Popcorn Ceiling

cowtown

Hi everybody,

New to the site and really liking all the information here. I first posted the other day about my lousy experience with Service Magic and got some excellent feedback on that. I'm mostly self-taught painter/handyman and I work on my own so I don't always have the benefit of learning from others. That said...I got a question.

I'm doing a bid on a small job where it's more pracitcal to roll a popcorn ceiling than to spray. Does it work to roll a popcorn ceiling, any tips or suggestions?

Charlie
Sunrise Painting

DecksEtc

I've done it before using a thick foam roller sleeve - the ones that have slots in them. With that said, I'm not a painter by trade so some of the painters here will likely drop by with their suggestions.

Try1

Test the ceiling with a wet sponge to see if the acustic texture is sealed to the surface. If none to very little comes off it should be ok to roll it out.

toddcla2002

Use the slotted rollers that essentially have 36 1/4" foam donuts over the whole thing. It will take off less popcorn than a traditional roller. Depending on the popcorn your bucket may look like oatmeal towards the end so you may want to strain the paint before you pack up.

George Z

If it is not painted before, it needs an alkyd primer or finish.
Zinsser's Odorless is best. You can prime with it and if it looks good,
it's a stand alone finish coat.
We don't use the foam rollers, if you sgueeze them too much in the
corners, paint drips down to your face or sleeves.
We use very thick nap rollers.
If it has been painted before and has no stains, use latex flat
or ceiling paint.

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AAPaint

I'd ditto what George said. I always test the condition with a wet sponge to see if it will release easily, and poke around for hidden areas that are no longer adhered underneath, just hanging bubbles of popcorn. If I don't detect anything I just roll like normal with a cheap, good hiding latex flat. If there are issues or I fear it falling, we'll go the route George said.

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Teetorbilt

Popcorn, yuckadoo! Spray it or remove it! You may be able to roll if it has been sprayed a few times. Sell them anything else, even a knockdown.

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Redman

if you are going to roll make sure you mop the paint on and cover it with the least amount of strokes as possible, the more you work the paint in the more the texture will come off.

paintr56

Yes it works to roll popcorn ceilings. The best way to roll them that I know of is with a 1 1/2" cover loaded heavy with paint rollit on heavy and keep moving do not over work an area. New ceilings that have not been coat will losen up when wet and will come down if they are over worked.

Jim Bunton

slickshift

I roll them all the time
Just test an area, be careful, and have them sign the "Popcorn Waiver"
I think there's one in the Forms sub-forum

asbestos

popcorn ceilings often contain asbestos, I used to do abatement and we would scrape those ugly ing things off.(supplied air resperators and multiple layers of 6-mil poly) If you are going to disturb any of it, get it tested test should cost $25-30. well worth the $

cowtown

Thanks for all the suggestions. Rolling it with a heavy nap roller seems the way to go.

IHI

Cowboy up and spray it baby!! Did that on this place I'm living now before we moved in. Mom was a heavy chain smoker and the kick azz looking popcorn ceilings throughout the house were yellow - brown tint

Got a 5 gallon pail of oil based flat white and rented a big sprayer and fell in love, painted my name on the walls, painted anything the wife forgot to plastic off....cuz I could did 1200sqft of popcorn in under 30 minutes and looks fantastic!!!! I try to use this ceiling of mine to sell popcorn to all customers inquiring drywall bids

Seriously though, spraying this crap was the easiest method I've ever done with popcorn....it's just offset by the prep to tape/plastic everything off in the room to protect from overspray.

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