Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley

Acoustic or popcorn ceilings date a room and hold dust. We remove the texture, repair the drywall underneath, skim it flat and finish it smooth or in a light texture, ready for paint. Every job starts with an asbestos test, because many popcorn ceilings installed before about 1981 contain it.

Safety first: asbestos testing

Before we scrape anything, a sample of your ceiling goes to an accredited lab. If it comes back clear, we schedule the removal. If it tests positive, we stop there and refer you to a certified asbestos abatement company, then come back to refinish the ceiling once it's cleared. We don't disturb asbestos-containing material.

Our removal process

1. Protect the room. Floors, walls and fixtures are covered in plastic and paper, and we close off the work area.
2. Wet and scrape. The texture is misted and scraped off, which keeps dust down.
3. Repair the board. Gouges, loose tape and old patches under the texture get fixed.
4. Skim coat. A full skim makes the ceiling flat. Most popcorn ceilings were never finished smooth underneath.
5. Finish. Smooth (Level 5) or a light orange peel or knockdown, your choice.
6. Prime and paint (optional). We can prime and paint the ceiling so it's done in one visit.

What to expect

A typical room takes 2 to 4 days because of dry time between coats. We leave the space broom-clean with the plastic removed.

Common questions

Does my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?

You can't tell by looking. Ceilings installed before about 1981 are the most likely to contain it, so we test every ceiling first.

Can you just paint over popcorn?

You can, but it usually comes out patchy and makes future removal harder. Removing and skimming gives a clean, modern finish.

Smooth or textured after removal?

Either. Smooth looks the most modern; a light texture hides minor imperfections and costs less.

Do I need to move out?

No. We work room by room and seal the work area.

Areas we serve

Serving Baldwin Park, West Covina, Covina, La Puente, Pasadena, Arcadia, Altadena, Monrovia, Hacienda Heights, Glendale and greater Los Angeles. Call or text 323-736-9443 any time, or send your project for a free estimate.