How Much Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost?

Few things date a home quite like popcorn ceilings. Once fashionable, popcorn ceilings have become an eyesore at best. Even if a home has been renovated otherwise, these bumpy ceilings give a home a gloomy feel and reduce its resale value.

Luckily, you can hire someone to remove those ugly bumps and create a smooth surface. Most painting companies offer popcorn ceiling removal for anywhere from $1.50-$3 per square foot.

About Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Technically called acoustic ceilings, popcorn ceiling became popular in the 1950s and remained fashionable throughout the 60s, 70s and early 80s. As the name suggests, acoustic ceilings do help reduce noise. However, the ceilings were popular with builders because they were easy to construct and helped hide any imperfections.

Other common names for popcorn ceilings include textured ceilings or cottage cheese ceilings.

Popcorn ceilings are difficult to remove, so most people opt to hire a professional. In some cases, they can be dangerous to remove. Prior to the mid-1970s, most textured ceiling paint contained asbestos. Left untouched, asbestos is not harmful. But when asbestos fibers are disturbed during the removal process, anyone who inhales them is susceptible to lung damage. Professionals know how to remove and dispose of the asbestos without jeopardizing their health or your family’s.

Cost of Popcorn Ceiling Removal

In most regions of the country, popcorn ceiling removal costs about $1.50-$3 per square foot. Be wary of bids that come in below $1.50 per square foot - chances are the company is not licensed and insured. If that’s the case and anyone is injured on the job, you will be liable.

• At $1.50 per square foot, a 15X10 room will cost $225, not including repainting.
• At $3 per square foot, a room of the same size will cost $450.

If your ceilings have asbestos, the price skyrockets because asbestos removal requires highly skilled employees. To boot, the company that takes on the job has to pay extra for proper disposal in accordance with state and federal laws.

Budget anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 per room if your ceilings contain asbestos. To test for the presence of asbestos, submit a sample for lab analysis for about $25.

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