Removing the Popcorn Texture Most popcorn ceilings that are not painted can be removed with a wet scraping method. Working in small sections, fill a garden sprayer with warm water and lightly mist the ceiling. Give the water a few minutes to soften the texture, then gently scrape it away using a drywall scraper or putty knife. Keep the blade at a shallow angle so you do not gouge the drywall underneath. Move slowly, catching the wet material in your mud pan when possible and allowing it to fall onto the plastic sheeting you placed earlier. If the popcorn has been painted, the paint may act as a seal that keeps water from soaking in. In those areas, wetting will not help much. The texture will be harder
and will require more careful, patient scraping. You may need to apply slightly more pressure but should still avoid digging into the drywall. Work methodically and take extra care around corners and edges where damage is more likely. Even with careful work, the process creates a lot of dust and debris. Keep your mask and eye protection on at all times. Take frequent breaks off the ladder to reduce fatigue. This is not a project that will be finished in a single quick session, so plan for multiple work periods and allow yourself time to clean up between them.
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