Plank Paneling or Beadboard to Cover Popcorn Ceiling?

Question

Hey All, would love to get your collective opinions on something. I have about 600 sq. feet worth of popcorn ceilings in a newly purchased property that I'm trying to figure out how to deal with. My options seem to be...

1. Leave it alone

2. Remove the popcorn drywall and replace with new drywall

3. Scrape the popcorn off, patch and dings, and repaint

4. Install something like beadboard or white plank paneling directly over the popcorn

Option 1 I definitely don't want to do, option 2 is doable but significantly more expensive than option 3 or 4. Option 3 is extremely hard to do because this popcorn ceiling has been painted, making it very difficult to scrape off even after wetting it down thoroughly. That leaves me with option 4 which would be very cost effective and relatively simple to do...cut the planks to the correct size, find the joists with a stud finder, and nail them up after applying an adhesive to them as well.

My question is, would beadboard or plank panels for a ceiling look okay in a class B or C+ rental? Will it add any value to the home? Surely it would better than the popcorn right? What are your thoughts and what would you do?

JD Martin · Answer

Be careful. Depending on the age that popcorn might have asbestos in it. What's your ultimate purpose here - rent or resell? If rent, I wouldn't bother with it at all.

I had my drywaller redo one with 1/4" drywall right on top. Was solid as a rock when he was done. And it was surprisingly cheap (not as cheap as scraping), and since there was damaged spots on the popcorn it was a good solution.

Jason Turo · Answer

Rental = leave if there's no other reason to remove it rather than just your personal taste

Flip = definitely scrape it

Personally = I would scrape it off (I absolute hate popcorn and always try to get rid of it)

I would not do = install panelling OR bead board over it.  It would most like be wavy and look worse than leaving it alone

Christopher Phillips · Answer

@Tim Porsche

Scrape off. 600 ft isn't very much.

Kathleen Leary · Answer

I've scraped a MILLION square feet (well, it seems like it!) of popcorn ceiling. Assuming it's non-asbestos straight spray texture or (like my own house) drywall mud with a cellulose "filler", you need a ladder, a taping knife with the corners rounded off, a water sprayer of some sort, some tunes & plenty of your favorite non-alcoholic beverage. Save that for when you're done!

I've had to deal with drywall-over-texture jobs - maybe they were done poorly in the first place, but I've seen a LOT of sagging drywall.

My preference would be to scrape it - you'll have basic, traditional ceilings that won't look weird or out-of-style & should hold up for many years to come.

But you'll need to determine the ROI that works best for you long-term.

Gail K. · Answer

This is a rental, correct?  For class B or C I'd leave it.  I have older homes (REAL old homes) with popcorn and swirly ceilings and frankly, not one applicant has ever made a comment about them.

Gail

Jon Malkowvich · Answer

I have always scrapped it using a vinegar water mixture in a sprayer. I've also seen good contractors skim coat right over the popcorn. If the popcorn is painted it will make the removal more difficult.

Jordan Rundell · Answer

I have to be the odd one out and say that even if it were a rental, I would scrape it.  Correct that the process may not yield to a higher rent, but the house is still worth something.  And with popcorn ceilings removed, I believe it would add to the equity of the house.  Possibly allowing you to pull more out of the house in refi. Just my thoughts.

Richard Weinberg · Answer

@Tim Porsche

Yesterday a crew of roughly 6 removed the popcorn from a 2000 sq ft mid- 1970 era future rental. It was popcorn at 8 am and no popcorn at 5 pm. When they complete the prep, reprime and paint I will have about $4000 invested into the ceilings but about 50 years of neglect and poor repair scars will be gone. Do I like the price, no. Do I like the project, yes. The popcorn was up 50 years. Maybe the clean ceilings will give me a few good decades.

We won’t rent what we won’t live in. I look forward to spending a night in this house, looking at the new ceilings.

Hope that helps.

Carolyn W. · Answer

Hello, my contractor put in 1/2 inch drywall over existing popcorn ceiling.  He did not take out the original popcorn ceiling.  Just covered it.  Is the 1/2 inch drywall too heavy for the ceiling studs?  I'm on the ground floor condo and worried about leaks from the condo owner above my unit.

Plank Paneling or Beadboard to Cover Popcorn Ceiling?

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