Replies

1. 
   silver | Nov 29, 2007 05:32am | #1

   Try wetting a section with a heavy mist and then scraping the texture off with a 6" putty knife...might be easier...some customers of mine just did it-no problem...just be careful not to dig in...easy to patch if you do...

   silver

2. 
   jimblodgett | Nov 29, 2007 06:38am | #2

   Is the ceiling painted?  What type texture is on it?  When was it applied?

   Be careful.  Lots of that old popcorn texture they used on ceilings before...was it 1978?...has asbestoes in it.  You don't want to be sanding that stuff.  If there's any question have it tested before sanding.

   All that being said, we sand ceilings and walls adjacent to where we are taping new drywall when we add or delete walls as we remodel.  40 grit on a 5" r.o. sander hooked to a shop vac makes quick work of it.  60 grit works okay, but clogs and dulls a heck of a lot faster and is a lot more work.  Don't forget the bag in the vac.  That drywall dust gets mighty fine.

   Loren Wallace for president.

3. 
   IMERC | Nov 29, 2007 06:45am | #3

   popcorn, knock down, orange peel or some other kind of texture????

    

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!! What a Ride!
   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

4. 
   FastEddie | Nov 29, 2007 06:51am | #4

   Rent a porter cable sheetrock sander.

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

5. 
   Dreamcatcher | Nov 29, 2007 07:34am | #5

   I agree, you should rent a Porter Cable power pole sander (9" disc). I just used one the other day to sand a small ceiling. I rented from Home Depot for $28 for 4 hr. plus $10 for back up pad and $1.50 for grit papers. The rental guy thought I was crazy, tried talking me out of it, said it would be messy and more laborous than spraying and scraping. When I returned it, he didn't believe it went well at all. Truthfully, It was easy and almost no dust...once you start seeing dust, you know to empty your vac and shake out your filter. As for painted surf, I had no problems using 80grit. I just pushed a little harder than I would for fresh mud.

   BTW: I did securly plastic off the area and wear a mask, long sleeves, hat, gloves, and tight fitting saftey glasses "just in case". Wet a bandana to clean off any excess dust before removing mask. Hepa filter in vac for final clean up and swiffer the rest. I know it's better to just test and be sure but sometimes you just gotta dive in and do what you can.

   
   

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   Edited 11/28/2007 11:35 pm ET by Dreamcatcher

1. 
   poetwithahammer | Dec 02, 2007 10:32pm | #6

   Silver,JimBlodget,IMERC, Fast Eddie and DreamCatcher: Thanks to all., I've got a 5" r.o. sander but renting the big one from HD seems good. in fact great, thanks. Now, Dream Catcher, what is "surf" and , can I get a HEPA filter for the rented vac and I just put it on the rented vac for the final clean up of all? a "swiffer"? Isn't that one of those "dust mop" things with a replacable, disposable pad? Thanks again guys. This website is where you learn from other people's experiences and don't have to learn it all from your own. Thanks

1. 
   BryanSayer | Dec 02, 2007 10:38pm | #7

   I suspect that "surf" is just short hand for surface, as in "painted surface". And I'm guessing by swiffer he does mean disposable dusting thing.I concur with the PC recommendation.

2. 
   Dreamcatcher | Dec 02, 2007 11:03pm | #8

   Poet,Yeah, swiffer is the brand name disposable dust mop. painted "surf" is painted surface. As for the filter, I didn't use the vacuum they give with the rental, I just used my own Rigid shopvac with a Rigid HEPA rated filter.I didn't mention before that I found it easier to use the sander while standing on a ladder. Then I just teetered the sander on my shoulder while sanding. I started using from the ground but my arms tired out quickly and it didn't seem to sand as quickly.Good luck
   gk