No. 08 · Old ceiling texture
Popcorn ceiling removal, finished smooth.
The texture comes down wet and contained, and the ceiling under it is repaired, skim-coated and painted, because a scraped ceiling is rarely ready for paint on its own.
About popcorn ceiling removal
Sprayed acoustic texture was a standard ceiling finish in American houses from the 1950s into the 1980s. It went up fast, softened sound and hid the seams overhead, which is exactly why the ceiling underneath is rarely ready for paint.
Scraping it off is the quick part. The work is in what follows: repairing the gouges and open seams the scraper exposes, skim-coating the ceiling flat, and priming it so paint lies even under a window or a row of recessed lights.
That finishing is done in thin coats that each need time to dry. Randy’s own line covers it: “We don’t rush projects — we perfect them.”
On an older house there is a step before any of this. Texture applied before the mid-1980s may contain asbestos, so it should be tested before it is disturbed.
When it’s called for
When it should come down
Before the rest of the room
Scraping a ceiling is wet, heavy, messy work. It belongs before new floors, paint and furniture, not after them.
New lighting going in
Recessed lights and fixtures that wash across a ceiling exaggerate every ridge. A ceiling about to be relit is the time to make it smooth.
Stained or patched texture
A water stain or a repair in popcorn texture is hard to make disappear. Once the texture has tested negative for asbestos, removing it can be the cleaner fix.
Popcorn texture and asbestos
Some sprayed ceiling texture contains asbestos. Federal rules had banned spray-applied asbestos surfacing by 1978, but existing stock could still be used, so texture applied before the mid-1980s may contain it. There is no way to tell by looking.
Have a sample tested before the texture is disturbed, whether by scraping, sanding or cutting in a new light. The sample should be taken by an accredited asbestos professional; taking it yourself is not recommended. Texture in good condition that won’t be disturbed can be left alone.
If the test is positive, removal is work for a certified asbestos abatement contractor, not a painter. Pennsylvania requires state certification for asbestos abatement contractors and the people who work for them.
The work
How the work goes
The walkthrough
Randy looks at the ceilings with you, how they were built and how the rooms are lit, and explains what removal and refinishing will involve. You get a written estimate; like the walkthrough, it is complimentary.
Test before anything else
If the texture may date from before the mid-1980s, a sample has to be taken by an accredited asbestos professional and tested by a lab before the ceiling is touched. If it tests positive, the job belongs to a certified asbestos abatement contractor, not a painter.
Containment
The room is emptied, floors and walls are sheeted in plastic, and power to the ceiling fixtures is shut off. The texture comes down as wet, heavy debris, and it should stay inside the room it came from.
Wet scraping
The texture is misted lightly, given time to soften, and scraped off in small sections. Too much water can damage the drywall beneath it, and painted texture resists water, so it needs a slower approach.
Repair and skim
Gouges, open seams and loose tape are repaired, then the ceiling is skim-coated so it reads flat under side light. Each coat dries before it is sanded, which is where most of the time goes.
Prime and paint
The finished ceiling is primed so compound and bare paper take paint evenly. It is then painted, usually in a flat finish that keeps minor flaws overhead from catching the light.
From the job sites
“This was a difficult job since ceiling was not level and it required many layers to cover and bring to level. Randy and his team returned multiple times and made it prefect. Pleased with results”
“From the first phone call to completion Randy was very professional and friendly. Highly recommend him. Our kitchen ceiling looks great!”
Questions
Asked at the walkthrough.
Is removing a popcorn ceiling a good idea?
Usually, once you know the texture contains no asbestos. A smooth ceiling is easier to clean, repaint and light well. The caveat is the ceiling underneath: it was often finished only well enough to be textured, so plan for repairs and a skim coat, not just scraping.
How long does it take a professional to remove a popcorn ceiling?
For a single room, days rather than hours. The scraping is often the shortest part; the time goes into repairs, skim coats that must dry before they are sanded, primer and paint. Painted texture and tall ceilings add to it, and the schedule for your rooms is set at the walkthrough.
How can I tell if my popcorn ceiling has asbestos?
Only a lab test can tell you. Where the texture may predate the mid-1980s, have a sample taken by an accredited asbestos professional before anything is scraped or sanded. If it comes back positive, removal is work for a certified asbestos abatement contractor, not a painter.
Is painted popcorn harder to remove?
Yes. Paint seals the texture, so water can’t soften it the way it softens bare popcorn. It usually takes a dry pass to break the paint before wetting, and the scraping is slower and harder on the ceiling beneath.
Why does the ceiling need a skim coat once the texture is gone?
Texture let builders skip finishing a ceiling smooth. A ceiling meant to be textured is typically finished to a lower standard than one meant to be smooth, and scraping adds its own dings. A skim coat brings the whole surface flat, so seams and patches don’t show under side light.
Where
Popcorn ceiling removal, town by town.
Randy works from Easton across the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County. Choose your town for what popcorn ceiling removal involves in its houses.
Lehigh Valley
Related
Often done together.
Consultation
Request a private consultation.
Private walkthrough & written estimate, complimentary. Tell us a little about the house and the rooms, and Randy will be in touch to arrange a time.
- Hours
- Monday – Friday8:30 AM – 5:30 PMSaturday10 AM – 3 PMSundayClosed
- Service area
- Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown and the greater Lehigh Valley; Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Fully insured — proof on request. Residential and commercial.