Assess Before You Start
Different textures require different approaches:
Orange peel: Usually can be skim coated over without scraping. The bumps are small enough that one or two skim coats covers them.
Light knockdown: Often can be scraped if unpainted, then skim coated. Painted knockdown may need more aggressive approach.
Heavy knockdown: Usually needs scraping before skim coating. Thick texture takes too many skim coats to cover.
Popcorn: Must be tested for asbestos if pre-1980. Can be scraped if clear, or covered with new drywall.
Skip trowel: Variable. Light skip can be skim coated. Heavy hand-applied texture often needs scraping.
Asbestos Considerations
Popcorn ceilings installed before 1980 may contain asbestos. Test before disturbing.
Collection kit: Home test kits let you mail a sample to a lab. Results in a few days.
If positive: Hire licensed abatement professionals or leave it alone. DIY asbestos removal is dangerous and often illegal.
If negative: Proceed with removal using dust control measures for your own comfort, but without asbestos-specific precautions.
Non-popcorn textures rarely contain asbestos. Spray textures like orange peel and knockdown generally used different materials. But when in doubt, test.
The Scraping Method
For texture that needs physical removal:
Preparation: Cover everything. Remove furniture or cover with plastic. Cover floors with drop cloths. Tape off areas you don't want affected.
Wetting: Spray water on the texture and wait 10-15 minutes. Wet texture scrapes off easier and creates less dust. Work in sections so texture doesn't dry before scraping.
Scraping: Use a wide scraping blade, 10-12 inches. Hold at a low angle and push under the texture. It should come off in sheets or chunks if properly wet.
Cleanup: Texture debris everywhere. Bag it and dispose. The room will need thorough cleaning before finishing.
Finishing: Scraped surfaces are rarely smooth. Plan on skim coating after scraping to achieve a truly smooth surface.
The Skim Coat Method
For lighter textures where scraping isn't necessary:
Apply thin coats of joint compound over the entire surface. The compound fills the texture valleys and creates a smooth surface.
Light orange peel might need one or two skim coats. Heavier textures need more. Each coat is thin, maybe 1/16 inch.
Sand between coats after drying. Build up until the texture is buried and the surface is smooth.
More labor than scraping in some ways, but less mess and no risk of damaging the drywall underneath.
The Cover Method
For heavy textures or when you don't want to deal with removal:
Install new 1/4-inch drywall over the existing textured surface. The new drywall covers everything, giving you a fresh smooth surface.
Advantages: No scraping mess. No skim coat labor. Asbestos stays encapsulated if present.
Disadvantages: Reduces ceiling height slightly. Requires adjusting electrical boxes, trim, and fixtures. Still need to tape and finish the new drywall.
This approach is common for popcorn ceilings where the alternative is extensive scraping and skim coating.
Painted vs Unpainted Texture
Paint changes how texture responds to removal:
Unpainted texture: Water penetrates and softens the compound. Scrapes off relatively easily.
Painted texture: Paint seals the surface. Water can't penetrate as well. Scraping is harder because you're removing paint layers too.
Multiple paint coats: Even harder. Each coat adds to what must be removed.
For heavily painted texture, skim coating or covering is often easier than scraping. The paint creates such a barrier that scraping becomes impractical.
My Bedroom Ceiling Project
What I actually did:
Tested for asbestos first. Negative, thankfully.
Tried skim coating over the knockdown. After two coats, the texture was still visible. The peaks were just too high.
Decided to scrape. Wet, scraped, created enormous mess. Should have done this first.
After scraping, surface was rough with compound residue. Skim coated twice to achieve smooth.
Primed and painted. The smooth ceiling looks completely different. Modern, clean, worth every hour of work.
Total time: Parts of three days including drying time. Would I do it again? Yes, but I'd skip the attempted skim coating and go straight to scraping for heavy knockdown.