How much will my Popcorn Ceiling Removal Project really cost me?

Measure the ceilings and calculate the cost of removal

First, we must measure the ceilings involved in the project.

Our typical process to come up with the measurements of a ceiling is to calculate the surface area being removed. The surface area is then used to determine the amount of paint and labor needed to cover the ceiling.

A ceiling's surface area can be calculated by measuring the length and width of each section and multiplying them together. Suppose one section of the ceiling has a length of 10 feet and a width of 12 feet. This section would have a surface area of 120 square feet (10 x 12 = 120).

For a rectangular ceiling, the painter needs to measure the length and width of the entire ceiling and multiply them together to calculate its surface area. For more complex ceilings or ceilings with multiple levels, we may have to measure each section separately to determine a ceiling's surface area accurately.

Second, we multiply the square footage times the unit pricing.

The standard price for removing existing (non-sealed meaning not painted) popcorn texture is $1.50 per square foot. Keep in mind that removing existing popcorn texture is a very labor-intensive process which requires a lot of masking off and protection of the area below the ceilings.

If the ceilings have been painted with latex paint (or other sealing product) then the popcorn texture will not come off easily. It typically requires sanding the ceilings and then laying down a skim coat to get an even surface. This makes an already labor-intensive process, even more labor intensive. For this reason, if we must skim coat the ceilings then there’s an additional $1.00 per square foot to the estimate.

Calculate the new finish and other costs

How much will it cost to apply a primer to the bare ceilings?

Once the popcorn texture has been removed, you are left with bare drywall on the ceilings. You will see the original tape seams and any old stains that were underneath the old texture. You may even discover old repairs that you were not even aware were in place.

In order to avoid seeing the mentioned above, a coat of primer needs to be applied. As well as sealing old stains and tape seams, primer acts as a glue for gluing the new texture to the ceiling. It could mean the difference between a peeling ceiling in 2 years and one that does not peel.

To maintain the integrity of the new texture being applied, Home Pros go the extra mile that many other companies don't. There is very little additional cost associated with this extra step, but it provides significant peace of mind.

The price to apply primer to bare ceilings drywall runs $0.40 per square foot for latex and $0.50 per square foot for oil based. You need oil based if you have significant stains that need to be sealed. 

How much will it cost to apply a new knockdown texture?

Once the old popcorn texture has been removed and the ceilings primed, then comes replacing the old popcorn with a new texture. In some instances, homeowners opt to leave their ceilings flat with no texture.

Unless the space is small (like a 5x8 bathroom ceiling), we DO NOT leave ceilings with a flat finish. It is incredibly difficult to leave a ceiling smooth with no imperfections. It typically requires applying a skim coat and then sanding that skim coat until you end up with a flawless finish. 

Our primary finish is a knockdown finish. This is the type of knockdown you find in most new construction housing. The price for applying knockdown texture is $1.25 per square foot. The process is basically blowing texture on the ceiling and then using a trowel to “knock down” the high parts.

What other charges are involved when removing popcorn texture?

Supplies — Supply items like masking tape, masking plastic, masking paper, shields, tarps, garbage bags, and primer are taken into consideration. There are cheap masking tape rolls and then there are high-end tape rolls. There’s high-quality masking plastic and there’s cheap masking plastic. Our experience has taught us that buying cheap things doesn't always work out. As a result, we don't cut corners when it comes to supplies.

The more surfaces we need to mask off (walls, floors, appliances, furniture, etc.) the more supplies we will be required. As a rule of thumb, we usually charge $0.10 per square foot (unless the project is small). For a 3400 square foot home, the total amount would be $340.

Heights— The process of painting ceilings that are 18 feet high is much more complex than painting them from a height of 8 feet. When painting from high heights, the painters have to work more slowly and take more precautions. Due to this additional requirement, we must charge a small fee. In most cases, we charge a flat fee of $150 for the entire project.