What I did tonight after work....

[mac78]

10 years ago, we added on a 16 x 36 ft addition, a bedroom and a family room. The moron (and I say that very lightly) that did the work, in the end wasn't fit to build a dog house. We thought we had made it clear what we wanted, obviously not. The ceiling in the addition we thought was going to be the hard plaster, not the spray on accoustical white stuff that if you touch it it falls onto the floor. Fast forward to now.

The ceiling was so dusty/dirty. I didn't know what to do. I called the hardware, and they told me if I tried to paint it and got a little too much paint on it, it would probably peel off. I can't wash it, it will peel off too. So, I covered everything with sheets, took the broom, and swept the ceiling. There were little white pellets everywhere that feel off and lots of dust. I actually think I took a layer of the spray off, not that I cared, because it had to be somewhat cleaned.

I know we are going to have to pay someone to scrape the crap off, and to do it right....meaning putting on a layer that can actually be painted and washed.

In the mean time, does anyone have any suggestions what to do/how to clean a ceiling like this since I can't paint it, can't wash it, other than sweep it. It does look better, but it still is not the best. It actually took longer to wipe everything down and run the sweeper about 3 times to get it all cleaned up, than it did to sweep the dust off. Anyone have any idea how much it cost to have someone come and texture the ceiling?

[rubyslippers]

... I will be interested to hear the answer to your question. My old apartment bathroom had this kind of ceiling. Honestly, I think it inspired our move. Anyway, it was pretty obvious it had been painted over in the past. I used one of those Mr. Clean magic erasers on the area near the window; be careful ... those things can remove paint. However, if you need to spot clean an area, it was pretty effective.

Good luck Marie!

[ChapterTwo]

If your ceiling was done in the Seventies, I'd say it might be the popcorn type ceiling (in which case you might have to worry it's asbestos). But yours seems too new for that.

I'm not sure of the outcome, but would you consider scraping off the loose part and using the thick, textured paint they sell at the hardware store? They've come a long way...although, down the road, it's a little labor intensive to repaint.

[mac78]

I know at some point it will have to be scraped off and redone right, or better. I didn't know there was textured paint thick enough to do this. I will check into that at a later date. I know that if I more than gently rub it, it will take it to the drywall.

All our other ceilings are what I call popcorn ceilings (that is what it looks like), but it is hard and you can paint it, sweep it down, wash it, with no problem. The house was built in 1958.

I guess right now I am stuck with how it is. Ashley's party is in a week.

[Gigi]

Oh my gosh how terrible. You could put furning strips on it and simply drywall over it. No matter what it involves some work ahead of you.

P.S. Plain drywall mud can also be used as a textured ceiling- when swirled around with trowel.

[CohenCottage]

Is there drywall underneath the stuff? If so, could you scrape it all off and then finish out the drywall or cover it with something like beadboard?

[cheapdiva]

I agree with gigi - add wood strips and then either add beadboard?, or something else to the ceiling.

[annielinz]

We had those lovely ceilings.
We removed them ourselves. We sprayed them with some water took a large putty knife/spatula and held a large box lid underneath to catch the droppings. I had taped the whole room at ceiling level with plastic sheeting that hung to the floor. We did hire someone to retexture the ceilings and paint them. I can't believe what a difference it made after they were removed. The house just felt cleaner.

[chyna]

Could you use your vacuum and suck the dust off of them? Otherwise I'd wet it down and scrape it off and put something else up there. I hate that popcorn stuff myself. :o

[mac78]

I love the beadboard idea. Can you put crown molding with beadboard? As Dave has always said he wants crown molding back there. Will it look ok if only 1 room has a beadboard ceiling though?

Our next step will be to scrape it off and do something else.

Yes, it is drywall up there.

[rubyslippers]

Cohen ... that would probably be a great "fix" ... also, I think it would look nice in the area you are talking about Marie. Now, the key is ... would it look like a "fix" or would it look intentional. On that point, I have no idea. I also don't see why you couldn't do crown molding. It would be easier to do following the beadboarding. The beadboarding might impact exactly what kind of molding you put up there, BUT would probably look nice. Everything would look very crisp!

[yarborough house]

I'd vote for the beadboard as it can be painted whatever you want and is very easy to clean. Yes you can have crown molding with beadboard I have crown on each porch with my beadboard ceiling - see:
590

It has the black crown right up at the ceiling line.
We are also putting a beadboard ceiling in our kitchen - it will be the only one in the house- well so far..and it will have crown to match the rest of the house.

You can buy the beadboard in either the strips with tongue and groove which would be easier for installation or the sheets which I feel would be harder holding the 4x8 thing up there. You would need to put some firring strips up first.

popcorn ceilings drive me crazy...yikes.
ours are either original plaster or drywall.

[rubyslippers]

Great porch picks Yarborough ...

[Breezy]

Tammy you have a beautiful porch!

[Lynzee]

I love your porch, Tammy! Beautiful!

My daughter recently had her popcorn ceilings scraped when she did a major remodel. She had them painted with textured paint and they really look nice. I think she went with "medium" textured paint and it covered all of the seams and the "dings" from the popcorn removal beautifully.

[yarborough house]

Thanks guys...I love my porches too - now if it would only lose the dang high humidity I could hang out there more.. :)

[mac78]

I love your porch, Tammy! Beautiful!

My daughter recently had her popcorn ceilings scraped when she did a major remodel. She had them painted with textured paint and they really look nice. I think she went with "medium" textured paint and it covered all of the seams and the "dings" from the popcorn removal beautifully.

Question....is there actually textured paint out there that you can roll on and you don't have to use the drywall compound to make the texture. You can tell I am new to this. All I know is this job is going to be a mess and expensive if I have to hire it done.

[ChapterTwo]

Yes, there is! In fact, I bought a can of it for my kitchen ceiling, but now I'm not going to use it because we're moving. I can find out the brand, if you'd like...

[Lynzee]

Ace Hardware has several. Here is a link.

https://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(h0amfij5h2xvfazfwvxczjbr)/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=1085117

[WannaBHomemaker]

Good luck with the ceiling Marie! I would go with the scrap-off and cover up method. I'd love to have a beadboard ceiling! My ceilings are all smooth and lightly textured, so that if you look too closely you see all the lines where the drywall meets. For example, there's 13 pieces of drywall that make up the ceiling in my living room. :) It was like that when we moved in and it'll probably stay that way for a long long time! (it's too far down the list of Things to Fix)

[chyna]

The beadboard in my porch has crown moulding so I say go for it. :D And it is original to the house/porch so not like someone came along and put it up after the fact. The way the past owners worked I'd be more likely to see mouldings missing than put up. :o

[mac78]

Thanks for all the great ideas ladies. It does look much better than it did just by taking the broom to it and getting the top layer of dirt/dust off. I am hoping that sometime in the next 2 years we can replace carpet in that room, and I will definatly redo the ceiling first the right way.