Nothing can date your space quite like dreaded popcorn ceilings. Once considered stylish and helpful for acoustics, popcorn ceilings now tend to be more of an eyesore than anything else in your home and office space. In today’s world, a sleeker cleaner look will be best for your property’s cost and overall look and feel. Here are 5 things that are important to know when you’re considering removing popcorn ceilings.

Need help with removing popcorn ceilings on your property in Middle Tennessee? Reach out to our ProTek team for your free estimate today! We’d love to help you turn your space into a place that you love.

1. Test for asbestos first!

If you live in an older home, it’s possible that your ceiling may contain asbestos. This material has now been proven to cause certain types of cancer. This is serious stuff. Before tackling your popcorn ceilings, we highly recommend contacting a company like ProTek TN or your local health department about asbestos testing. If your home tests positive, there are other options you will want to pursue, like covering the ceiling with drywall or hiring one of our local experts.

2. Expect to make a mess

If you decide to move forward with your popcorn ceiling project, know that this will be a messy job. Choose a time when you won’t need to utilize the rooms or spaces that you’ll be working on. Cover all surfaces in the room. Remove any valuables and make sure you can stay out of that specific area for an extended amount of time. If you’re able to, we would also recommend removing furniture, as dust and materials can linger in cracks and crevices longer than you might expect.

3. Use the right tools

One of the most important parts of the popcorn ceiling removal process is making sure you have the right tools for the job. Depending on the size of your room, and the condition of your ceiling, you’ll want to do some research online to figure out which tools are best. Wondering what to use when it comes to the actual scraping? While you can use a standard drywall knife, but there are some popcorn ceiling scrapers now on the market that can make the job a little easier for DIYers.

4. Refinish your surfaces

If you were able to remove the popcorn effect from your ceiling, congratulations! At this point, you’ll know that there is still work to be done. Removing the popcorn will often reveal discolorations, imperfections and other trouble spots you may not have noticed before. This is totally normal. Be prepared to sand out imperfections, and contact an expert for any patches and fixes, or when a professional paint job is needed.

5. Be consistent with your space

It’s important to ensure that each room in your home represents the same high quality of work. While it’s fine to have accent ceilings in various rooms if you’re going to remove one room’s popcorn ceiling we recommend doing them all. Are you considering reselling your house in the future? This will increase it’s perceived value and make your home feel more modern and well cared.

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Have you ever attempted to remove a popcorn ceiling? What questions do you have about the process? If you’re in Middle Tennessee and looking for help with your popcorn ceiling project, you’re in the right place! Connect with our experienced ProTek team right here!