Removing the popcorn texture from ceilings creates a smooth flat surface that will produce better paint results than a rough, crater-like surface. Whether you want to whitewash the ceiling or paint a custom color, removing your home's popcorn ceilings is a MUST to achieve a beautiful, smooth paint application later.
If it's still functional, there's no need to get rid of it, thus saving them time, money, and unwarranted stress in the years to come.
While the immediate return on removing a popcorn ceiling may not be significant, the perceived value increases depending on buyer expectations for the home's size and price range.
Popcorn ceilings, once a popular design element, are now seen as outdated and unattractive. Removing them can have a significant impact on your home's aesthetics and air quality.
You have four options: remove the texture and then patch/paint, skim coat the ceiling, install 1/4'' drywall over the current ceiling and then tape/mud/paint, or tear our your ceiling and replace it.
Ceiling textures can add a unique character to a room and provide sound insulation and noise reduction. Popcorn ceiling texture was a popular choice in homes built before 1980 due to its ability to conceal imperfections and provide these benefits at a low cost.
Remove the Popcorn Ceiling
Use a paint scraper to help extend your reach. Pair it with a handle or painter's pole. You can scrape each section while it's dry, but applying a bit of water will help moisten and remove the material if the process becomes difficult.
Gone are the days of the standard white ceiling. Now, deep earthy tones, vibrant primaries, and even multi-color gradients are making their way overhead. These colorful ceilings can dramatically alter the mood of a space, making rooms feel more intimate, energetic, or serene.
Popcorn ceilings, in pre-1970s and early formulations, often contained white asbestos fibers. When asbestos was banned in ceiling treatments by the Clean Air Act in the United States, popcorn ceilings fell out of favor in much of the country.
Use of asbestos in textured ceiling materials was at its peak from around 1945 through 1980. Popcorn ceilings contained asbestos for its resistance to heat and corrosion. Asbestos is no longer added to popcorn ceilings because it's a known health risk.
Removing popcorn ceiling costs $2 to $6 per square foot or $2,000 to $9,000 on average with refinishing. Scraping the popcorn texture costs $1 to $2 per square foot, while retexturing and painting the ceiling cost $1 to $2 per square foot each. Most contractor quotes include texture, paint, or both.
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.
Another top tip is to use a damp cloth of sponge on any imperfections, wait until the plaster is almost dry and gently smooth out any lumps or bumps with the sponge or cloth and you can blend them in to create a perfectly smooth surface.
An orange peel ceiling texture is a slightly bumpy, soft-looking design popular in modern homes. The subtle appearance is smoother than a knockdown texture and typically easier to clean than most other ceiling textures. Most DIYers with the proper tools can install an orange peel ceiling texture throughout the home.
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.
Conceals Imperfections: Covering the textured surface with a new material, such as drywall, beadboard, or ceiling tiles, can effectively hide any imperfections or damage present in the popcorn texture.
They Dampen Noise – The textured, thick, and porous surface of a popcorn ceiling helps it muffle and absorb sounds. As a result, popcorn ceilings can improve indoor acoustics by mitigating ambient sounds in noisy indoor spaces such as high-traffic entryways and rooms with high ceilings.
However, it is only some years later that it was discovered that popcorn ceilings containing ACMs (asbestos-containing materials) could be harmful to human health. This naturally occurring silicate mineral was used in early formulations of the ceiling treatment until it was banned by the Clean Air Act in 1978.
In the world of interior design, trends often come and go, but certain elements have a way of circling back to the forefront with renewed interest. One such element experiencing a major revival in 2024 is textured wallpaper.
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.
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.
If you are able to scrape it off, it is not painted. If it doesn't come off then it is painted. The cost to remove your popcorn ceiling if it has been painted can range from $4.50 – $8.50 (per square foot). In 2022, the average cost to remove your popcorn ceiling that has been painted ranges from $4,950 to $9,350.
Interior designers and tastemakers alike agree that we'll be leaving behind bland ceilings in 2024 and spotlighting textured ceilings in 2025.
Skim coating is a process of transforming textured surfaces, such as popcorn ceilings, into smooth and modern finishes. It's becoming increasingly popular among homeowners who want to update the look of their interior spaces without investing in a complete remodel.