Sprayed acoustic texture was the standard ceiling finish in many ramblers, split-levels and colonials built from the 1960s through the 1980s, which covers a lot of Wheaton, Rockville, Silver Spring and Bowie. It collects dust, is hard to patch, and makes rooms look dated.
Removal is a dusty job, so we contain it: plastic on the walls, floors covered, and HVAC vents sealed. After scraping, the ceiling gets a skim coat to make it smooth, and then it is primed and painted. Because a smooth ceiling shows every flaw, the skim coat is where most of the skill goes, the same finishing work as our drywall and plaster repair. Walls in the room are often repainted afterward by our interior painting crew, and if you want a light texture instead of smooth, see our texture and decorative finishes.
What removal includes
Asbestos testing
A sample sent to an accredited lab before any removal is scheduled.
Room containment
Plastic walls and floors, sealed vents, and a controlled work area.
Texture removal
Misted and scraped, or dry-removed when the texture has been painted.
Skim coating
Full skim coat and sanding with dust control for a smooth finish.
Prime and paint
Primed and finished in a flat ceiling paint that hides minor variation.
Overlay option
Where removal is not practical, new drywall installed over the old ceiling.
Local insight: ceilings from the 1960s to 1980s
Test for asbestos before anyone scrapes
Acoustic ceiling texture was made with asbestos for decades. Federal rules in the 1970s ended the use of asbestos in spray-applied decorative texture, but existing stock kept being installed, so homes built into the 1980s can still have it. A lab test is quick and inexpensive. If it comes back positive, removal is work for a Maryland-licensed asbestos abatement contractor, not a painting crew, and we will tell you so.
Painted popcorn is much harder to remove
Water softens unpainted texture so it scrapes off easily. Once it has been painted, water cannot get in, and it has to be removed dry or covered with a skim coat or new drywall. We check whether your ceiling has been painted before quoting.
Smooth ceilings show everything
Popcorn texture hides drywall joints and uneven framing. Once it is gone, light from windows rakes across the ceiling and shows every seam. That is why we skim coat the whole ceiling, not just the joints, and finish with flat paint.
How a ceiling removal runs
Sample and test
A small sample taken and lab-tested for asbestos.
Contain the room
Plastic, floor protection and sealed vents before work starts.
Remove texture
Misted and scraped, debris bagged daily.
Skim and sand
Skim coat applied and sanded with dust extraction.
Prime and paint
Primer and finish coat, then containment removed and room cleaned.
Popcorn ceiling removal questions
How long does it take to remove a popcorn ceiling?
A typical room takes two to three days including skim coating, drying and paint. Painted texture and larger open areas take longer.
Do we have to leave the house?
No. We work one room or area at a time inside containment, so the rest of the house stays usable.
What if the test shows asbestos?
Then the texture should be removed by a Maryland-licensed asbestos abatement contractor. After abatement, we can skim, prime and paint the ceiling.
Can you just cover the popcorn instead?
Yes. Installing thin drywall over the existing ceiling is a good option when the texture is painted or removal is not practical.