What does popcorn ceiling removal involve?

Popcorn ceiling removal means scraping the sprayed texture off, repairing the drywall underneath and refinishing the ceiling. On an older house it starts with a question that has to be answered first: whether the texture contains asbestos. EPA lists textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings among the places asbestos may be found.^[2]

The first step is the asbestos question

You cannot answer it by looking. EPA says you generally can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled.^[1] It adds that a trained and accredited asbestos professional should take samples for analysis, and that taking samples yourself is not recommended.^[1]

Scraping is exactly the kind of work that matters here. EPA says asbestos-containing materials may release fibers when they are disturbed, damaged, removed improperly, repaired, cut, torn, sanded, sawed, drilled or scraped.^[1] In Virginia it is unlawful for anyone without an asbestos inspector's license to conduct an asbestos inspection.^[3] The full routine for finding out is in how to find out if a popcorn ceiling has asbestos.

If the lab result is positive, removal is a separate trade. EPA says asbestos removal is complex and must be done only by a trained and accredited asbestos professional, and that improper removal may actually increase exposure.^[1] Virginia makes it unlawful to contract for compensation to carry out an asbestos project without an asbestos contractor's license.^[3] A regular painter or drywall crew does not do that job.

If the texture is clear of asbestos, or you decide to leave a sound ceiling alone, the rest of this page applies.

What a crew does on a clear ceiling

The work runs in a predictable order, and it explains the price:

• Protecting the room. Floors, walls and anything that cannot leave the room are covered, because the texture comes off as damp, heavy debris that gets everywhere. Many crews ask you to empty the room.
• Taking the texture off. The surface is usually dampened and scraped back to the drywall. Ceilings that were painted after the texture went on are harder, because the paint seals the surface and the texture will not soften evenly.
• Repairing what shows underneath. Scraping often reveals dings, tape seams and old stains. These are patched and sanded.
• Skim coating. Many crews finish with a thin coat of joint compound over the whole ceiling, because scraped drywall rarely looks flat enough to paint. A skim coat adds drying time.
• Priming and painting. Bare compound and paper need primer first, then ceiling paint.
• Clean-up. Debris is bagged and hauled away, and fine dust is vacuumed from the room.

Expect the job to be dusty and wet, and to take several visits because the compound has to dry between coats. Ask the crew how it will keep dust out of the ductwork, and whether it will shut off and cover vents.

Water is part of the method, so a ceiling with a past roof or plumbing leak needs to be sound before anyone wets it. If you see stains or soft spots, fix the leak first and consider patching drywall damage separately.

Permits and hiring

Ask your contractor to confirm with your locality whether the work needs a permit. Virginia's rule that a building permit for work on a building first permitted before January 1, 1985 needs a certified asbestos inspection does not apply to single-family dwellings or housing with four or fewer units, unless the work is for commercial or public development.^[4] That does not remove the health question above, it only means the permit office will not ask for the paperwork. Your contractor and your own care have to cover it.

DPOR says that if the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's license is required for the category in which the contractor is to work.^[5] DPOR also advises getting at least three written bids.^[5] See what popcorn ceiling removal costs in Virginia for what to compare between bids.

When to call a licensed pro

For the whole job. Do not scrape, sand or sample a ceiling yourself until it has been tested, and hire a Virginia-licensed contractor for the removal and refinishing. If the texture contains asbestos, only a licensed asbestos contractor may be hired to remove it.^[3] You can check any Virginia contractor's licence on DPOR's lookup before you pay a deposit.

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed painting businesses with their licence number and class. Browse painting services or read more painting answers.

To get quotes for your own ceiling, describe the job once and licensed local painters will respond.