Patching and Plastering - Repairing a pop corn ceiling

I was doing something on my attic and my foot touch hard the sheet rock breaking my ceiling that has a pop corn texture. The hole has diameter size of 16".I am trying to find the best way possible to repair it with not much cost. My ceiling color is white and I still have paint left to repaint it after repairing the hole and texture. Your help will be really appreciated.
Thank you so much

Nyck

You can buy small 2X2 pieces of sheetrock at most home centers. You'll also need a small can of pre mixed joint compound and some drywall tape. A 4-5" putty knife is needed for applying and smoothing the joint compound. You'll need some 1 1/4" drywall screws and a power screwdriver.

Cut a square piece of the sheetrock an inch or so larger than the hole in your ceiling. Place the repair piece up against the hole and trace it's outline on the ceiling. Cut the sheetrock on the ceiling where you marked the outline. You should now have a nice square opening in the ceiling the same size as your patch.

Cut a couple of pieces of scrap wood (plywood, 1X2 whatever, long enough to span the opening. Secure these with screws on the back side of the opening. Put the screws through the ceiling into the wood. These pieces will hold your new patch in place. Put the patch into position in the opening. Screw through the patch into the wood supports you installed.

Now that the patch is securely in place, use the putty knife to spread a thin
4-6" wide coat of joint compound on all the seams. Once the joint compound is applied, cut strips of drywall tape the length of each seam and using more joint compound, imbed the tape along each seam. Be very fussy here.

Smooth the top layer of joint compound without disturbing the tape. After it dries you can sand it smooth. Once sanded put at least two more thin layers of joint compound over the seams. Each succeeding layer of joint compound should be wider than the one before. Sand smooth between each coat. When you are finished the joint compound should extend out at least 8" beyond the seam and be nearly invisible. How invisible the repair ends up depends on how fussy you are with the joint compound. Better to get it as smooth as possible when it's wet than to sand it later. A damp sponge can help smooth the surfaces. If you use a sponge wait until the joint compound is partially dry.

The repair will have to be primed before applying texture. You can buy spray cans of popcorn, but I've never used it so I don't know how good it works.

Wayne's advice is good. One thing you should do is cover cover cover the floor, furniture and anything else in the room especially before you try the texture. The stuff in the aerosol can works good but goes everywhere. I put up a tent before I texture. Staple plastic sheets to the ceiling all around the patch and hold it back a couple feet from the edges of the patch all around. The stuff in the can really comes out fast so if you don't get it right the first time you can scrape it off and let it dry a bit and try again. Start with the can moving, keep it moving and have it moving when you stop spraying. You know this might be a good time to remove all the popcorn and update the ceiling with a new texture or a smooth ceiling.

" You know this might be a good time to remove all the popcorn and update the ceiling with a new texture or a smooth ceiling."

I wanted to suggest that but didn't. I hate popcorn ceilings. They're ugly and nearly impossible to clean.

One thing you should do is cover cover cover the floor, furniture and anything else in the room especially before you try the texture.

This can't be stressed enough. Whether spraying the texture or removing it - it will make a big mess - goes everywhere :eek:


I hate popcorn ceilings. They're ugly and nearly impossible to clean.

I always thought the reason I disliked popcorn was because it's a royal pain to paint. Didn't know it was cleanable :D