I want to paint my living room ceiling but it has that old popcorn texture - what are my options?

Popcorn ceilings are common in Metro Vancouver homes built from the 1960s through the early 1990s, and you have a few options depending on your budget and how much disruption you can tolerate.

The simplest option is to paint directly over the texture. This works if the popcorn is in good condition with no flaking or water stains. Use a thick-nap roller (18-20mm) and a quality ceiling paint. Do not overwork the roller - popcorn texture can soften when wet and pull away if you press too hard or go back over wet areas. One heavy coat is often better than two thin ones for this reason.

The second option is to scrape the texture off and then paint the smooth ceiling underneath. This is messier and more labour-intensive but gives a clean, modern look. Before scraping, there is an important safety consideration: popcorn texture applied before 1990 in BC may contain asbestos. You should have a sample tested by an accredited lab before anyone disturbs it. Testing costs around $30-$50 per sample and takes a few days. If asbestos is found, removal must be done by a certified abatement contractor following WorkSafeBC regulations - this is not a DIY or general painter job.

A third option is to cover the popcorn with new drywall (sometimes called re-sheeting) or with tongue-and-groove planks. This avoids the dust and potential asbestos issue entirely, though it does lower your ceiling height by about half an inch.

As a next step, if your home was built before 1990, arrange asbestos testing before deciding on your approach. This one step determines which options are safely available to you.

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