Also known as acoustical stipple ceilings, they were once a popular choice for their ability to absorb sound and hide imperfections. They were popular in the 1970s and 1980s — but can look dated in 2024.
Removing popcorn ceilings will almost always increase a home's value. Not only is the design trend no longer desirable, but it also poses safety concerns for home buyers. Have a listing with an awful popcorn ceiling that needs to go? Tell us about it!
In addition to aesthetic improvements, removing popcorn ceilings can lead to better functionality in your home. The absence of texture allows for easier maintenance and cleaning, as smooth surfaces do not trap dust and allergens as effectively.
May Contain Asbestos
If builders installed your popcorn ceilings before 1977, then it contains asbestos. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can cause serious health issues like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
Do people still use popcorn ceilings? Popcorn ceilings are never used in modern or new-build homes, and interior designers, decorators, and builders don't choose this design unless requested by a client. Whatever its original appeal, popcorn ceiling today simply isn't a good look.
There are four popular options for covering over the ceiling: covering them with ordinary drywall, using a prefinished grid-plank system such as Armstrong's Easy-Up grid system, attaching furring strips, and then installing traditional tongue-and-groove planks or beadboard paneling on the ceiling, or skim coating.
Homes that have popcorn ceilings can most definitely raise concerns for potential buyers, both from a safety and aesthetic perspective. While intact popcorn ceilings may not pose an immediate danger, their dated appearance and association with asbestos can complicate home repairs and resale value.
First, popcorn ceilings used to be made with asbestos, a harmful substance that can cause illnesses, cancer, and other types of health risks. If you happen to purchase an older property with these ceilings, play it safe and get your home tested for exposure before disturbing the material.
Flat ceilings are by far the most popular ceilings in homes today. Also called conventional ceilings, these ceilings are usually 7 to 10 feet tall, flat and finished with drywall, then painted.
Textured paint offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional popcorn ceilings while providing similar benefits in terms of hiding imperfections and minimizing sound transmission.
Most homeowners spend between $927 and $3,043 to have popcorn ceilings removed, but your total cost could reach $5,706 or more if you have a larger home with higher ceilings. Below, we explore the different cost factors that will impact the total price you pay to remove this outdated feature.
Labor Intensive: The process of removing popcorn ceilings is labor-intensive and can be messy. It involves scraping off the texture, repairing any underlying damage, and then smoothing and painting the ceiling. Hiring a professional painting company is recommended to ensure a smooth and high-quality finish.
Popcorn ceilings can decrease a home's value, especially if they contain asbestos, are in poor condition, or are just unappealing. However, if cost-effectiveness is a priority, keeping the ceiling and opting for repairs and cleaning may be a reasonable compromise.
Asbestos is no longer added to popcorn ceilings because it's a known health risk. The chances of your ceiling containing asbestos are low for any installations in the late 1980s or after. Newly constructed ceilings don't use asbestos.
The cost to skim coat over a averages $300 to $450 or $1 to $1.50 per square foot. This involves the process of applying a thin layer of plaster directly over the texture, rather than removing it first, and can cut down on the project price by taking away the removal expenses.
The bumpy texture not only makes a room look outdated, but it also creates a dark and oppressive atmosphere. The peaks and valleys of the texture collect shadows, giving the illusion of a lower ceiling and making the room feel smaller.
What are the most popular ceiling textures in 2024? Minimalist smooth finishes, textured plaster, reclaimed wood panels, metallic accents, geometric patterns, exposed beams and coffered ceilings are some trending designs.
When it comes to ceilings, the Sistine Chapel tends to grab the headlines. Michelangelo's incredible artwork is world-renowned, and rightly so, but it's not the only beautiful ceiling around. Artists have viewed ceilings as a blank canvas for hundreds of years, from stained glass domes to highly intricate paintings.
It's on trend in 2025 to give architectural elements a little twist: use triangles for a coffered ceiling instead of squares, paint the top of the tray ceiling a different color or cover it with a different material, do some creative lighting.
Pros of Removing Popcorn Ceiling
It can modernize your home and make it more appealing to buyers. This can help sell your home quickly, reducing the risk of your home sitting on the market for too long. West & Woodall agent Anne Basden says her experience with buyers has shown that "a smooth ceiling is desired.
Like many other what-were-they-thinking styles over the decades, the popcorn ceiling is no longer considered on trend—though plenty of today's homeowners are still stuck with the 20th-century holdover and in search of DIY-friendly solutions to remove or cover up the unsightly surface.
The use of asbestos in popcorn ceilings was banned in the United States in 1978. Even after the 1978 ban, however, manufacturers were allowed to use up their existing stocks of asbestos-containing products. Homes built or renovated before the mid-1980s could still have asbestos in their popcorn ceilings.
Popcorn ceiling removal will improve the home's air quality because it will be easier to clean the ceiling and fewer particles will accumulate.
It was quicker and more affordable which allowed for buildings to be completed more quickly, mainly when the economy started growing around World War II. It's also known for its sound absorption properties which can help reduce the number of noises coming in, creating a more peaceful environment.
Schutte estimates that removing a popcorn ceiling would add $25,000 to $35,000 in value for a large estate executive home. For a home of about 1,400 square feet costing about $200,000, he estimates an added value of about $2,500 — essentially, close to what a homeowner might put into the project.