Popcorn Ceiling Peeling

Problems with painting popcorn ceilings.

Popcorn ceiling peeling. Some may be a quick fix while in others. Popcorn ceilings were all the rage back in the 60s and 70s. When dealing with a peeling surface in a century or so old home the cause of the problem may be difficult to determine.

Peeling some amount of the popcorn will come off during the process but you want to keep such loss at a minimum. If you paint it with a roller the ceiling may absorb moisture from the paint and the texture can come off on the roller. Popcorn ceilings also called cottage cheese or acoustical ceilings are a common fixture in older homes and were once used to reduce noise and cover up.

Applying the texture to drywall and plaster ceilings was a quick and easy way to hide imperfections and didn t require any painting afterward. The process involves low cost items available at any home improvement store. Peeling happens when you oversaturate the material and put too much pressure on it or when you use a water based product directly on unpainted acoustical texture.

Step 1 lay a plastic drop cloth on the floor under the peeling ceiling to make cleanup easier later. When scraping popcorn ceilings you ll want to use a 4 inch utility knife or a drywall knife to chip away at the texture and create a smooth surface. A popcorn ceilings that hasn t been painted previously is usually water soluble.

Popcorn ceilings common in homes starting in the 1960s are still found in homes today. Plaster walls and ceilings are common in older homes. The peeling of the texture may be caused by a variety of causes.

Repairing a peeling popcorn ceiling involves removal of the damaged portions and reapplying a new coat of texture. Set a step ladder under the peeling section and climb. You ll probably need to skim it with a thin layer of joint compound to smooth out imperfections then sand it smooth before repainting.