Let it be.

When was this built? Have you tested for asbestos?

skim coat over.

@sloyder, what is a skim coat over?

as in plaster over it?

Hmmm.. would it be easier to scrape of plaster over it?

Have it tested for asbestos before you do anything with it. If it does have asbestos, you will need to hire a company to come and take care of it.

How about if we just use a scraper, if it did have asbestos, could that affect it? (We would not be cutting out the drywall ceiling).

House is 1985, I don’t believe it has asbestos. Nothing was ever in purchaser report.

It probably doesnt have it, since asbestos was banned in 1977. Since your house is 1985, it should be safe.

Asbestos was banned from certain uses in 1977, but people who sprayed popcorn-asbestos were allowed to use up all their supplies until they ran out, so some houses in the late-70's and early-80's still had asbestos in the ceilings. Though I think the likelihood is low that you have asbestos, the only sure way to know is to have a test done on a small sample at an accredited, which typically costs under $100.

In any case, the idea of "How about if we just use a scraper," is the main way people contaminate their houses and expose themselves to fibers if asbestos is present. Proper/safe removal of asbestos-containing popcorn ceilings involves sealing off the work area, wearing proper respirators (not dust masks), wet-scraping, and cleanup with special, high-efficiency vacuum cleaners afterwards...to name just a few steps. Hopefully, this won't be necessary for you, but for anyone with an asbestos-containing popcorn ceiling, uninformed DIY removal using dry scraping is the most common way people create a hazardous environment in their homes with asbestos.

Thank you soo much for the valuable information.

I had no clue that asbestos was once used in popcorn ceiling spray.

How about if we were to just will it up with plaster, and smooth it out?

Or,

Drywall over it? Drilling or PL ;)

If you do have asbestos in such a ceiling, you don't have to remove it unless it's deteriorating and flaking off. Containing it by various means is an alternative, but best to at least consult with a certified asbestos abatement firm before you try something like that.

It's easy to remove Popcorn ceilings but get it tested for Asbestos first if your home is older than 1980. Your life literally depends on it. Spend the $75 so you can decide on what removal method is best for you.

"That Kilted Guy" has made several videos on how to remove popcorn ceilings. Here's a good one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkqCj0wFzwU

Drywall over it.

What’s a good diy method to drywall over it?

Ceiling panels, https://www.armstrongceilings.com/residential/en-us/project-ideas-and-installation/cover-popcorn-ceiling.html

You could have a drywall man come and put 1/4 or 3/8 inch drywall over the top, and tape and mud it for you and have it ready for painting. I am wondering if this may be something that is a bit over your head, since you seem to be not used to doing this type of stuff, so may be better to hire someone. If you do that, then watch that person carefully, and you will learn just how it is all done, so if in the future, you get another house with the popcorn ceiling, you will know just how its done. It can be a great learning experience and you may enjoy it a lot too. That vaulted ceiling you have can be a bit of work too, because of the height.

And if you hire someone, make sure they don't start disturbing the popcorn material if it has asbestos in it.

What Houzz has become: Mindless. Asbestos is mentioned 18 times. You would think people would read before posting - it appears not.

geoffrey- If your comment is directed at me, you should note that I commented about asbestos early on, so am well aware of the content of this thread. And it became clear as I followed this that the OP was not well-informed on the subject. Hence, the point of my most recent comment was not a caution about asbestos but that hiring someone to drywall over a popcorn ceiling is not without issues if the ceiling contains asbestos..

Not directed at you in particular. I observed that many people reported the same warning, which leads me to believe that others don't bother to read the other posts.

What nobody said: It's a hell of a messy job, for little gain. And you might ding up the ceiling - or you may find a bad taping job.

geoffrey-

Ok...understood :-)

Spit it out, geoffrey_b.