Scraping By

@mom210 (9023)
United States
August 18, 2016 8:25am CST
I hope that all my friends are having a great summer. We have been busy doing a little home improvement. Painting, touching up, and updating areas that have needed it badly. One of the little things that has driven me crazy is, in the garage they put ceiling popcorn on the ceiling, guess they had some left over after the ceiling and put it all over the walls as well. Now, I am not a big fan of popcorn on the ceiling, so having it on the walls made me very crazy. That stuff gets everywhere. Little popcorn balls fall off, it is just a mess. I think my turning point of learning to dislike popcorn on the ceiling, was one of the houses we lived in over the years, had it on the ceilings. The boys had a bunk bed they wound up with it in their beds, hair, it landed on the floor. It was so annoying and just messy. So we bough a bunch of scrapers and all of us headed out to the garage, scraping it off the walls, then we repainted it, no more popcorn balls. It did take hours of scraping and was really hard work. We had to work the entire weekend, I think the clean up was even harder than the scraping. I was sooo sore afterward, I used muscles I forgot I had. We had talked to a painter that wanted $500 to come in and do it. We did it for much less! Love saving money $$ and with the money we saved, I treated the kids to pizza for helping, not that I had enough energy left to cook anyway! Do you like ceilings with popcorn balls? Have you ever had to remove popcorn? Do you treat your cheap labor (kids) for helping? Have a Beautiful Day! Photo is of daughter #2 helping scrape.
26 people like this
22 responses
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
18 Aug 16
I suppose that the term "popcorn ceiling" (or wall) is the slang for the spray on paint on a stucco ceiling. We do not use this anymore from many years, but I remember an old method to do this work more easily. Mix one part vinegar to ten parts water and spray it on the ceiling (and walls). The vinegar should help break down the paint. Wet the ceiling, scrape as much as possible, and then wet and scrape again.
7 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
25 Aug 16
@DaddyEvil I had to get rid of this kind of stucco from the ceiling of the house of my grandmother. We did it years ago, with two of my cousins, and we even had fund scraping and repainting.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137251)
• United States
25 Aug 16
@LadyDuck Work always goes easier and faster with friends helping you!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137251)
• United States
25 Aug 16
LOL! Nice, Anna! That is just what the tutorial for clearing popcorn ceilings says to do to get it off easier! (I deleted the link I gave for that, since you told Kim how and what to do, anyway.)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323686)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Aug 16
I haven't heard of this type of ceiling before. It's good you were able to get the kids to help a little.
3 people like this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
25 Aug 16
@JudyEv They were a big help, I do not think hubby and I could have got it done by ourselves. They have way more energy then we do.
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
18 Aug 16
This whole house has the popcorn ceilings. Yes it makes a mess. If it were on the walls I'd lose my mind. I don't know whatever was in people's minds when they started this trend. In the house I spent my teen years in, the house had not only the rough ceiings but in the family room, there were sparkles on the ceiling. I was always looking in the mirror and seeing the dang things on my face.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137251)
• United States
25 Aug 16
LOL! Your response reminded me of those clothes my daughter used to wear (her mom bought them) that were covered in sparkles. The problem with those clothes was that the sparkles shed into the water when I was doing laundry, so my clothes were sparkly, too! I finally refused to do any more laundry that included sparkles, so I didn't have to keep wearing them, as well! My daughter (Pretty) told her mom I refused to wash them anymore, so my ex bought more of them to send home with Pretty! I bagged them up and sent them back to her house when she came to collect Pretty for her visitation! LMAO! THEN Pretty's mom started sending those lotions, cremes and roll on perfumes home with Pretty that had sparkles in it! LOL! I confiscated them as soon as they were unpacked, packed them back up and told Pretty she could have them back when she went to her mom's house again... I think they are still packed up out in the garage???
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
25 Aug 16
@CinnamonGrl haha yes, I could see that happening, what a pain. The boys had bunk beds and slept with the darn things, it is always in their hair. Well, no more. If we ever find a house that has them, I will demand they be removed or I will not buy. No more.
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
25 Aug 16
@DaddyEvil I have two girls and yes, they can be quite a mess, The shoes with them on them is the worst. They fall off, the shoes end up with bare spots and the sparkles end up everywhere. The girls sometimes end up with sparkles on their faces as well. I do not blame you for sending them back, let mommy deal with it since she bought it.
@marlina (154183)
• Canada
18 Aug 16
Yes, I did remove popcorn on the ceiling once, what a mess!
2 people like this
@marlina (154183)
• Canada
25 Aug 16
@mom210 It is a terrible job to remove and clean up the popcorn ceiling.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
27 Aug 16
@marlina I was thinking while I was working I would like to meet the person that did this to me and smack them just once
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
25 Aug 16
@marlina Yes, just terrible, it took us a couple hours just for the clean up, yuck.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Aug 16
Many years ago we had those old popcorn ceilings in our house and I hated it. It's a pain to remove but at least you shaved quite a bit of money doing it yourselves and having the kids help. I usually try to get my grandsons to help me when I have things to do that I can't totally do by myself....usually they will work for a few bucks and pizza too
2 people like this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
25 Aug 16
@Marilynda1225 Yes, grandsons are a great help too, mine go help out their grandparents as often as possible, unfortunately they are several hours away though. Wish they were closer.
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Sep 16
I never liked it either. I had it in a couple places I lived, and was glad to move away from it. Nice picture. Yes, I do treat the people who help with different projects.
2 people like this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
6 Sep 16
I hope that you are all moved in now, and unpacked. Are you enjoying your new place?
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
12 Sep 16
@just4him It always takes me a bit, trying to figure out where, what goes.
1 person likes this
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Sep 16
@mom210 I'm still unpacking. Yes, I'm enjoying it. I'm winding down on the unpacking.
1 person likes this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
31 Aug 16
Our garage isn't even finished out, but I can't imagine popcorn ceilings in a garage at all though. I wish I had the gumption to do anything around the house....let alone get the family going to help, treats or no treats.
1 person likes this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
1 Sep 16
@mom210 I would gladly pay my adult son to come over and do some things around the house if I had money to pay him. We have lots of things that need to be done--garbage disposal replaced, wiring fixed, pipe replaced etc.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
1 Sep 16
I loving bribing, it works so well for motivating kids. Kind of like dangling a carrot in front of a mule.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
6 Sep 16
@marsha32 I know how it is, an endless list. I wanted to get more accomplished this summer and now, well it is over. Tine for me to put on the teaching hat and get back to teaching my kids. We started back to school today.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
9 Sep 16
That was a lot of work! But the good thing was the kids helped and enjoyed the pizza for sure.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
9 Sep 16
@mom210 You are one working, happy family!
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
9 Sep 16
That was the godo thing, I sure was happy to have the help. Hubby & I wore out a lot quickly than the kids did.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45125)
• Canada
17 Oct 16
If I had known that you were going to treat us to pizza I would've come to help too! I hope it wasn't popcorn pizza?
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45125)
• Canada
17 Oct 16
@mom210 Yes, great music can make even unpleasant work more enjoyable! Yesterday I listened to a lot of Bee Gees songs such as this one.
Bee Gees_Barry Gibb_Robin Gibb_Most Of My Life_Brothers Gibb_Love
2 people like this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
17 Oct 16
@1hopefulman Ohhh I LOVE the Bee Gees! All those brothers were so very talented.
2 people like this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
17 Oct 16
I treat my workers very well, if it was popcorn pizza you would want I could make it happen. You would have been a welcome helper too. It took a long time, but looks so much better. We had some great tunes playing while we worked too. Music makes the works go so much faster.
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
8 Sep 16
Sounds like a lot of work.. I hate that on my walls or ceiling.. We used to have that in our old home when I was a kid.. I love plain walls that are easy to clean.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
20 Sep 16
@mom210 White in the kitchen is a definite no no for me with my clumsy boys around.. LOL
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
20 Sep 16
@sofssu Same here, it was one of those deals. We needed a house, hubby got a new job in a new city and we had 30 days to find a place. The house was nice, I liked everything until I walked in the kitchen and saw those white cabinets. I knew I would hate them and I did. I was so happy to move out 7 years later.
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
8 Sep 16
I am learning plain..........is wonderful. That is like the white kitchen cabinets that went around for a while, I hated them before I had to live with them. Ob boy, 4 little bittie kids and white in the kitchen, yuck
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
19 Sep 16
I'm with you, I really don't like it. we have it in the living room and dinning room but not just bumps but interestin designs. Its pretty and doesn't flake off but when we have the rooms painted sometime in the future I will have the ceiling designs removed.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
19 Sep 16
We are struggling with what we want done instead. I am thinking about leaving it blank. I have had the chicken foot prints, don't care for those either. It is all centered around cleaning, I like life to be easy. I is just hard to dust off. Maybe some of the issue is that we have an attic fan and it does blow large amounts of dust in.
1 person likes this
• Canada
20 Sep 16
@mom210 I have a fan in my kitchen and no popcorn, thank goodness...
1 person likes this
@paigea (35511)
• Canada
8 Sep 16
We have it on our ceilings to9. It is annoying to paint but doesn't fall off any other time. Glad you got that big job done! Yes wben my kids helped me I made sure tbey enjoyed the money we saved
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
8 Sep 16
I think mine have learned that and enjoy when mom & dad tighten the purse strings, it benefits them
1 person likes this
@paigea (35511)
• Canada
10 Sep 16
@mom210 a valuable life lesson
1 person likes this
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
31 Aug 16
Popcorn ceilings were popular in the 80's and 90's. Most people are removing them as they renovate. We got rid of ours. The smooth ceiling is so much nicer.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
1 Sep 16
I was wondering what we should do next, so you left yours just white? I have had the "chicken foot print" type and did not care for it either, it is hard to clean cob webs and dust off. There is also the half record type, I have not had those. Is that what people are doing now just white? I like that idea, might make life much easier for cleaning. It isn't like we lay around and look at the ceilings (wish I had time for that) so I don't really need kind of print or style on it.
1 person likes this
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
8 Sep 16
@mom210 We just painted ours a simple white.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22932)
• India
8 Sep 16
Many hands do make light work... What colour are your walls now?
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
8 Sep 16
white with no popcorn woohoo. I really should have went with dark brown so all those little hand prints do not show though
1 person likes this
• India
8 Sep 16
@mom210 White makes it looks more spacious
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
9 Sep 16
what a pretty little girl. yes i used to have the kids help all the time and reward them with such things. lol. so that is what is on our ceilings here also. what a nightmare. i kind of thought little pieces were falling off but now i know i am not crazy and thats what it is.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
10 Sep 16
Thank you, she is my youngest girl, and such a good little helper. Nope you are not crazy but at least it is not falling off heavy. I think having little kids made it worse I am sure they messed with it when they were in their bunk bed, laying there looking at it they just could not resist I am sure.
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
31 Aug 16
I have never seen a ceiling with popcorn balls . But i can see that your little girl also helped in the scraping of the wall . How very good of her to help. And it seems she enjoyed helping .
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
2 Sep 16
@mom210 That's so nice of her.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
1 Sep 16
She did enjoy it, it made her feel like a big girl I think. She did a great job.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61050)
• United States
31 Aug 16
I hate popcorn ceiling, we have them here too, they were all the rage when we rebuilt the house after the fire 21 years ago lol
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61050)
• United States
1 Sep 16
@mom210 It was so much less work, the taping on the sheetrock didn't have to be as neat the popcorn covers any flaws
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
1 Sep 16
I do not know why people liked them, they have always drove me nuts. I cannot say I ever thought about what was on my ceiling until we had these those and now that I know, no more of them for me.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48855)
• United States
19 Sep 16
We have a house that is over 100 years old and to coverup a bunch of imperfections it has some popcorn ceilings and walls. I actually love the look and it is firmly stuck and doesn't come off
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
20 Sep 16
I have heard of it being used to cover imperfections, that does sound like a good idea for that. A lot of my dislike probably has to do with little kids getting it off the ceiling, they cannot help it, it just looks like something they should pick off.
@JESSY3236 (18760)
• United States
25 Aug 16
My mother is a painter. She has been getting popcorn off the ceiling in a house this week. Here's a tip I learned on Neobux: tape the scrapper to a vacuum cleaner and it helps with the mess.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
27 Aug 16
I wish I would have thought of that, what a great idea! thank you
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39269)
• Gouverneur, New York
9 Sep 16
@mom210 your daughter is adorable. I really, really don't like popcorn ceilings. When we bought our home that is the first thing we did - get rid of them.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
9 Sep 16
That was good idea, you did not have to live with them. They have gotta be the worst idea for ceilings ever
1 person likes this