house was built before 1977, you can get it tested to make sure it is safe to work on it.
The least expensive and quickest option to making the ceiling look better is to paint a popcorn ceiling. A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference in the ceiling and give it a great look.
If you are going to paint a popcorn ceiling, it is important to protect everything in the room with drop cloths. Painting ceilings in general can cause lots of paint to splatter. Whenever possible, empty the room of furniture before you paint a popcorn ceiling. This will make the process much easier! You can protect the walls by taping plastic sheeting to completely cover the wall space. You will also want to protect any ceiling fixtures with plastic and painters tape. Use drop cloths on the floor. Next, make sure the ceiling is free from heavy dust and all cobwebs. A microfiber duster or a vacuum are both good tools to tackle this job.
It is best to use an acrylic latex paint and paint sprayer to paint a popcorn ceiling. The traditional sheen for a ceiling is flat because it reduces the light reflection and helps to hide minor imperfections. Be prepared to use more paint on a popcorn ceiling than typically used on a knockdown or more smooth textured surface. When you paint a popcorn ceiling, the thick texture will require more paint for full coverage.
For the ceiling edges and corners, use an angled brush to “cut-in” the paint. For the rest of the ceiling you can use a roller if a paint sprayer isn’t available to you. If using a roller, make sure to choose a roller cover with a thick knap that is made for a heavily textured surface. If the ceiling is really high or a vaulted ceiling, use a ladder and paint in sections. When you paint a popcorn ceiling, apply one full coat. Then, if necessary, you can apply a second coat, painting in a direction perpendicular to the first. This will give you a more uniform coverage of the ceiling.
All in all, it’s much easier to leave painting a popcorn ceiling to the professional painters. However if you have the time, patience, and correct tools, you can do it yourself and save some money!
