How do I remove popcorn ceiling from a kitchen ceiling? I was told there may be asbestos in it and that it needs to be removed.

Well one way you could do it, is just replace the drywall. But if you're tight on money, and don't want to go that route I just used a wide scraper, and scraped it off as best I could. I then sanded it as smooth as I could get it. Then go over any imperfections with some spackle, let dry, and sand that, and it should be pretty smooth. You may also want to get some plastic painter sheets and hang them up around the top of the wall that way all the little popcorn pieces fall on to the plastic for easy cleanup.

Don't remove it just because it MAY have Asbestos. Who said you should remove the pop corn ? Here are the EPA guidelines for Asbestos. Note they do not recommend removal unless the surface is damaged. They recommend encapsulation i.e. painting the surface to stiffen it and keep the fibers from becoming airborne."

"Leaving ACM (Asbestos Containing Materials) in place when possible is often the best option. If friable ACM is present, you should inspect it regularly for damage, such as (1) missing or fallen sections of sprayed on fireproofing or insulation or (2) pieces hanging loose from ACM. If ACM is damaged, it can be repaired rather than removed. Removal is often not the best option for reducing asbestos exposure. Often, it is best to leave ACM in place because disturbing it may release airborne microscopic fibers that could be inhaled.
The following methods can be used to prevent the release of airborne asbestos fibers: Encapsulation by treating ACM with a liquid compound called an "encapsulant" that provides a seal to prevent release of fibers. A common encapsulant is ceiling paint.

I have done numerous Asbestos counts in places of habitation and found the airborne counts to be well below the recommended levels.

Yeah didn't really think about scraping up all that popcorn crap can actually stir up more things that you probably don't want. If you are wanting to remove the pop corn stuff for cosmetic reasons then you should do what I suggested, but I would make sure you ventilate the room very well, and wear a face mask as well. If you are wanting to remove it just because of the possibility of asbestos then I would go with what ma0641 suggested.

I would go with the new drywall for a few reasons, one is a good clean look, less work, less expense, and honestly though, do you really want to clean up all dust and mess!

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Originally Posted by tickle

I would go with the new drywall for a few reasons, one is a good clean look, less work, less expense, and honestly though, do you really want to clean up all dust and mess!

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Ps, are you renovating your entire kitchen? You will need to after removing that ceiling

I used drywall putty and covered it . I applied 3 or 4 layers. A bit of work getting it smooth and flat but it was just in a small bathroom. Worked very well.