Popcorn Ceiling Removal Archives - RemoveCeilingTexture.com

December 17, 2014January 24, 2023

21 FAQ About Ceiling Texture

As experts in the ceiling industry, at RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we get asked a lot of questions about ceilings. Here is a Frequently Asked Questions section to help you with anything you’ve been wondering about ceilings and ceiling texture. If there is a topic or question that we haven’t covered, please contact us and we’ll be happy to answer your question.

Ceiling Texture Terminology

Let’s start by looking at some terminology. You may hear popcorn ceilings referred to as stippled ceilings, textured ceilings, knockdown texture, Spanish texture, cottage cheese ceilings or stucco ceilings. All those terms refer to some form of ceiling texture.

FAQ About Asbestos in Ceilings:

1. Is there asbestos in ceiling texture?

Not all ceiling texture has asbestos. Domestic sales of asbestos-containing products were banned in 1978, but any existing stock was allowed to be used. A home built in 1982 or prior could have asbestos in the texture. The only way to tell for sure is to take a sample to a certified lab that does asbestos testing. We recommend taking separate samples if you have different types of texture sprayed on your ceilings. Bring the samples to a certified laboratory in your locality, who does asbestos testing.

It is very important to remember that you deal with a laboratory who does not also provide asbestos abatement services. There are many asbestos abatement contractors who operate asbestos testing labs. Such contractors have a vested interest in reporting positive asbestos results, and scaring the customer into buying their asbestos abatement services. We regularly use and recommend HBM Environmental Laboratories in the greater Vancouver area, because they have a proven and reliable track record.

2. Is it safe to live in a home that has asbestos in the ceilings?

If there is asbestos in your ceiling texture or drywall mud, it is generally not a problem unless you start disturbing it. Asbestos fibres are not dangerous unless they become airborne and can then be breathed in. If you are planning renovations, make sure that you take a sample to a lab for testing, or hire a company that will take a sample for you. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we offer a service where we will collect the sample from your property and have it tested by a certified laboratory. Contact us today to get your ceiling texture, drywall mud or linoleum floor tiles tested for asbestos presence.

Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver - Bedroom — Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver – Bedroom

3. How can I tell if my ceiling texture has asbestos?

Asbestos fibres are microscopic, so the only way to tell if your ceiling texture has asbestos is to have a sample tested at a certified lab. Even if your home was built prior to the asbestos ban (1978), it’s not guaranteed that the ceiling texture contains asbestos.

4. When was asbestos banned in popcorn ceilings?

Canada banned the use of asbestos in popcorn ceiling texture in 1978. However, they allowed any existing stock to be used up. A home built prior to 1982 should have the texture tested if renovations are planned, just to be on the safe side.

Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver - Dining Room — Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver – Dining Room

5. Is there asbestos in drywall?

Drywall itself does not contain asbestos. However, prior to the asbestos ban in 1978, asbestos was routinely added to the mud that drywallers used to tape drywall joints. If you’re planning renovations, be sure to take a sample of the joint tape and mud to your local certified asbestos testing lab.

6. I scraped my popcorn ceiling and it contained asbestos. Should I be concerned?

Asbestos fibres are so tiny that even a paper mask will not protect you from breathing them in. Only a proper respirator is acceptable. If you used a paper mask, or no protection at all, while you were working and there was asbestos involved, you should be monitoring your lung health. Because asbestos fibres are miniscule and jagged, when they are breathed in, they can become lodged in the lung tissue. Repeated exposure (such as to people who work in the asbestos industry), is most dangerous and can lead to scar tissue and mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer. Scientific observations have also shown that a smoking habit greatly increases the risk of lung cancer in conjunction with exposure to asbestos. Often there are no symptoms until many years after exposure, so make sure to get anything unusual checked out by a qualified medical professional.

Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver - Entrance — Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver – Entrance

7. Is it illegal to paint popcorn ceilings that contain asbestos?

No, it is not. All forms of textured ceilings, including ones containing asbestos are being painted every day in the Greater Vancouver area.

8. Should a home inspector remove a part of a textured ceiling to determine if there is asbestos?

As it is routinely the case, home inspectors come in prior to the sale/purchase transaction of a property. Therefore it is not customary for home inspectors to alter or remove any part of the house. If you are selling your home and you are aware of any part of your house containing asbestos, you are obligated by law in Canada and the United States, to disclose that your home contains asbestos.

If you are purchasing a home, your seller must disclose if they know any part of the home contains asbestos.

Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver - Hallway — Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver – Hallway

9. Where can I go to get popcorn ceiling tested for asbestos?

As mentioned above, you are best off finding a certified local laboratory who performs asbestos testing. We use the services of HBM Environmental Laboratories in the greater Vancouver area.

FAQ About the Ceiling Texture Removal Process

10. How many days do we have to be away from home when having popcorn ceilings removed?

While it’s not necessary to move out while your ceilings are being worked on, if you do have a place to stay, that will make it easier for everyone. The number of days required for the project will depend on several factors: the size of your home, the height of the ceilings, if there are vaulted areas, skylights, if there is asbestos involved, etc., but in general, it will take 5-7 days for an average sized condo or home. If you’re also getting your ceilings painted, add another day or two.

11. What is the process that RemoveCeilingTexture.com uses for smoothing ceilings?

Before beginning, we must find out if there is asbestos in the ceiling texture. If your home was built in 1982 or prior, there’s a possibility that there is asbestos present. Since asbestos fibres are microscopic, the only way to know for sure is to take a sample to a lab to be tested.

If there is no asbestos present, the first step is to remove the ceiling texture. Most DIY sites tell you that you have to spray the texture with water and then take a little scraper and physically scrape every inch of texture off. This DIY process is wet, messy, and very time consuming, and if your ceiling texture has been painted, there is no guarantee that the texture will come off with water. As professionals in the ceiling industry, we have the tools needed to take off the texture in a fraction of the time, with no water and far less mess. We use a special German-engineered Festool machine to sand the texture down. It vacuums as it sands, so the texture falling to the floor is minimal.

If there is asbestos present, we skip the step above and start with the following step.

The next step is the most important part in getting smooth, finished ceilings. Using the same method that plasterers have used for centuries, the hawk and trowel, we apply a mud compound to the entire ceiling. This requires working on stilts, using an artist’s eye to overcome any deficiencies in the ceiling. This generally takes two to three coats of compound to ensure the ceiling is flat and as level as possible.

The final step is a light sanding to make certain the finish is smooth. We then vacuum up the majority of the dust and the project is complete. We can also provide ceiling paint, if required.

12. How much does it cost to have popcorn ceilings removed?

There are many factors to determining the cost of ceiling texture removal. Some considerations are the age of the home, height of the ceilings, vaulted areas, skylights, etc. Be wary of someone who gives you a firm price sight-unseen. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we can often give you a rough estimate of the price without seeing the ceilings, but in order for us to give you a firm, formal quote, we need to come out to see the ceilings and take some measurements.

13. Is the process of ceiling texture removal really messy?

If you’re scraping your own popcorn ceilings, then yes, it’s very messy. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we have the professional tools and the experience necessary to transform ceilings from lumpy to smooth with minimal mess. That being said, it is a renovation, and like any renovation, there will be dust involved. We do our best to keep your home clean, and vacuum up the majority of the dust. As with any construction/renovation project, a thorough cleaning is the homeowner’s responsibility.

14. I’m having my ceiling texture removed. What do I need to do to prepare?

All areas of the ceilings must be accessible. Move as much furniture as possible out of the rooms that will be worked on. Any furniture that cannot be removed should be pushed up against the walls. Sofas and beds can be tipped up on their sides and leaned against the walls. Cover anything that you don’t want to get dusty with plastic or sheets.

It’s not necessary to protect your floors, as the texture and dust is vacuumed up, and the mud compound used to resurface the ceiling is water-soluble. However, if you prefer to protect your hardwood or laminate floors, use a sturdy paper product like this one, also available Home Depot, not plastic, as that will make the floor too slippery to walk on with stilts. If you are protecting carpet, use a product such as this self-adhering film from Home Depot.

Access to water and electricity is required. A sink and normal household outlets will work.

Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver - Living Room — Ceiling Texture Removal at 1st Ave Vancouver – Living Room

15. Does RemoveCeilingTexture.com carry insurance and WCB coverage?

Yes, RCT is fully covered by insurance and we have WCB coverage. Information about each is sent out with our formal quotes.

General Ceiling Questions

16. Does popcorn ceiling lower the value of your home?

We’ve dealt with many buyers who are in the process of putting an offer on a home. They contact us to see how much it will cost to have the ceiling texture removed, and they’re going to factor that into the offer. If your ceilings are already smooth, your home will naturally fetch better offers from potential buyers. If the choice for a buyer is between your home and a similar home, you want to get whatever edge you can. If one has modern, smooth ceilings and is move-in ready, it will be more appealing.

17. Why are builders still applying ceiling texture?

Spraying ceilings with texture remains a popular choice with builders because it’s faster, and therefore cheaper, than spending the time on finishing them properly. This is especially true for condos. There are so many units to be finished and there’s usually a tight schedule in order to keep the profit margin as high as possible.

18. Can I just I drywall over my textured ceilings?

Drywalling over textured ceilings is not a very good way to get smooth ceilings. First of all, you’ll lose at least 1/2″ of headroom. You’ll also be adding a lot of extra weight to the ceiling joists. Why add that extra weight when it’s unnecessary? RemoveCeilingTexture.com’s process of smoothing ceilings does not add the heavy bulk that drywall adds.

19. Do popcorn ceilings cause allergies and asthma?

While popcorn ceilings may not actually cause allergies, they can aggravate them. Airborne dust tends to get trapped in popcorn ceilings. It’s next to impossible to clean textured ceilings without creating a huge mess, so this dust builds up. It often floats back down and can irritate anyone’s breathing, let alone someone with a compromised respiratory system. Smooth ceilings don’t trap dust like popcorn ceilings do, and they’re easy to clean, if necessary.

20. What’s causing the cracks in my ceiling?

There are several reasons your ceilings could be cracking. If there’s a leak in your roof, or from your upstairs neighbour, the water that trickles down to your ceilings can cause cracks and can make your popcorn texture peel. The first thing to do is to get the leak fixed. This will most likely involve a plumber. Fixing the ceiling without fixing the leak is just throwing away money. The ceiling damage will keep coming back until the root of the problem has been addressed. Once the leak has been fixed, you can think about having a professional fix your ceilings. This is often the perfect to opportunity to also have the popcorn texture removed.

Cracks can also appear due to the natural settling process of buildings, or if your home was built on improper footings, or on clay soil.

Cracks often appear around the edges of popcorn ceilings, where the wall meets the ceiling. This is often caused by improper finishing of the drywall tape at the wall/ceiling joint.

The important thing to remember with cracks is to fix the root problem first, if possible, then have a ceiling professional fix the ceilings.

(See Before and After pictures of ceiling crack repair by RemoveCeilingTexture.com)

21. What can I do with my ugly popcorn ceilings?

There are so many options for ceilings besides lumpy popcorn texture! Most of these suggestions require your ceilings to be smooth first, so a good first step is ceiling texture removal.

Wallpaper: Wallpaper is making a comeback, and a growing trend is to use it on ceilings.

Metallic leaf: If you have a large budget and want something really unique and luxurious, you can have your ceilings gilded in silver, gold or other metallic leaf.

Tin tiles: Tin tiles can create a vintage look.

Coffered ceilings: Coffered ceilings are most often seen in custom-built homes and can project a unique and exclusive feel.

Wood: Wood can be used in various ways on ceilings. Wood beams can create a European or Mediterranean atmosphere. Or go for a cabin or cottage-type look by using tongue and groove wood paneling. The company Stikwood offers an easy way to get the wood look: stick-on wood.

Bright, unexpected colours: A quick and inexpensive way to change your ceiling is to simply paint it an unexpected colour.

Have a question about your ceilings? Ask the professionals at RemoveCeilingTexture.com!

July 17, 2014January 24, 2023

5 DIY Mistakes Homeowners Make When Removing Textured Ceilings

Before and after ceiling texture removal in the entrance area of a Delta home.

Are you making these DIY mistakes when it comes to your ceilings?

I have to confess to a mistake I recently made. I walked out of a public washroom with the bottom of my skirt tucked up into my underwear. I’ve heard stories about this happening to other people, but I thought it was an urban myth. How could someone not notice that their assets were on display for everyone to see? My saving grace is that I did notice it quick enough to avoid a ticket for public indecency. We all make mistakes. At least that mistake wasn’t costly. But when it comes to home renovations, DIY mistakes can be expensive. Ceiling mistakes can mean paying twice to get the results that you want. Here are some common pitfalls that homeowners often fall into, when it comes to textured ceilings.

1) Living with popcorn ceilings

It’s entirely likely that you currently live in a home with popcorn ceilings, or you have at some point in your life. They were especially popular in the 1970s – 1990s, but are still being used in new buildings and homes today. That’s because it’s cheaper and easier to spray texture on ceilings, than it is to finish them properly to a smooth surface. What you may not realize, is that you don’t have to live with them. They’re dirty, they collect dust and allergens and they look pretty hideous. A ceiling professional can resurface the texture and give you smooth ceilings that your neighbours will envy.

2) Scraping the popcorn ceiling texture yourself

The DIY movement has everyone thinking they can do everything themselves. For instance, as these pins from Pinterest show, there’s a reason bakeries exist. Unless you’re Martha Stewart, buy a cake from a bakery for a special occasion. The same is true for removing popcorn ceilings. It’s not something that you should do yourself. If you don’t have the right tools, and most importantly the experience for the job, it’s a messy and time consuming job. What takes a professional just a few days, could take you weeks. And once the texture is off, your ceilings are going to look pretty rough unless they’re resurfaced. We’ve had several calls from homeowners looking for help after they tried the DIY approach.

The videos you watch on YouTube which explain the DIY process for getting smooth ceilings, are usually shot with some contractor’s cellphone camera, from 8 feet away, in a dimly lit home! They don’t really show how rough the ceiling looks when the DIY job is finished. Our process has been perfected over the years, and our finished product revolves around applying fresh compound to EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE CEILING… AT LEAST TWICE! For a Do-It-Yourselfer to do this, it will take weeks.

Before and after popcorn ceiling removal in the living room of a Delta home.

3) Taking ceiling texture samples for asbestos testing to an asbestos abatement company

If you plan on removing your ceiling texture and your home was built prior to 1980, or you don’t know when the ceiling texture was applied, it needs to be tested for asbestos before removing. One mistake people unknowingly make, is to take a sample of ceiling texture to a company that specialized in asbestos abatement. Most of these companies are legitimate, but (and this is a big but), since they have a vested interest in finding asbestos so they can sell you on their abatement services, it is best to take it to a lab that is not involved whatsoever, in the abatement industry. A good lab in the GreaterVancouver area is HBM Environmental. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we offer a service to come to your home, professionally obtain a sample and deliver it to the lab. Once the results come back, we notify you and provide you with the report from the lab.

Before and after popcorn ceiling removal in the dining room of a Delta home. — Before and after popcorn ceiling removal in the dining room of a North Delta home.

4) Hiring a contractor inexperienced with ceilings to remove the popcorn ceilings.

While you don’t want to scrape the ceilings yourself, you also don’t want a contractor who is not experienced with ceilings specifically. Ceilings can be tricky to work with. We’ve been contacted by owners who needed us to finish the ceilings after someone inexperienced realized he was not quite skilled enough to complete the job. We’ve also been contacted by contractors themselves who didn’t want to get involved with removing ceiling texture because they weren’t sure they could deliver a quality finish. We work with ceilings every day. We know how to deal with waves in concrete ceilings, cracks around the edges of walls, or cracks running through the middle of the room. We’ve worked on vaulted ceilings and skylights and we’ve fixed water-damaged ceilings.

During photo and after photo of popcorn ceiling removal in the living room of a Delta home.

5) Painting the ceilings yourself

Once your ceilings are smooth, they’ll need to be primed and painted. Just as with ceiling texture removal specialists, professional painters have the skills and tools necessary to create a quality finish. This is especially important when there is a lot of natural light in the space. Any imperfection in the paint will show, so it must be done meticulously and skillfully. In a typical home, walls and floors are usually camouflaged with any number of decorations, including picture frames, cabinets, furniture and floor lamps. Therefore, imperfections will not be glaringly visible. But such is not the case with ceilings. Ceilings receive minimal decoration and therefore, you are more likely to see visible imperfections. This is why it’s so important to have a professional smooth the ceilings, and a professional painter to paint the smooth ceilings.

Finally, painting ceilings is pretty hard on the neck, shoulders and back for people who are not accustomed to it. By having a painter paint your ceilings, you might just avoid a trip to your chiropractor.

Hopefully these tips will prevent you from making committing the typical mistakes that homeowners, and especialy Do-It-Yourselfers make when it comes to dealing with their ceilings. To learn more about RemoveCeilingTexture.com’s texture removal process, or to get a FREE quote, give us a call at 604-420-7578 or contact us by email.

Avoid costly ceiling mistakes by contacting the ceiling experts, RemoveCeilingTexture.com!

June 18, 2014November 2, 2016

The Shocking Truth About Popcorn Ceilings and Asthma

Do you or a loved one suffer from asthma or other respiratory illnesses? If so, you know just how valuable good air quality is. You may be shocked to learn that an overlooked part of your home could be affecting your air quality and contributing to asthma symptoms.

Popcorn Ceilings and Asthma Just Don’t Mix

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. While the cause of asthma is thought to be genetic, many triggers are environmental. We can’t do much about our genes, but we can have some control over our environment. Asthma can be aggravated by allergens. Common allergens found in homes include dust mites, pet dander, pollens and molds. Most people with breathing issues realize that these allergens can get trapped in carpet fibres and so they install laminate, wood or tile flooring. But can you guess where else these allergens love to lurk? That’s right: popcorn ceilings! The nooks and crannies in popcorn ceilings provide the perfect place for allergens to hide and fall back down into the air we breathe. Since popcorn ceilings can’t be cleaned or vacuumed, the best thing is to have them removed.

Ceiling Experts Can Help

Before and after popcorn ceilings were removed - Bedroom — Before and after popcorn ceilings were removed – Bedroom

Popcorn ceiling removal is possible, but should only be done by experienced ceiling professionals. As with any renovation project, there will be some dust involved, so if anyone in your family has asthma or is sensitive to dust, it may be a good idea to stay elsewhere while the ceilings are being worked on. Depending on the size of the home, this could be from 3 – 7 days. Once done, the ceilings will be smooth and you’ll no longer have to worry about hidden allergens. As a bonus, the ceilings will look modern and bright. As our name implies, at RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we specialize in removing ceiling texture. This is what we do day in and day out, so we are experts in our field. If you have popcorn ceilings and asthma, or you just want to get rid of the texture for aesthetic reasons, we can help. To learn more about our removal process, read our Ceiling Refinishing article.

Before and After Photos

Before and after popcorn ceilings were removed - Dining Room — Before and after popcorn ceilings were removed – Dining Room

Before and after popcorn ceilings were removed - Living Room — Before and after popcorn ceilings were removed – Living Room

For more Before and After photos, visit our Flickr page!

If you would like more information about having your popcorn ceilings removed, please contact us by phone at 604-420-7578, or send us an email.

To find out more about popcorn ceiling removal, or to get a FREE quote, contact us today!

Resources:

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=6
Asthma Society of Canada: http://asthma.ca/adults/about/whatIsAsthma.php

April 29, 2014November 23, 2023

Covering Popcorn Ceilings

If you’re reading this, you probably have popcorn ceilings that you’d like to have disappear forever. Welcome to the club–we hate them too.

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, as our name points out very clearly, we remove ceiling texture. But what we really do is provide smooth ceilings. And while the end product of smooth ceilings is always the same, our method to achieve this sometimes differs.

Our usual process is to grind the texture down with a special machine made for the ceiling industry, then we resurface the ceilings using a hawk and trowel method. The final step is a light sanding and then your ceilings are done and ready for paint. However, in some cases it’s preferable to skip the grinding step and start with the resurfacing. This means that the texture will remain on your ceilings, but it will be covered up and sealed with the compound that we use for resurfacing.

When is Covering Popcorn Ceilings Preferable?

Covering Popcorn Ceilings: Before and after photo of a hallway in Delta

If you live in a home that was built prior to about 1982, there is a chance that your ceiling texture could contain asbestos. Asbestos was used for various reasons (read our article about asbestos for more information). Anytime there is asbestos involved, you do not want to scrape it. Scraping can cause the asbestos fibres to become airborne, which is when they can be dangerous. The only way to know for sure if there is asbestos is to have a lab examine a sample under a microscope. In cases where asbestos is confirmed (or suspected, but an asbestos test has not been done), we always skip the grinding and instead cover the texture directly with our compound. This seals in the texture and any possible asbestos fibres. The ceilings then get at least two more coats of the compound to ensure proper coverage and to make sure your ceilings are smooth.

Will Covering Popcorn Ceilings Make My Ceilings Shorter?

Covering Popcorn Ceilings: Before and after photo of a bedroom in Delta

When covering popcorn ceilings, we make sure to apply very thin layers of compound. Since we apply it by hand, we can control the depth of the compound and only put enough to cover the texture and make the ceilings smooth. They will be a small fraction of an inch shorter but it won’t be noticeable. In fact, the smooth ceilings will actually make the room feel larger and brighter. It’s surprising how popcorn ceilings can make a space feel small and restricted. People often don’t even notice this until the ceilings are smooth. It’s like a weight has been lifted from the room.

The Before & After images throughout this article are from a home in Delta that we worked on. We applied our compound directly onto the popcorn instead of removing it first. Below are some “During” photos of this project.

Covering Popcorn Ceilings: During photo - bedroom — Covering Popcorn Ceilings: During photo – bedroom

Covering Popcorn Ceilings: During photo - dining room — Covering Popcorn Ceilings: During photo – dining room

Covering Popcorn Ceilings: During photo - hallway — Covering Popcorn Ceilings: During photo – hallway

Whether the popcorn needs to be removed or covered, RemoveCeilingTexture.com can provide you with smooth ceilings. Contact us today for a FREE quote! Give us a call at 604-420-7578 or contact us by email.

Want your popcorn ceilings covered or removed? Contact RCT today for a FREE quote!

April 23, 2014April 8, 2023

Removing Ceiling Texture

Removing ceiling texture is something we at RemoveCeilingTexture.com take pride in. Textured ceilings, popcorn ceilings, stipple ceilings…whatever you want to call them, we despise them. It gives us pleasure to take a home that has dated texture and turn it into something modern, bright and airy. There’s nothing better than the look on the homeowner’s face when they see the ceilings at the end of the project. They often haven’t realized how much the popcorn ceilings have affected the feel of the home, but once it’s gone, the ceilings look higher and the whole space becomes brighter.

Why Do Popcorn Ceilings Exist?

It’s one of the great questions of our time. Second only to the meaning of life, of course.

Removing ceiling texture in the kitchen of a condo at 1723 Alberni Street

Putting a popcorn-like texture on the ceilings is pretty absurd if you think about it. Where else in your home has a thick, ugly texture been sprayed? Do your kitchen cabinets have texture? What about your floors?

Ceiling texture is popular with developers because it’s much easier and faster to spray the ceilings than it is to finish the drywall (or concrete if you’re in a highrise). And ceilings are a difficult area to work on because they’re above your head and out of reach from the floor. This means it takes more time and effort to create a nice, smooth ceiling. Unless they’re building a custom home, or build high-end homes, developers usually want to get the house built as quickly as possible. The faster they can get the house sold, the quicker they can see a profit. Popcorn ceilings are a way to cut corners a bit. Some people argue that ceiling texture stops echoes, but as we wrote in a previous post, The Lowdown on Textured Ceilings, it’s not the popcorn that is absorbing the sound in a room and thus stopping echoes, it’s your furnishings. If you have a completely empty room with popcorn ceilings, there will still be an echo. After removing ceiling texture on many homes, we’ve yet to have anyone complain about echoes.

Improve Your Health by Removing Ceiling Texture

It’s not just that popcorn ceilings are aesthetically offensive, although that’s reason enough to want them removed. They can be detrimental to your health. Popcorn ceilings are known to aggravate asthma and allergies. This is because they trap dust, which can later fall back down, making your eyes itchy and your nose runny. If you or a loved one has asthma, popcorn ceilings can be quite dangerous. A homeowner in North Vancouver contacted us about removing ceiling texture because her grandson was allergic to dust and she was concerned that her ceilings could be making his symptoms worse. She was thrilled with her ceilings after we worked on them. They are now smooth and dust-free.

This North Vancouver homeowner had ceiling texture removal due to health concerns

Removing Ceiling Texture in Coal Harbour

We were recently contacted by a homeowner on Alberni Street in Vancouver. She was concerned about germs and dust that could become trapped in the popcorn ceilings, plus she hated that her condo looked like it was stuck in the 1970s. She decided to remove the texture herself. When she was done the bedroom, she was not impressed with her work. The ceilings were rough and uneven, but she figured that’s as good as they were going to get and she would just have to live with them. Then she found RemoveCeilingTexture.com. When she realized that there is a company in the Lower Mainland that specializes in removing ceiling texture and resurfacing ceilings, she was thrilled. She decided to have us do the rest of her condo. Since it had taken her a long time to scrape her bedroom ceiling, she figured we would be there all week working on her ceilings. When we told her that we should be able to finish within 3-4 days, she was so excited. Her ceilings were straightforward and everything went as planned. We were done within 4 days and she was very pleased with the results.

Here are some before, during, and after photos from the project on Alberni Street:

Removing ceiling texture in the kitchen of a condo at 1723 Alberni Street - BEFORE — Removing ceiling texture in the kitchen of a condo at 1723 Alberni Street – BEFORE

Removing ceiling texture in the kitchen of a condo at 1723 Alberni Street: DURING

Removing ceiling texture in the kitchen of a condo at 1723 Alberni Street - AFTER — Removing ceiling texture in the kitchen of a condo at 1723 Alberni Street – AFTER

If you’re tired of your home looking outdated or are concerned about the health risks that popcorn ceilings pose, removing ceiling texture could be just what is needed. Contact us today for a FREE quote. Give us a call at 604-420-7578 or contact us through email.

Contact RemoveCeilingTexture.com today for a FREE quote on removing ceiling texture!

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April 9, 2014April 4, 2022

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceiling removal at 1128 Quebec St, Vancouver - Dining Room

A Simple Guide on How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings

Saturday – Begin Project

1. Arm yourself with a scraper and determination.

2. Haul out your old, rickety ladder. Hmmm, you’ve been meaning to get a new ladder…

3. Go buy a new ladder. And several other things that catch your eye at Costco.

4. Set up the new ladder in the bedroom. Remove the popcorn. Easy.

5. Realize the layers of paint on the ceiling do not make for easy scraping. Use some elbow grease.

6. Curse at the hole you’ve gouged in the drywall by using elbow grease.

7. Look at the small patch you’ve managed to scrape off so far. Look at the rest of the room ahead of you and think of the other bedrooms, dining room, living room and hallway still waiting. Sigh.

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings article: Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 1128 Quebec St, Vancouver - Bedroom — Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 1128 Quebec St, Vancouver – Bedroom

8. Climb down the ladder and shake off all the popcorn and dust from your hair and clothes. Wonder if the dust is hazardous.

9. Sit down at computer and Google “is popcorn ceiling dust dangerous”. Hide screen from your wife as you see the word ASBESTOS.

10. Find out that your house is not old enough to have asbestos. Phew.

11. Check email, Facebook & Twitter. Find out if the ladder you bought is cheaper anywhere else.

12. Eat lunch.

13. March back to the bedroom. Try to ignore Rover’s sad puppy dog eyes and the leash in his mouth. Fail. Call for your wife to take Rover for a walk. Remember she has taken your daughter to a piano lesson.

14. Be pulled along by Rover as he sniffs every bush and pees on every post. Realize, too late, that you forgot to bring a plastic bag. S#*t.

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings article: Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 1128 Quebec St, Vancouver - Hallway — Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 1128 Quebec St, Vancouver – Hallway

15. Revived from the fresh air, continue your work in the bedroom. Climb up and down the ladder multiple times as you move it foot by foot around the 200 square foot room.

16. Greet your wife and daughter as they walk in the door. Wonder why their mouths are dropped open in horror. Look down from your perch on the ladder at the popcorn-strewn floor around you. Comfort them with the fact that at least it doesn’t have asbestos.

17. Vacuum the popcorn-ceiling-dust trail that Rover has tracked all over the house.

18. Eat dinner. Resolve that you will continue working after dinner.

19. Decide to catch a bit of the game before continuing.

20. Decide it’s too late to continue with the ceiling tonight. Continue to watch TV instead.

21. Calmly answer your wife’s questions about the scrape marks and gouges in the bedroom ceiling.

Sunday – Continue Project

22. Mow the lawn.

23. Start removing popcorn ceiling in hallway.

24. Remember you have to renew your car insurance before it runs out tomorrow. Go renew insurance.

25. Start removing popcorn ceiling in hallway, until your wife suggests maybe the living room should be next.

26. Start removing popcorn ceiling in the living room.

27. Realize that starting this project may have been a mistake.

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings article: Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 1128 Quebec St, Vancouver - Living Room — Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 1128 Quebec St, Vancouver – Living Room

28. Have an early lunch because you have to go coach your daughter’s soccer team.

29. Notice that your garage s pretty messy and spend several hours sorting through junk.

30. Have dinner.

31. Continue working on the living room ceiling until Game of Thrones comes on.

Monday – Friday: You’re too tired after work to contemplate working on the ceilings.

Saturday – Sunday: This weekend is your daughter’s soccer tournament.

Monday – Friday: You’re too tired after work to contemplate working on the ceilings.

Is Your Time Worth Nothing?

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings article: Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 71 Jameson Crt, New Westminster - Living room — Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 71 Jameson Crt, New Westminster – Living room

The above timeline may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the point is, you have other responsibilities in your life besides removing popcorn ceilings. When you’re working on your own home, there are dozens of things to distract you. You may think, “But I’ll save money doing it myself!” That’s only true if you value your own time at zero, because as the saying goes, time is money. Also, no matter what the online guides say about how to remove popcorn ceilings, it’s not easy work. It doesn’t always scrape off easily, and you could damage the drywall beneath. Another thing these guides don’t usually mention is that scraping the texture off is only the first step to getting smooth ceilings. Your ceilings will still need to be resurfaced before you can think about painting them, or they will look rough. It’s usually fairly easy to spot a DIY texture removal–they just don’t look quite finished.

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings article: Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 71 Jameson Crt, New Westminster - Dining Room — Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 71 Jameson Crt, New Westminster – Dining Room

At RemoveCeilingTexture.com we cringe when we see the How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings guides online because we know that as with many DIY projects, it often turns into a headache and the end result is not ideal. We get a lot of calls to fix ceilings that were a failed DIY attempt at ceiling texture removal.

As professional ceiling experts, our only responsibility is to work on your ceilings. We’re not distracted by taking dogs for walks, mowing the lawn, renewing the insurance, soccer games, etc., etc. We also have the tools necessary to get the job done. We have a special machine that takes off the texture and then we resurface the ceilings using a method that has been used for centuries by master artisans.

How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings article: Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 71 Jameson Crt, New Westminster - Bedroom — Popcorn ceiling removal at a condo at 71 Jameson Crt, New Westminster – Bedroom

The hawk and trowel. This method takes years of experience to master. Our experience and specialization in ceiling texture removal is what makes us unique. What may take you weeks to finish, we can accomplish in several days. Our end result is professionally finished, smooth ceilings. Your time is valuable so why waste it with a trial and error attempt at removing popcorn texture?

To get a free quote for removing popcorn ceilings, give us a call at 604-420-7578 or contact us by email. Also, take a look at some of our other before and after photos to see how ceiling texture removal can transform a room.

Find out more about popcorn ceiling removal done the professional way. Contact us today for a FREE quote!

February 27, 2014November 23, 2023

Ceiling Corner Cracks

Ceiling corner cracks. Cracked corners of the ceilings. Entrances to other portals. Whatever you call them, popcorn-texture cracks in the corners of your ceilings are ugly and should be taken care of. And if they are indeed entrances to other portals, you risk the possibility of Narnia-like creatures invading and eating all the cookies in your cupboard. So there’s that.

But aside from thwarting mystical beings, there are practical reasons to get these cracks fixed. To start with, the cracks look terrible. Also, dust and moisture can get in there and create problems, possibly leading to more cracking in the texture. And if that’s not bad enough, just think about insects and spiders setting up shop in there. The ceiling corner cracks have to go if you want peace of mind.

Why Do Ceiling Corner Cracks Appear?

Ceiling texture can crack around the walls

Ceiling texture often cracks in the corners and around the edges of walls because of the way the drywall was finished. If insufficient amounts of mud are applied to the drywall tape at these critical wall-ceiling meeting points, the tape will eventually become too dry and will start to lift off the drywall. The ceiling texture is lifted with the tape and this creates a crack. If you are experiencing this problem, we can fix it during the process of removing the ceiling texture and resurfacing the ceilings with fresh mud compound. This stops the corners from delaminating and cracking again in the long run.

Fix the Cracks and Seal off the Portals

Ceiling Texture Removal in Kamloops - Close-up of ceiling texture in Kamloops — Close-up of ceiling texture in Kamloops

These homeowners weren’t sure what to do about their cracks. They decided to find someone who specializes in ceilings. That’s when they contacted us. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we deal with ceilings and ceiling texture each and every day. Our experience makes us qualified in a way that drywallers and general contractors aren’t because they don’t specialize in ceilings. In fact, we’re often contacted by general contractors who know they don’t have the expertise when it comes to ceilings.

Because the drywall tape underneath the ceiling texture is the culprit, trying to fix the texture won’t solve the problem. The corners are likely to keep cracking in the future. So the homeowners opted to remove the texture altogether and have the ceiling resurfaced. The mud compound we use will stop the tape from lifting. This fixed the ceiling corner cracks problem, but also gave them modern, smooth ceilings that literally freshen the home. Air quality is better after ceiling texture is removed because dust and other allergens can no longer become trapped up there. Now they don’t have to worry about ceiling cracks, asthma aggravation, or half human-half goat fauns leaving muddy hoof marks in the living room.

Other types of ceiling cracks that we often see:

Water damaged ceilings in the living room. You can see the texture has cracked and is peeling. — Cracked, water damaged ceilings

Another crack fixed in the den of a Burnaby condo

Another view of ceiling cracks in Burnaby

Ceiling cracks in the living room of a Burnaby condo.

Living room ceiling cracks were repaired by RemoveCeilingTexture.com

If you have ceiling cracks, or you just want more information on removing ceiling texture, contact us today. Call us at 604-420-7578 or contact us by email for a FREE quote.

Have ceiling cracks, or want your texture removed? Contact us today!

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!