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If your popcorn ceiling is asbestos-free and you are ready for a new look, painting is an option. As long as there is no flaking or other wear, a new coat of paint might be just the thing to refresh the old ceiling. The best way to paint a popcorn ceiling is to use either a paint sprayer or a thick roller to cover the popcorn texture fully. (Do not forget to dust it off beforehand!)

“Note that if you eventually want to remove the popcorn ceiling, a painted ceiling is a labor-intensive job to remove and will cost more,” says Bob Tschudi. “Once painted, the process of removing the popcorn ceiling requires physical scraping as opposed to a spray-and-scrape approach. It’s very labor-intensive, and thus more costly.”

This largely depends on your environment and how well the paint was sealed. Properly sealed chalk paint furniture that isn’t regularly dinged by toys or steel boots can last 5 years or—often significantly—longer. However, if it isn’t sealed correctly or is subject to regular wear and tear, you can expect the coat to last 3 years or less.

While paint drying smoothly on a wall is ideal, a can full of dry paint is not. To open a can of dry paint, you’ll need a tool with a sharp edge, such as a utility knife or a box cutter. Take your tool and score the area where the lid meets the can to break through the dried-up paint. Then, use a paint can opener or a flathead screwdriver to pry the lid open and check the state of the contents. For smaller cans with plastic lids, you can run the top under hot water to loosen the lid. 

An exterior paint job lasts an average of 5 to 10 years, although some might only last 2 or 3 years and others up to 20 years. How often you need to paint your home’s exterior depends on various factors. The type and quality of the paint, the application quality, the surface material, and local weather conditions all play a part in the paint’s longevity.