Damaged drywallThe ceiling shown in this article had flaking texture, plus stains and holes, so covering it all with a new layer of drywall was ... tear-away bead, mud rings for junction boxes ...

If your ceiling texture has been painted, you won't be able to scrape it clean. You may need to skim-coat the surface. Paint a textured surface the way you would new drywall. Let the “mud” dry ...