[gh0stjunK]

My house was built in the mid 60s and has popcorn ceilings. I hate the way it looks and Ilit's possible that it can contain asbestos. I've seen suggestions of covering it up with another sheet of drywall. I was wondering if I do go the route of encapsulating the popcorn ceiling (if it contains asbestos), will the extra sheets of 1/2 drywall be a weight issue? The manufacturer specs say it's around 39 pounds a sheet.


Edit: Not sure if this is useful but I forgot to mention the joists are 24 inches apart

 

[Nealtw]

My house was built in the mid 60s and has popcorn ceilings. I hate the way it looks and Ilit's possible that it can contain asbestos. I've seen suggestions of covering it up with another sheet of drywall. I was wondering if I do go the route of encapsulating the popcorn ceiling (if it contains asbestos), will the extra sheets of 1/2 drywall be a weight issue? The manufacturer specs say it's around 39 pounds a sheet.

Have you ever got up and walked on the 2x4s in the attic. If you did you likely loaded them more than the drywall would. I think they are closer to 60 pounds each.
How many sheet to do the room times ? the wait divided by the number of 2x4s and you will have the extra loading for each.

 

[gh0stjunK]

Have you ever got up and walked on the 2x4s in the attic. If you did you likely loaded them more than the drywall would. I think they are closer to 60 pounds each.

I have and it seemed fine although I did calculate I would need about 12 sheets of 4x8. That's a lot more than I weigh :biggrin2:

 

[Nealtw]

I have and it seemed fine although I did calculate I would need about 12 sheets of 4x8. That's a lot more than I weigh :biggrin2:

So something like 1200 pounds less some as the are supported to a near by wall so maybe 1000 pounds divided by the 2x4 not near a wall.



I suppose you could put struts from the 2x4s up to the rafters in the middle.

 

[ratherbefishing]

We just did the same. Covered a very badly textured ceiling with 1/4" sheetrock. Looks much better. Weighs 1/2 as much. Use glue.

 

[huesmann]

You have a mid-60s house with trusses?

 

[karoc524]

Giving this a try,take a pump up sprayer with water in it and spray the popcorn getting it wet.Let it set awhile then take a wide drywall blade and scrap off the popcorn. Yes in a test area put down plastic.

 

[Colbyt]

You have a mid-60s house with trusses?

It was done. Sold one a couple of years back. 2x4 trusses 24" CC

 

[ClarenceBauer]

It was done. Sold one a couple of years back. 2x4 trusses 24" CC

Depending on the location they were available in the 1950's

 

[bob22]

Careful that some popcorn may have asbestos in it before you start scraping it and getting some potentially airborne. Get it tested first for content.

 

[u2slow]

Giving this a try,take a pump up sprayer with water in it and spray the popcorn getting it wet.Let it set awhile then take a wide drywall blade and scrap off the popcorn.

If its been painted over, it doesn't come off easy.

I had an older/smaller dining and living room to do. I gave up after the dining room. Won't tackle one again. Life's too short to spend time on drywall. Change the colour with paint, or move. :biggrin2:

 

[karoc524]

If its been painted over, it doesn't come off easy.

I had an older/smaller dining and living room to do. I gave up after the dining room. Won't tackle one again. Life's too short to spend time on drywall. Change the colour with paint, or move. :biggrin2:

Like what you side,scrap off what will come off then paint over it.Just won't look like popcorn anymore.Fingers cross

 

[ront02769]

Different opinion, just install the sheetrock. Use lightweight if you want. But if you use the regular, No worries. You don’t need extra support. YOUR weight is a point load. The SHEETROCK Weight is spread across the whole ceiling. Looking another way, I weigh 170, my deck is built to 40 psi, so I put 170 on like 2 ft of deck, I should be on the ground. But of course the structure spreads the weight around.

 

[dj3]

I would remove the popcorn. What do I need extra weight on so few joists for?
When you remove popcorn by wetting it, plus wear protection, it's not difficult and you can do one room at a time. A good idea would be to empty the room and tarp the floor wall to wall.