Popcorn Ceiling Removal: Is It Worth Doing Before You Repaint?

Smoothing the ceilings in a Downtown Vancouver condo

A homeowner who came to us through a referral was getting his two-bedroom condo near Science World ready for move-in. The ceilings were in good shape and had a fine popcorn texture. He wanted them smooth. The condo was empty, and we worked across most of it, covering roughly 900 square feet of ceiling.

We sanded down the texture with our Festool sander and dust extractor, then skim-coated the ceilings. After priming, we touched up the surface and applied two coats of flat ceiling paint. The ceiling work took about five days from setup through the final coat.

He’s hired us for several projects and left us a five-star Google review of our work. You can read more feedback in our client reviews.

What I look for when I quote popcorn ceiling removal

I check the height of the ceiling, the age of the home, and whether the texture is fine or coarse. I also look for signs of previous paint, water staining and damage that may need repair.

Painted texture usually takes more work to remove. Coarse texture can be slow to take down even when it’s unpainted. I also have to consider how much work it’ll take to get the ceiling smooth afterwards. Sometimes that means more than one skim coat.

What happens before we disturb the texture?

WorkSafeBC flags homes built before 1990 as more likely to contain asbestos. Newer buildings can contain older materials, too. If the ceiling texture could contain asbestos, we’ll ask for a survey report that covers the materials our work would disturb. If a new survey is needed, we’ll refer you to a licensed asbestos survey firm. We review the findings before confirming how the ceiling work can proceed. See WorkSafeBC’s homeowner guidance on asbestos.

How we get the ceiling smooth

Once the ceiling is cleared for sanding, we seal off the room and protect the floors. We sand down the texture with a Festool sander connected to a dust extractor. The extractor collects dust at the sander as we work.

Then we apply a skim coat, a thin layer of drywall compound that evens out the surface. When the compound dries, we sand it smooth and prime the ceiling for paint.

What should you budget for a smooth ceiling?

For a similar empty Vancouver condo with about 900 square feet of fine texture and straightforward access, I’d budget roughly C$5,500–$9,000. That covers room protection, sanding with dust extraction, skim-coating, primer, touch-ups and two coats of flat ceiling paint.

High ceilings and tricky access can add time. In a condo, the schedule can also depend on elevator bookings and the building’s permitted work hours. Budget separately for any asbestos survey, abatement or major drywall repairs.

What to get in the written quote

Get the ceiling scope in writing before you compare prices.

• Which rooms and how much ceiling are included?
• How will the crew protect the room, control dust and clean up?
• What smoothing and repairs are included, and how will extra work be priced?
• Does the price include primer and two finish coats? What paint and sheen are specified?
• Who arranges any needed asbestos survey?
• When can you use the rooms again?

See how we plan and carry out painting projects.

Questions homeowners ask

Can I keep the popcorn ceiling and repaint it?

A sound texture can often be repainted if you’re happy with the look. Some textures soften under water-based paint or lift under a roller. Once any asbestos questions have been addressed, the painter can assess which primer and application method suit the surface. See Sherwin-Williams’ guidance on painting textured surfaces.

Should the ceiling be finished before the walls?

If you’re doing both, plan the ceiling work before the final wall coats. That puts the dustier sanding and surface prep earlier in the job. See Benjamin Moore’s guide to painting ceilings.

Will I see seams or ridges near large windows?

Light that travels across a ceiling can bring out seams and shallow ridges. If that’s how your room is lit, discuss the finish in the room’s usual light before you agree to the scope. A full skim coat is one way to help even out the surface. See National Gypsum’s guide to drywall finish levels.

Can I stay home while the ceilings are being done?

Ask how the crew will stage the job and which rooms will be closed off while they work. If you’re getting an empty home ready for move-in, ask when the ceiling work will be finished so you can plan furniture delivery around it.

For help planning your repaint, see our Vancouver popcorn ceiling removal service or ask us for a written estimate, or call 604-670-3353.