Popcorn Ceiling Disaster

lornmastro

Need everyones opinion on this one. Had a job to paint a popcorn ceiling. 1st mistake not coming here to research it first and 2nd mistake was to listen to the guy at my BM dealer. The BM guy told me to use a heavier roller 3/4" and just make one pass over it with a latex paint...let it dry and then roll away with the 2 nd coat.I said I thought I remembered that you need to oil base prime it first and he said no. Did as he said and left last nite thinking there were some issues with it but thought the job had been done/finished. This morning went back to find 30% of the ceiling was cracking coming down. Solution is to take down all the popcorn. Called the BM rep for the area who seemed to think that the popcorn ceiling was old and decomposing and that was the issue. However now I want answers from the people I know, Know what they are talking about...you. So Was it the popcorn that was at fault for this disaster or the way it was done. And what is my responsility in this mess...do I have to remove for free. Thank to all.

waynec

I believe this happens because the popcorn finish was applied over drywall without priming. If ceiling was primed first, no problem.

Snobnd

My guy ( frenchman) always primes the ceiling before any spay goes on- with out seeing the job its hard to say what happend. Post a pick when ya get a chance

Waynec I beleive you are correct!

loneframer

Water loosens popcorn, thats why oil based primer is recommended.

Steve Richards

Out of curiosity, Lornmaster..what are the homeowners saying about the whole thing?

NAV

Never Roll popcorn....always spray. your BM rep sucks.

scrape off the rest as evenly as possible and tell your customer that you are giving her the more popular knockdown texture at no additional charge

lornmastro

Thanks all for the feedback.Based on the spot I scraped down to I think the ceiling was primed. Steve, I told her that the BM rep said that the ceiling was old and decomposing and thats why the ceiling came down. She has accepted that for now. However I want to know what my responsility is in this situation if she changes her attitude. and was it ultimately caused because I didn't use oil primer first?? Am stressing big time about this..first big failure since in business.really apprecate any feedback.

SK Builders

Take the popcorn down for free, but charge to do a texture and paint...

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Steve Richards

Yes, you probably should have used an oil primer,.. sprayed it, and the finish coat.

But that ship has already sailed.

Does she want the acoustic back, or will she be ok with another type texture, or no texture at all?


Maybe you could tell her you're going to "make her a deal" on fixing the problem, since you feel (at least) partly responsible.

lornmastro

I'm sure she would be ok with a little texture or no texture at all. However I have never taken down popcorn and with new wood floors I'm really nervous about experimenting with her especially since I read it might have aspestos in it. And also the powder remains on the ceiling how do you get all that off?

Steve Richards

Don't know about the asbestos part...never heard of that, but others here know more.

I use a garden sprayer to wet acoustic...sounds like yours will pretty much just fall off when it gets wet. You can use a broadknife too.

Re-wet the ceiling and wipe the "powder" off with a sponge.

lornmastro

thanks steve that doesnt sound too bad

olyteddy

It could if it was pre 1980 iirc.

Mr. Mike

Are you painting the whole house?

I think you should just add some closure for her and sell her a Removal and Painting Upgrade this job to a removal, I can strip a 2700 sq. ceiling in about 40 working hours with my guys, do your own math on what to charge though.


As for you being responsible, "NO" you are not! You are there to coat a surface and you can only be responsible for your coating, not all or any coatings before you got there.

Some pictures I have been wanting to post in here.

Where a mask,lol

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Frankawitz

I got a couple questions, Is this house new or older? most of the spray on textures are powdered joint compound with form balls, if the mix is right it will stick to drywall, whether it's primed or not, as for oil over latex primer I aint had a problem with either, we use latex cause of clean up, plus VOCs. as for why it came down well there are could be allot of reasons, you need to scrape it down then ask her what she wants, then give her that finish at a price, you should have sprayed the ceiling, but if the texture was failing it would have pulled away, it's not your fault you did nothing wrong, the ceiling failed, if this is a older house someone did a quick fix by spraying popcorn instead of fixing it the right way. they could have had a water leak, allot of questions to ask to figure out why it failed.
Good luck

www.frankawitz.net

WisePainter

lol, what's up with the hanging medallion?

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

Mr. Mike

They planned on replacing it, so we left it hanging.

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WisePainter

but the current fixture is so awesome...

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

Mr. Mike

I bet a pot hook is holding it up, lol

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WisePainter

Another stupid question, at first the walls look really high because you guy is on an extension ladder removing the popcorn, but then I see door trim and the opening to a stairway in another picture.
Those are two separate areas right? I hate scraping ceilings.

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.