The finished look
Popcorn ceiling removal, down to smooth.
Popcorn ceilings scraped, skimmed, textured or left smooth, and painted, across Broward and Palm Beach County. Ceilings from before 1980 are tested for asbestos first. Written quote after a visit.
Get a free estimateSee what most jobs cost
5.0 from 19 reviewsSince 2020 in PlantationMarine Corps veteranOne year on our work
5.0
on Google from 19 reviews, every one word for word
2 wk
on site for a full bath, 7 to 10 working days for a tub-to-shower
1 yr
on our work, the Done Right Promise
USMC
Marine Corps veteran, Brad runs every job, fully insured
Built before 1980? The test comes first
A lot of South Florida popcorn went up before 1980, and some of it contains asbestos.
You can't tell by looking. So on any house built before 1980, or any ceiling I'm not sure about, a sample goes to a lab before anyone scrapes. If it comes back clean, we go. If it comes back positive, the ceiling is a job for a licensed abatement company, and I'll tell you that plainly and step back until it's done.
- A small sample from a closet or a corner, sent to an accredited lab
- The result in writing before the quote is final
- Positive result: a licensed abatement company removes it; I come back for the skim and paint after
- Houses built after 1980 are usually fine, and I still look before I scrape
Scrape, then skim
Unpainted popcorn comes down wet with a wide scraper.
Painted popcorn is harder, because the paint seals the texture and it won't soak. Either way the scrape leaves a rough, gouged surface, and that's why the skim coat is the real work. Two or three coats of joint compound over the whole ceiling, sanded, is what turns a scraped ceiling into a flat one.
- Floors, walls, cabinets and fixtures masked with plastic, floor to ceiling
- Ceiling misted and scraped in sections, the mess caught on the plastic
- Gouges, old seams and nail heads filled and taped where needed
- A full skim coat, sanded between coats with the dust captured
Smooth, or knockdown
Smooth is what most people picture, and it's the most work, because every flaw shows under a flat ceiling in afternoon light.
Knockdown hides small imperfections and matches most South Florida walls. I'll show you both on the visit and tell you which the ceiling can realistically take.
- Smooth: the full skim, sanded under a raking light, primed and painted flat
- Knockdown: a lighter skim, then texture sprayed and knocked down to match your walls
- Orange peel where the rest of the house already has it
Get a free estimateor call or text (954) 242-5924
Paint and the lights
A new ceiling is primed before it's painted, because skim coat drinks paint unevenly.
Flat white is the standard, and it hides the most. This is also the day to deal with the ceiling fan and the light fixtures: the licensed electrician I bring in handles the fan and fixture swaps on the existing boxes as well as any new recessed lights or boxes, timed to the ceiling work.
What it's like to live through
The room is wrapped in plastic for the length of the job and the furniture is moved out or covered in the middle.
Dust is the enemy, so I keep the air handler off or covered while we sand. We work one area at a time so the rest of the house stays usable, and the room is cleaned down before the plastic comes off. One year on our work, the Done Right Promise.
How a popcorn removal runs
Step 1
Test and cover
A sample to the lab on any pre-1980 ceiling. Once it's clear, the room is emptied or covered and wrapped in plastic from the floor up.
Step 2
Scrape
The ceiling misted and scraped in sections, the popcorn dropping onto the plastic, fans and fixtures taken down by the licensed electrician and bagged.
Step 3
Skim and sand
Seams and gouges filled, then a full skim coat, sanded between coats with the dust captured, until the ceiling is flat or ready for texture.
Step 4
Prime, texture, paint
Primer over the skim, knockdown sprayed if that's the choice, then two coats of flat ceiling paint. Fixtures rehung by the electrician, plastic down, floors cleaned.
Popcorn ceiling removal prices
Quoted after a visit, because painted popcorn, ceiling height and how smooth you want it change the labor more than the square footage.
Popcorn ceiling removal
Written quote
Scrape, skim and paint to smooth
Full skim coat, sanded, primed and painted. The most work and the cleanest look.
Popcorn ceiling removal
Written quote
Scrape, skim and knockdown
Lighter skim, texture matched to your walls, primed and painted.
Popcorn ceiling removal
Written quote
Asbestos sample and lab test
On any pre-1980 ceiling, before the job is scheduled.
A positive asbestos result changes the plan: a licensed abatement company removes the ceiling, then I skim and paint. That's quoted separately and only if needed.
On every popcorn quote
Included
- Lab test on pre-1980 ceilings
- Plastic masking, floor to ceiling
- Scrape, skim and sanding with dust capture
- Primer and two coats of flat ceiling paint
- Fans and fixtures taken down and rehung on their existing boxes by the licensed electrician
- Clean-up and haul-away
Brought in when needed
- A licensed abatement company if the test comes back positive
- A licensed electrician for taking down and rehanging the fans and fixtures, and any new recessed lights or boxes
Your choices
- Smooth or knockdown
- Ceiling color, flat white or otherwise
- Swap the fan or fixtures while they're down
- One room, or the whole house in stages
Often built together
Drywall Repair
Holes, cracks, water-damage patches and whole sheets replaced across Broward and Palm Beach County, texture matched and painted to blend. Written quote, small minimum.
Door Installation and Repair
Interior and exterior doors on existing openings across Broward and Palm Beach County: new doors, hardware, and the sticking, sagging and not-latching repairs. Written quote after a visit.
Where we do this work.
Popcorn ceiling questions
Something else on your mind? Call or text (954) 242-5924.
Does popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
Some of it does, mostly in houses built before 1980, and you can't tell by looking. On any pre-1980 house I send a sample to a lab before anyone scrapes. A clean result means we go ahead. A positive result means a licensed abatement company removes it, and I come back to skim and paint.
How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost?
It's a written quote after a visit. The things that move it are whether the popcorn has been painted, how high the ceiling is, and whether you want smooth or knockdown. Smooth is the most labor because the whole ceiling gets skimmed and sanded flat.
Can you remove popcorn that's been painted?
Yes, but it fights back. Paint seals the texture so it won't soak and scrape off cleanly, and some of it has to be ground or skimmed over instead. I'll check on the visit, and if it's painted the quote says so.
Smooth or knockdown, which should I pick?
Smooth looks the most modern and shows the most. Knockdown hides small flaws and matches most South Florida walls. If the ceiling is in rough shape or the room gets strong side light, knockdown is the forgiving choice. I'll show you both on the visit.
How messy is it?
It's the messiest thing I do, which is why the room is wrapped in plastic from the floor up, the air handler is covered while we sand, and the dust is captured as we go. The room is cleaned down before the plastic comes off. You'll want the furniture out or covered in the middle.
Get a free estimate.
Which rooms, the year the house was built if you know it, and whether the ceiling has ever been painted. I usually reply the same day.
- Mon to Fri
- 8 to 5
- Sat
- 9 to 4
- Sun
- closed
I usually reply the same day.
Ready to lose the popcorn?
Tell me the rooms and roughly when the house was built. A free visit, a test if it needs one, and a written fixed price.