Concrete Ceiling Finishing Vancouver Archives

February 4, 2014April 8, 2023

The Lowdown on Textured Ceilings

This condo at 518 Moberly Rd in Vancouver had the textured ceilings removed

If your home was built from about 1950 onwards, there’s a good chance you have textured ceilings, also known as popcorn ceilings or stippled ceilings. It’s even being used today in the countless highrises sprouting from the earth like fungi. You might think, wouldn’t they be able to sell the units for more money if the ceilings were smooth and actually looked finished? Yes, they most likely would, but the problem is that old adage: time is money. Textured ceilings are quick and cheap and they need to sell the units as quickly as possible. This keeps us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com quite busy.

The Nitty Gritty of Textured Ceilings

So let’s break it down. What are the arguments for and against textured ceilings?

“Textured ceilings are quick and cheap to build.”

This argument really only works for the developer. But this is about you, the homeowner.

Ceilings transformed from textured to smooth at a condo at 1230 Haro Street in Vancouver

You’re likely not pocketing the savings the developers made by spraying the

texture. Do you know what else is quick and cheap? Leaving the concrete floors unfinished and not painting the walls. How many developers do that? For some reason textured ceilings have become almost an industry standard and people put up with it.

“Textured ceilings mute sound.”

If you live in a modern condo building, the texture is not making a difference in sound transmission. Generally, you shouldn’t be able to hear your neighbours walking around.

Living room of Vancouver condo now has smooth ceilings - 1230 Haro St, Vancouver — Living room of Vancouver condo now has smooth ceilings – 1230 Haro St, Vancouver

However, if your upstairs neighbour insists on channeling her inner Victoria Beckham by walking in heels at all hours, textured ceilings will not make one iota of difference. You’re going to hear that clickety-clack whether or not you have textured ceilings. Likewise, the creaks and groans of an older home are going to come through regardless of the texture on your ceilings. The sound may not even be coming through the ceilings. If walls are missing insulation, sound will travel through. Unless you have a seriously sound proofed room that can silence a nine-year old boy and his drum set, you’re going to get some sound transfer.

The other sound issue people talk about is echo within a room.

Removal of textured ceilings in the dining room of a Vancouver Condo - 1230 Haro St. — Removal of textured ceilings in the dining room of a Vancouver Condo – 1230 Haro St.

Echoes occur when sound waves bounce off of hard surfaces such as walls and ceilings, multiple times. It’s true, if you have an empty room with no furniture, textured ceilings will slightly dampen echoes. But once you add softer components such as sofas, chairs, beds, carpets, rugs, etc., the sound waves will be absorbed by these softer items and won’t create an echo. So your textured ceilings are not helping.

“Textured ceilings don’t bother me.”

Are you sure about that? They may not bother you visually, but what they harbour could be affecting your health. Asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems can be aggravated by the dust and allergens that are present in every home. In most homes you vacuum, you dust…problem solved, right? Not so fast. The dust gets stuck in the nooks and crannies of textured ceilings. It can then fall back down at its leisure, making your symptoms worse.

Smooth ceilings appear higher - Vancouver condo at 1331 Homer St. — Smooth ceilings appear higher – Vancouver condo at 1331 Homer St.

Resurfaced concrete ceilings at a Vancouver condo - Bedroom at 1331 Homer St. — Resurfaced concrete ceilings at a Vancouver condo – Bedroom at 1331 Homer St.

Smoothing Out the Nitty Gritty

The good news is that you’re not stuck with textured ceilings. From penthouse condos to heritage homes and everything in between, we can provide smooth ceilings for pretty much every type of dwelling (we’ve yet to do a hobbit-hole, though).

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, our name only tells part of the story. Removing the ceiling texture is only the first step to smooth ceilings. Once the texture is gone, you’ll often see inconsistencies in the ceilings. If you were to paint at this stage, they wouldn’t look very good. The next, crucial step is where our expertise really shines: resurfacing the ceilings. Our process will leave you with flawless, smooth ceilings that look fantastic.

Contact us today for a FREE QUOTE for getting rid of your textured ceilings. Send us an email, or call us at 604-420-7578.

Close-up view of corner after ceiling texture removal at a condo at 1331 Homer St, Vancouver

Living room with smooth ceilings - condo at 1331 Homer St, Vancouver — Living room with smooth ceilings – condo at 1331 Homer St, Vancouver

Tired of your textured ceilings? Contact us today for a FREE quote!

January 8, 2014November 23, 2023

Ceiling Finishes

Your Own Personal Sistine Chapel

Ceiling finishes are pretty much only limited to your imagination. From Michelangelo-esque works of art to wallpaper to coffered ceilings, the one thing required before beginning is a flat surface. Popcorn ceiling texture gets in the way of most ceiling finishes.

Ceiling Finishes: Smooth ceilings in North Vancouver - Fireplace — Ceiling Finishes: Smooth ceilings in North Vancouver – Fireplace

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we specialize in not only removing the texture, but more importantly, in creating sleek, blemish-free surfaces. They are beautiful left this way, or use them as a base to apply mouldings, medallions or stencils to get the look you want.

Sashimi, Steak Tartare, Egg Nog: Must Our Concrete be Raw Too?

If you live in a highrise building, you likely have concrete ceilings. Designers of these buildings use various concrete ceiling finishes to achieve whatever look they’re going for. Sometimes they’re left bare for a raw, industrial look. This look isn’t for everyone.

Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings - Texture removed from concrete ceilings in Vancouver — Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings – Texture removed from concrete ceilings in Vancouver

While it may look glamourous in magazines or movies, in real life it can feel cold, impersonal and just plain unfinished. Other times the concrete’s sprayed with ceiling texture just like drywall ceilings are. Why? It’s cheaper to spray popcorn texture than it is to finish them to a nice smooth surface. If you have over 100 condos in a building to finish, speed usually triumphs over quality. RemoveCeilingTexture.com can remove the texture, fix any cracks and holes and skim over the concrete to create a warmer, finished look.

Smooth Ceiling Finishes

Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings - Dining room in Port Coquitlam has the texture removed — Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings – Dining room in Port Coquitlam has the texture removed

Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings - Close up of texture removal around a light fixture in North Vancouver — Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings – Close up of texture removal around a light fixture in North Vancouver

Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings - Stain in North Vancouver living room is gone, along with the ugly texture — Ceiling Finishes: Smooth Ceilings – Stain in North Vancouver living room is gone, along with the ugly texture

Contact RemoveCeilingTexture.com today for a FREE, no obligation, quote for ceiling texture removal. Send us an email, or give us a call at 604-420-7578. We’d love to discuss your project and answer any ceiling related questions you may have.

December 17, 2013November 2, 2016

Popcorn Ceiling Removal

You know the saying, popcorn doesn’t grow on trees? Oh, that’s not the saying? Well, it doesn’t grow on trees. And it shouldn’t grow on ceilings either. Popcorn ceilings is another term for textured ceilings. I guess they started calling it popcorn ceilings because warty ceilings just doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?

*On a side note, I did a Google image search for warts when writing this post. Do not do that. Ever.

Whether you call it popcorn ceilings, textured ceilings, stippled ceilings, or what it really looks like, diseased ceilings, you can have it removed. RemoveCeilingTexture.com specializes in popcorn ceiling removal.

So Popcorn Ceilings Look Bad, What’s the Big Deal?

Apart from the fact that they’re hideous to look at, popcorn ceilings are harmful to your health.

Entrance area of a Vancouver condo that has had popcorn ceiling removal

Since they are next to impossible to clean, dust gets trapped up there. Do you know what dust is composed of? It’s a mixture of many things, including plant pollen, hair, and skin cells. Yes, all those things are trapped up in your popcorn ceiling. If you or a family member has allergies, you’ll benefit from smooth ceilings. Even if you don’t have respiratory problems, I think we can all agree that when it comes to breathing in skin cells, less is better. Now that you’re completely grossed out over popcorn ceilings, how can you have them removed?

Popcorn Ceiling Removal by the Experts

Popcorn ceiling removal in Vancouver - Living Room — Popcorn ceiling removal in Vancouver – Living Room

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we’re experts in creating smooth ceilings. But it’s not as easy as simply scraping the popcorn off. There are a few steps involved. First the popcorn is removed with a special machine to minimize any mess. After this step, the ceilings look rough and unfinished. The second step, ceiling resurfacing, is where the real magic comes in. This is where we even out any dips, waves, or other blemishes apparent when the popcorn comes off. The last step is a quick sanding to make the ceiling flawless. Read more about RemoveCeilingTexture.com’s unique process.

Bedroom of Burnaby condo after popcorn ceiling removal

Brighter hallway after popcorn ceiling removal

Popcorn ceiling removal in the living room

No Strings Attached

If you’re like us, you believe that popcorn belongs at the movies, not stuck to your ceilings. Contact RemoveCeilingTexture.com today for a quote on popcorn ceiling removal. Unlike some companies, we don’t charge for providing a quote and our quotes are always obligation free. So send us an email, or give us a call at 604-420-7578.

Get a FREE quote on popcorn ceiling removal!

November 23, 2013November 2, 2016

Ceiling Refinishing

Most fads of the 60s and 70s have pretty much disappeared. Except pet rocks. Like parrots and other long-living animals, pet rocks often outlived their owners, ending up abandoned in animal shelters.

This condo at 55 Blackberry Drive in New Westminster has had ceiling refinishing

Anyway, for some unexplainable reason, popcorn ceilings, sometimes known as stippled ceilings, are also still hanging in there. What you may not know is that you can do something about it! Ceiling refinishing is an option that will leave you with smooth ceilings.

Can’t I Just Scrape Off My Ceiling Texture?

Getting smooth ceilings isn’t as simple as scraping off the texture. There are other things to consider, outlined below, and this is why a professional who has a lot of ceiling experience should be hired. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, our entire business is built around ceiling refinishing. We have the expertise necessary to turn your outdated, textured ceilings into smooth, flawless surfaces.

Asbestos:

If your home was built prior to the early 80s, the ceiling texture could contain asbestos. Asbestos fibres are generally not dangerous unless they are airborne, which they will become if you scrape the texture. These fibres are microscopic and when breathed in can get lodged in your lungs. This can lead to breathing problems, scarring and in extreme cases, mesothelioma. If you do have asbestos in your texture, you can still have smooth ceilings. RemoveCeilingTexture.com’s unique process can give you smooth ceilings without disturbing the asbestos fibres. The fibres are sealed in and won’t be disturbed unless there’s some sort of home demolition, or a major earthquake, in which case, ceiling texture would be the least of your problems.

Painted Ceiling Texture:

People often don’t know what to do with dirty ceiling texture. It can’t be cleaned, so they just slap some paint over it. This method is not an ideal solution. Who wants to repaint their ceilings every 6 months? If the texture has been painted, it won’t scrape off easily, if at all. It’ll be very difficult to remove it without gouging the ceiling. This is another great reason to have the professionals at RemoveCeilingTexture.com deal with your ceilings.

Uneven Ceilings:

The reason stipple is applied to ceilings is so that they don’t have to be finished properly. This saves the builder time and money. If you do manage to remove the texture from your ceilings, you will likely find that they’re in rough shape. They may be uneven or wavy. Wavy ceilings are seen especially in condos with concrete ceilings. The concrete frames they use are not perfect, so you’re left with waves, ridges, holes and other blemishes. This is where ceiling refinishing comes in.

What is Ceiling Refinishing and What is Remove Ceiling Texture’s Process?

If there is no asbestos in the ceiling texture, the texture is removed with a special sander/vacuum. This is not some Red Green inspired duct-taped contraption, but a refined piece of German engineering created specifically for the wall and ceiling industry.

*If there is asbestos in the ceiling, we skip the sanding step and add an encapsulant to the mud compound for the skim coating step below.

The first step to smooth ceilings is sanding the texture with the Festool specialty sander

The Festool sander is German-engineered for the wall and ceiling industry

Next comes the crucial step that will make your ceilings look professional: ceiling refinishing. A mud compound is applied by hawk and trowel, the same method used by plaster artisans for centuries. Depending on the condition of the ceiling, one to three coats are applied in this fashion, with time for drying between each coat.

During the ceiling refinishing process a mud compound is applied

The last step is sanding. Our method of applying the compound is so precise that the ceilings don’t really need much sanding at all. Just a light sanding and the finished product is revealed: a smooth, flawless surface.

Ceiling refinishing and repair in Vancouver

Refinished ceilings with potlights in Vancouver

I Immediately Regret This Decision

A North Vancouver homeowner called Remove Ceiling Texture after a failed DIY attempt

So you thought getting smooth ceilings would be easy. You armed yourself with a scraper and the same single-minded determination that wives often witness when husbands refuse to follow the IKEA directions (seriously though, you need the Rosetta Stone to figure out those Swedish hieroglyphics). You thought, “I’m a handy guy (or gal), how hard could it be?” You got up on your ladder and you began the tedious process of scraping the popcorn texture. You soon regretted this decision. Either the texture didn’t come off nicely and you’ve damaged the drywall, or the texture did come off, but then you saw that the ceilings were uneven and looked terrible.

Failed DIY ceiling texture removal attempt in North Vancouver. RCT was called to fix the ceilings.

It’s shortly after this happens that we get a lot of calls from bashful homeowners. Our name may be Remove Ceiling Texture, but only because “Remove Ceiling Texture & Refinish Ceilings & Repair Ceiling Imperfections & Fix Homeowner’s Ceiling Mistakes” makes for a pretty long domain name.

Instead of trying to do it yourself, contact us from the start. We provide FREE, no obligation quotes for ceiling refinishing. Call us today at 604-420-7578 or contact us here or use the form below.

Do your ceilings need refinishing? Contact us today for a FREE, no obligation quote!

October 7, 2013November 2, 2016

Renovations: A Quick Makeover Before the Holidays

Ceiling renovations in the entrance of a condo at 1010 Burnaby St, Vancouver

Not to alarm you, but…Christmas is right around the corner!! How does the song go…Deck the halls (and smooth ceilings) with boughs of holly?

Ceiling texture removal at 1725 Pendrell Street condo in Vancouver

While renovations may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of holiday preparations, it’s a good idea to plan ahead a little. Fall is the perfect time of year for renovations, including ceiling texture removal.

The Frazzled Festive Holiday Season is Upon Us

What is it about the holiday season that makes otherwise sane people act crazy? Everyone (myself included, unfortunately) seems to be in a tizzy trying to get everything “just right”. But you know what? Unless Martha Stewart’s visiting, no one is going to remember the lavender infused whipped cream afloat your gourmet hot chocolate. As long as no one dies from food poisoning, no fingers or toes are lost and your cousin doesn’t show up in his RV prepared to stay for weeks, I’d say it’s a successful Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Thanksgiving or Festivus.

North Pole-Worthy Ceiling Renovations

While your home may not be featured in the Christmas edition of House & Home, there’s no reason why it has to look shabby or outdated, either. A quick and painless way to spruce up your home before the holidays is by doing ceiling renovations, specifically popcorn ceiling removal. This can really change the look of your home. Smooth ceilings reflect light much better and make a space feel larger and brighter. There’s a health benefit to removing ceiling texture also. Allergies and asthma can be aggravated by the dust and allergens trapped up there. So not only will ceiling resurfacing make your home look more modern, but there will be less sneezing and itchy, watery eyes as well. We’re sure your guests (including Santa!) will appreciate this.

Before and after photos from some of Remove Ceiling Texture’s jobs:

Renovations on the concrete ceilings in the living room of a condo at 1010 Burnaby St, Vancouver

Ceiling renovations create a smooth living room ceiling for this home in Langley

Ceiling repair renovations and texture removal in living room of Langley home

Ceiling Renovations Minus the Mess

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we’re in and out in in under a week. An added bonus is that we can work around you while you still live there because our custom process of ceiling resurfacing isn’t messy like you generally see with major renovations, do-it-yourself attempts or even other ceiling contractors.

The floor was a complete mess after the homeowner tried to scrape his own ceilings. RemoveCeilingTexture.com’s process is not nearly this messy.

Our ceiling texture removal process produces almost no mess. Quite a difference from most contractors out there.

We’re ceiling professionals who know that your time is important. Rather than stressing over large renovations, have your ceilings renovated so you can spend time on more important things. Like finding the perfect Christmas outfit for your pet.

For a FREE quote on ceiling texture removal, call RemoveCeilingTexture.com at 604-420-7578 or send us an email.

Need a quick makeover before the holidays? Contact us today for a FREE quote on ceiling renovations!

September 11, 2013November 2, 2016

Scraping Texture From Ceilings

Not a DIY Project

Some people may tell you that scraping texture from ceilings is easy. They may also have a bridge for sale. It’s probably best not to buy it, despite the fantastic price.

This is what DIY texture removal and ceiling smoothing looks like. RemoveCeilingTexture was called in to fix the mess.

In actuality, scraping texture from ceilings is messy and difficult work. Once the texture is gone, it still won’t be paint ready. Popcorn texture is applied so that builders don’t have to finish the ceilings properly. This saves them time and money. So once you’ve scraped your ceilings, you’ll see all the imperfections. This applies to both drywall and concrete ceilings. If your ceilings are concrete, you may have to deal with waves and ridges caused by the concrete forms. The ceiling will need to be professionally finished if you want it to look decent.

Asbestos–The Fire Resistant Gift That Keeps On Giving

You also have to consider the fact that houses and apartments built before 1980 could have asbestos in the ceiling texture. Asbestos was used in all sorts of building materials, including some ceiling textures, because it is fire resistant. At the time, they thought it was a miracle product. They later learned that microscopic, airborne asbestos fibres are extremely dangerous to breathe in. The fibres get lodged in your lungs and can cause scarring and mesothelioma, a type of cancer. You definitely don’t want to be scraping texture from ceilings if there’s a chance it could have asbestos fibres. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we test the texture to make sure there’s no asbestos if the building was built prior to 1985. This is for our safety as well as yours.

Scraping Texture From Ceilings: A Friendship Saved

We were recently contacted by a homeowner in downtown Vancouver who had figured that scraping his ceiling texture would be a piece of cake. His condo was built in the late 1980s, so asbestos was not a concern. He started in the living room with a friend’s help. What would take one professional no time at all ended up taking them a combined time of over 20 hours, and that was for the living/dining room only! And even with all that work, the ceiling looked horrible once the texture was gone. On top of that, he had a major mess on his hands, as the scraped texture ended up covering every surface in the apartment.

The floor was a complete mess after the homeowner tried scraping texture from ceilings. RemoveCeilingTexture.com's process is not nearly this messy. — The floor was a complete mess after the homeowner tried scraping texture from ceilings. RemoveCeilingTexture.com’s process is not nearly this messy.

The homeowner soon realized that he was in over his head, quite literally. When you don’t have the tools and most importantly, the expertise, the project quickly turns into a nightmare. He decided there was no way he could ask his friend to continue this madness with him, if he valued his friendship. So he contacted us. We fixed the living and dining room ceilings that they had worked on and resurfaced the ceilings in the rest of the condo. We also repaired a section of ceiling where a wall had been removed. The ceiling transition between the two rooms is now seamless.

Wall removal left a large section of the ceiling to be repaired. We fixed this with no problem.

After deciding that scraping texture from ceilings himself was too difficult, the homeowner called us in to do the rest of the condo.

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, our area of focus is quite specific: We take ceilings from lumpy and dated to smooth and modern. We have the tools and the expertise and so we were able to rescue his DIY attempt, save his sanity and quite possibly save a friendship.

World peace is next on our list.

The laundry room gets updated thanks to popcorn ceiling texture removal.

And Now You Know…The Rest of the Story

The truth is, scraping texture from ceilings is only the first step in the process of getting smooth ceilings. Once the texture has been removed, we apply layers of compound, by hawk and trowel, to ensure the finished ceiling is level and free of any blemishes. This takes an expert eye and years of experience. Since your ceilings will need to be professionally finished even if you scrape them yourself, why not save yourself the headache and mess and have a professional work on them from the start? Call us today at 604-420-7578 for a FREE QUOTE on ceiling texture removal, or contact us by email.

Did you try to scrape your ceilings yourself and now need them fixed? Contact us today for a FREE quote!

August 21, 2013November 23, 2023

Ceiling Renovations–Look up, Way up

Popcorn Ceilings: Bedroom ceiling renovations at 2628 Ash Street, Vancouver.

Ceiling renovations are often overlooked when it comes to home improvements. The focus tends to be on flooring, fabrics and furniture—all the exciting, pretty things that can transform a room.

These details are important and should demand attention, but don’t forget about the large canvas above your head. Having the popcorn ceiling texture removed can be one of the biggest changes a room can undergo. You may be surprised at what smooth ceilings can do for a space. Besides being a health hazard and having a dated look, ceiling texture absorbs light rather than reflecting it, so it can make the space appear darker and smaller. With smooth ceilings, the space opens up and feels larger.

With Ceiling Renovations, It’s All in the Timing

So when is the best time for ceiling renovations?

Popcorn Ceilings: Concrete ceiling renovations at 193 Aquarius Mews, Vancouver - Living Room — Popcorn Ceilings: Concrete ceiling renovations at 193 Aquarius Mews, Vancouver – Living Room

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com we work on ceilings anytime. Even if you’re living in the space, we can work around you. However, if you are planning a full renovation, it’s best to start from the top down. It’s easier for everyone involved in the reno if the ceilings are done first. While our custom process of creating smooth ceilings is not messy, the light sanding at the end to ensure a perfectly smooth finish means that there will be some minor dust. The perfect time for this is before you’ve installed new cabinets or flooring.

Picture Proof

Below are before and after photos of ceiling renovations we’ve done in Metro Vancouver. The comment we hear over and over again from homeowners we’ve worked with is that they wish they had had their ceiling texture removed sooner. They can’t get over what a difference smooth ceilings makes in the look of their home.

Whether you’re planning a full-scale home renovation, or want to renovate bit by bit, contact us today at 604-420-7578 or by email for a FREE QUOTE on ceiling renovations.

Popcorn Ceilings: Bedroom ceiling renovations at 3070 Guildford Way, Coquitlam

Popcorn Ceilings: Living room ceiling renovations at 3070 Guildford Way, Coquitlam

Popcorn Ceilings: Dining room ceiling renovations at 2628 Ash Street, Vancouver

Popcorn Ceilings: Concrete ceiling renovations at 193 Aquarius Mews, Vancouver - Bedroom — Popcorn Ceilings: Concrete ceiling renovations at 193 Aquarius Mews, Vancouver – Bedroom

Thinking about ceiling renovations? Contact us today for a FREE quote on ceiling texture removal!

June 14, 2013March 23, 2020

DIY vs. a Professional Contractor

Smoothing ceilings is harder than it looks! This was a DIY attempt.

There is a big Do It Yourself movement right now. If you turn on HGTV, you likely won’t have to wait long for a DIY program. The book section at Home Depot is filled with DIY guides. The idea is that you’ll save money by doing a project yourself. The problem with this theory is that it doesn’t consider your time to be worth anything. Whether you’re working to earn income, socializing with friends or spending quality time with family, your time is valuable.

At RemoveCeilingTexture we’re often contacted by homeowners who have attempted to scrape off their popcorn ceiling texture. This is a messy, time-consuming process, but the real problem comes after the texture has been removed. There’s a reason texture is applied to ceilings. It’s to hide imperfections. Once the texture is removed, these deficiencies are obvious. The ceilings will still need to be finished by a professional.

This is after Remove Ceiling Texture was called in to professionally fix the DIY mess.

Remove Ceiling Texture fixed the homeowner's DIY disaster. — Remove Ceiling Texture was able to fix the homeowner’s DIY disaster.

Hiring a professional contractor offers several advantages over attempting a project yourself.

Practice Makes Perfect

Could someone off the street walk into your place of work and do your job? Not likely. Perhaps you have a degree or have taken relevant courses. You’ve had training and experience. You are a professional at what you do. In the same way, professional contractors have had training and they have experience. This is what they do every single day. They have know-how that can’t be taught in a 30-minute DIY show.

Time is Money

What might take you several days or a week to get done, a professional contractor can accomplish in a day or so. There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all, the contractor doesn’t have to consult books or internet articles to make sure that he’s doing it the right way. As mentioned above, they have the knowledge and experience already. And second of all, this is their full time job. You have other things that need to get done. Maybe you work full time and can’t commit to the hours at a time that are often needed. You might have to drive kids to soccer games or piano lessons. When you’re constantly interrupted, it’s difficult to get much done at all. Just ask any mom with small kids!

Tools of the Trade

Many projects require specific tools. Unless your neighbour is Mike Holmes and he loves to lend you his tools, you’ll either have to rent or buy the tools necessary. And there’s a learning curve to many of these tools—it takes a few tries to get it right. A skilled professional knows the tools of his (or her!) trade like the back of his hand.

Quality Craftsmanship–Guaranteed Perfection

The other problem with the saving money theory, is that often the project doesn’t get done the right way the first time. You could end up spending more time and money having to redo the work you’ve already done. A professional contractor does it right the first time. They also guarantee their work. If something does go wrong or doesn’t look quite right, they’ll come back and fix it. Their reputation is on the line, so perfection is important. A project that has been done DIY-style is often apparent to most people. Even if it was done fairly well, it usually doesn’t have the polished look that it will when done by a professional.

So how should you go about hiring a professional contractor?

Finding a Qualified Contractor

Ask around. Friends, family or neighbours can be a good source of referrals. Not only can they tell you about the contractor’s performance, but you can see the work for yourself. Home building associations can also be useful. An internet search of the project you want done (for example: ceiling texture removal) should pull up a list of relevant contractors also.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers this advice about hiring a contractor:

Discuss your project with a few potential contractors to get their advice and suggestions on how they would do the work. At the first meeting, some may give you a rough estimate of costs, depending on the project’s scope and complexity. The first meeting is usually more to get to know the contractor and the contractor’s work. Unless you have been able to check out the contractor ahead of time you should not sign anything or pay anything at this stage.-1

If possible, have the contractors visit the project site before giving you a quote. For accuracy, it’s important that they see the entire scope of work and take their own measurements where necessary. While they are there, ask as many questions as possible. As the CMHC guide points out:

You won’t offend reputable firms with questions. If a contractor doesn’t seem to know much about the technical details of the job or doesn’t want to talk about them, you may have the wrong contractor.-2

It’s also important to ask about workers’ compensation and insurance coverage. Every reputable contractor should have these basics. Feel free to ask for samples of work and references. If they are experienced professionals, they should have no problem providing you with this.

You Get What You Pay For

A few quotes should be enough to make a decision. They should be in writing and state clearly what is included. There should also be an expected time frame. If the quotes are vastly different from each other, make sure each contractor understood the project completely. If something was missed on one quote, you won’t be able to compare them properly. While price is important, it shouldn’t be the only thing you consider. Think about your interaction with each contractor. Did you feel comfortable asking questions or were you made to feel stupid? Did they communicate well with you or did you have to drag answers out of them? Did they offer suggestions or were they not very familiar with the type of project? If you aren’t comfortable with your contractor, the cheapest price isn’t necessarily worth it in the long run.

The Nitty Gritty

Once you’ve hired the contractor, the open communication should continue. The best way to avoid misunderstandings is to talk. If you have questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to voice them. Likewise, if something unexpected comes up that could change the scope of the project (as sometimes does with renovations and construction), your contractor should discuss it with you as soon as possible and give you options on how to solve the issue. You should always feel involved in the process and never forced into any decision—after all, it’s your house and your money.

Upon Completion

When the project is complete, inspect the work to make sure that you’re happy with it. If there is a problem, contact your contractor right away. They will be glad to fix it. Remember, contractors often work on referrals, so your satisfaction is important to them.

Some people love puttering around the house, working on a project bit by bit for weeks on end. If this is you and you can live with less than perfect results, by all means, go the DIY route. But if you demand quality results and want things done properly the first time, hire a qualified professional—you won’t regret it.

This DIY job left the ceilings uneven and patchy. — This DIY ceiling texture removal job left the ceilings uneven, patchy and full of ridges.

The homeowner made a mess of smoothing his ceilings as he attempted to DIY.

Remove Ceiling Texture cleaned up the DIY mess and the homeowners were left with smooth ceilings. — Remove Ceiling Texture cleaned up the DIY mess and the homeowners were left with perfectly smooth ceilings.

The DIY ceiling smoothing attempt was fixed by Remove Ceiling Texture. — The DIY ceiling smoothing attempt was professionally fixed by Remove Ceiling Texture.

Did you attempt to DIY with your ceilings? Contact us today!

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References:

1. Hiring a Contractor | CMHC
June 5, 2011. Web. <http://www.architectes-urgence.ca/fr/pdf/inondation/SCHL/SCHL-CMHC_Hiring-a-Contractor.pdf > p.1

2. Hiring a Contractor | CMHC
June 5, 2011. Web. <http://www.architectes-urgence.ca/fr/pdf/inondation/SCHL/SCHL-CMHC_Hiring-a-Contractor.pdf > p.2

May 29, 2013March 23, 2020

Concrete Ceilings – Imperfections Show If Not Finished Professionally

The ugly ceiling texture is removed and no longer competes with the million dollar view of False Creek

Living in a Concrete Jungle

Behind the sleek glass of highrise apartment buildings is concrete, and lots of it. When building these super-structures, concrete is poured into forms and left to cure. After the forms are removed, the ceilings generally aren’t perfectly flat. To disguise the residual waves, popcorn ceiling texture is often applied. Does this mean if you have concrete ceilings you’re stuck with ugly ceiling texture? Not if RemoveCeilingTexture has anything to say about it!

With Concrete Ceilings, Professionals Make All the Difference

We were called in to have a look at the popcorn covered concrete ceilings of a condo at Marinaside Crescent in Yaletown. The popcorn was an ugly blemish on the homeowner’s gorgeous False Creek views and she wanted it gone.

Texture was removed from the concrete ceilings in the living room of this Yaletown condo

She could attempt the messy and tedious process of removing the texture herself, but as mentioned above, concrete ceilings are often wavy and can even have cracks due to the shrinkage of the concrete as it matures (thermal expansion and shrinkage of concrete). The ceilings would still need to be finished and would have to be as smooth as glass because the partial southern exposure will magnify any imperfections. So instead of hiring a “jack-of-all-trades” renovation company, she trusted RemoveCeilingTexture with her ceilings. Our expertise and entire area of focus is just that: ceilings. We know all about working with tricky ripples and unsightly cracks in concrete ceilings (read about another downtown Vancouver condo with concrete ceilings).

Ugly, Textured Concrete Ceilings No Longer Compete with Million Dollar Views

As you can see from the before and after photos, the rough, bumpy ceilings were completely revamped. Furthermore, because the homeowner hired ceiling experts, she doesn’t have to worry about imperfections in the concrete ceiling making a nasty appearance. She can now fully enjoy the impressive Vancouver skyline.

Smooth, finished concrete ceilings give this Yaletown condo's bedroom an update — Smooth, finished concrete ceilings give this Yaletown condo’s bedroom an update

A professional can make concrete ceilings smooth as glass

Do you have concrete ceilings that need finishing or texture removal? Contact us today for a free quote!

February 1, 2012March 23, 2020

Smooth ceilings in Burnaby

smooth ceilings in metrotown, Burnaby (hirise dining room popcorn ceiling texture removal)

This cozy, 1980’s hi-rise apartment at Metrotown, was in need of some well-deserved renovation, and that’s exactly what the owners decided to do. Once the furniture was removed and carpet was pulled up, we moved in to remove that ugly ceiling texture, which had been collecting dust for over 20 years. Not to mention that after 20 years, the owners were sick and tired of looking at it. The owners of this cozy condo were simply looking for one thing; smooth ceilings throughout the apartment.

We removed the popcorn ceiling, skim coated the underlying (rough) concrete ceiling, sanded the ceiling to a smooth finish and painted the ceiling with a ceiling-specific, flat, white primer and paint. As you can see, the results speak for themselves. There is a specific problem that concrete ceilings pose when removing the textured ceilings. This problem is no apparent prior to painting the concrete ceilings and if you have an inexperienced person trying to make smooth ceilings out of textured concrete ceilings, you usually run into a finished ceiling that is uneven and imperfect.

With over 20 years of experience in the specific science of removing textured ceilings and making beautiful smooth ceilings throughout Metro Vancouver, RemoveCeilingTexture.com is your first choice for smooth ceilings.

Click on thumbnails to see full size pictures.

Burnaby_Metrotown_hirise_living_room_ceiling_popcorn_texture_removal

Burnaby_Metrotown_hirise_bedroom_ceiling_popcorn_texture_removal

Are you looking to have smooth texture free ceilings? Click here to get in touch with us!

If you own a house or apartment in the Greater Vancouver area and are thinking of doing some renovations, it is the perfect time to contact us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com for a quote. We will set up a site meeting, measure your ceiling, go over the details of the process with you and finally submit a written, firm quote. The initial consultation and the quote are free. We will help you get the smooth ceilings you are looking for and in the meantime we will show you how to add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

Additionally, find out about other renovation services offered by our sister company (Rocman Enterprises Inc) by clicking here.