What popcorn ceiling removal costs
Popcorn removal is priced by the room and the ceiling height, and the estimate says the number before anyone sets up a drop cloth. A test on a ceiling from before 1990 comes first, because asbestos changes who can do the work.
Popcorn ceiling removal jobs we have billed this year
Emergency leak call, ceiling opened and patched
Washington, DC, Sep 2026. Same day. Labor and materials.
$293
Ceiling leak drywall repair, tissue holder and a sprinkler bypass
Washington, DC, Sep 2026. Labor and materials.
$215
Finished jobs with the town and the month. Street addresses stay off the list.
What moves the price
- The age of the house comes first. A ceiling from before 1990 gets a lab test. If the test comes back positive the removal goes to a licensed abatement contractor and we do the finish work after.
- Painted popcorn scrapes slower. Water does not soak through the paint, so the crew works it dry or in small sections, and that adds a day on a big room.
- Ceiling height and furniture move the number. Vaulted ceilings need staging, and a room emptied before we arrive is cheaper than one we empty.
- Skim coat is the finish most people want. If the board under the texture is rough, a full skim adds a coat and a day.
Get the number for your job
Send the address and a photo. The written estimate comes back the same day on most jobs, and the price on it is the price on the invoice.
Or call or text (443) 998-2738. Hours 8 to 6, Monday through Saturday.
Cost questions
- Do you test for asbestos?
- On anything built before 1990, yes, before any scraping. The sample goes to a lab and comes back in a few days. A positive result means an abatement contractor removes it, and we come back for the skim and paint.
- How long does one room take?
- A bedroom with an eight foot ceiling is usually two days. Scrape and first skim the first day, second skim and sand the second, then prime and paint once it is dry.
- Can I stay in the house?
- Yes. The room is sealed with plastic and the dust stays inside it. You lose that room for two or three days and nothing else.
How the work itself goes is on the popcorn ceiling removal page.