Olde Hornet
Well-Known Member
As mentioned, one of the most dangerous hidden downsides of popcorn ceilings is that some contain asbestos, a seriously health-harming substance. If you have even an inkling that there's asbestos in your ceiling, don't proceed with this DIY until you've had the material tested by a lab. Once you have the all-clear, it's time to go shopping for joint compound, also known as drywall mud. Lowe's sells 3.5-quart buckets of Sheetrock Brand all-purpose drywall joint compound for $11.98. An 8-ounce container of Red Devil lightweight spackling costs $2.98 on Amazon. If you have a heavily textured ceiling, consider 3M's high-strength, large-hole repair, fiber-reinforced spackling compound — a 12-ounce bucket for $9.99 at Ace Hardware. Make sure whatever you buy is white or off-white in hue since it's easiest to paint over.
How much drywall you need to buy depends on the size of your ceiling. You need to apply multiple layers to hide the popcorn texture, so expect to use the same amount as you'd need to create a knockdown ceiling finish: about a gallon of compound for every 50 square feet. If you prefer more precise measurements, use an online drywall calculator — we like the one provided by Dan the Drywall Man. While at the hardware store, grab a handful of 150-grit to 220-grit sandpaper sheets (and a handheld sander and sanding pole if you don't already have one) or a few sanding blocks in the same grits.