We were recently called to look at the ceilings of a home in Richmond. The homeowners had installed pot lights and there was some drywall that had been replaced also. The new section of drywall did not have popcorn texture like the rest of the ceilings did, and they wanted this fixed. They asked us at Remove Ceiling Texture for a price for smoothing the ceilings. We took our measurements and sent them the quote that evening. They reviewed our quote for smoothing the ceilings and let us know that they had instead decided to have the section textured to match the surrounding texture, as they thought this would be the less expensive option. Since our business is built on removing ceiling texture, we did not give them another quote for matching the ceiling texture, but wished them the best.
Matching Ceiling Texture – an Impossible Feat
A few days later, we heard from them again. They were shocked that our quote for smoothing the ceilings of the whole main floor was actually not that much more than the quotes they had received from other companies to apply ceiling texture to the small section of new drywall and match it to the existing texture. It would cost them two thirds of our price for the other companies to do this small patch job.
Matching ceiling texture is pretty much impossible. The homeowners went with smooth ceilings instead.
Not only was the price per square foot more expensive for matching ceiling texture, it’s likely that it would not blend perfectly. Since it’s very difficult to seamlessly integrate new ceiling texture into existing texture, there’s almost always some telltale sign betraying the patch job. Once they realized they could have custom, smooth ceilings for nearly the same price as texture application, they made the easy decision to have us work our magic.
An Artisan’s Touch
Once we started, they could see that our work involves a great deal of expertise, and they were getting a lot of value for their money. We use the same hands-on approach that master tradesmen have been using for centuries—a hawk & trowel and, most importantly, an artful eye. You can see from the before and after photos what a difference the ceiling texture removal has made. The shadows that the texture created are gone leaving the rooms brighter. The whole place has been freshened up (literally—ceiling texture traps allergens that can aggravate asthma!). Instead of a large strip of noticeably different ceiling texture dividing the room, they now have smooth, seamless ceilings on the entire main floor. They were thrilled with the results and glad they had changed their mind about trying to match the texture.
Rather than trying to match the existing ceiling texture, the homeowners opted for smooth ceilingsBy smoothing the ceilings we were able to get rid of this gap between the ceiling and walls.
Scuffed ceilings are a thing of the past now that they have smooth ceilings.
Before the ceiling texture was removed, the texture caused shadows.
Contact us now for a FREE quote for smooth ceilings
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 what DIY texture removal and ceiling smoothing looks like. Remove Ceiling Texture was called in to fix the mess.Smoothing ceilings is harder than it looks! This was a DIY attempt.
This is after Remove Ceiling Texture was called in to professionally fix the DIY mess.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.
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 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 perfectly smooth ceilings.The DIY ceiling smoothing attempt was professionally fixed by Remove Ceiling Texture.
Did you attempt to DIY with your ceilings? Contact us today!
Skylights With Ceiling Texture – It Was Never Meant to Be
Skylights are a great way to brighten a room. The natural light is flattering and your energy bill can often be reduced since less artificial light is needed. However, if they are not finished correctly, like skylights with ceiling texture, problems can arise. Texture is applied to skylights for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s done to cut corners. It’s easier to spray popcorn ceiling than it is to finish the drywall properly. Other times it’s done because the homeowner likes the look.
Skylights with ceiling texture can be damaged by moisture
Regardless of the reason, it’s a terrible idea. As mentioned in a previous post (Moldy skylights, cracked and peeling off?), skylights are naturally more hot and humid than the rest of the house. That lurking moisture and ceiling texture is not a good combination. It can cause cracking, peeling, and even mold build-up and then you’re left with a real mess. It’s far better to finish it properly from the start. If you do have skylights with ceiling texture, RemoveCeilingTexture.com is the solution to your problem.
Good Riddance to Bad Ceiling Texture
We were called in to have a look at a home in Port Coquitlam that had skylights with ceiling texture. The homeowner is an architect who had designed and built his home in the early 1980s. At the time, it was common to cover everything with ceiling texture.
Skylights with ceiling texture look dark and dingy
Now, though, the ceiling texture was dirty and stained. The owners were also concerned about their home’s air quality and possible health risks (including asthma), especially to their visiting grandchildren. So after living with it for many years, they decided it was time to kiss the ceiling texture goodbye. We got to work removing the texture in the skylights, and throughout the rest of the house as well.
A Smooth New Start
Once we removed the texture from the skylights and finished them to a smooth surface, they actually looked brighter. The texture had been swallowing up the natural light, but now the light is reflected much more efficiently. Best of all, the owners don’t have to worry about health hazards like mold. They know that their grandchildren can play in their home without being exposed to toxic air. It’s a brand new beginning for the home they designed and built with love.
Cobwebs and dust can build up in ceiling textureSmooth ceilings suit this custom built home
Do you have skylights with ceiling texture? RemoveCeilingTexture can help! Contact us today for a free quote.
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
The ugly ceiling texture is removed and no longer competes with the million dollar view of False Creek
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 updateA 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!
One of the issues with strata living is sometimes having to deal with other people’s messes. When condo owners Thomas and Maria experienced water damaged ceilings due to a neighbour’s flood, they had a restoration company come in to repair the ceilings.
What should have been a simple job turned into a nightmare for them.
The restoration company took much longer than they had expected, causing harm to their home-based business and causing them unnecessary stress. Soon after the “restoration” was finished, the ceiling texture began to crack and peel off and they were left with a botched job.
They mentioned to their postman the headache they were dealing with, and he happened to know that another homeowner on his route had just had his ceilings refinished and was very pleased with them. He promised to get the name of the ceiling company for them. That is how they got in touch with us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com!
We came in to have a look. Their ceilings really were a mess and they were understandably hesitant about more work being done. They had been promised quality work before, and the restoration company couldn’t deliver. We assured them that since we specialize in ceiling work, we have expertise that other restoration and renovation companies just don’t have. We had dealt with numerous water-damaged ceilings before and we knew we could fix their problem (read about our repair of water damaged ceilings caused by a leaky roof in Burnaby). Thomas and Maria were still somewhat nervous, but decided to have us start right away.
They were finally able to relax when they saw that we did indeed have the expertise we promised. We transformed their peeling, cracked, water damaged ceilings into smooth, pristine ceilings that now look even better than before the flood.
The before and after photos show the extent of damage to their ceilings. The before photos are after the original “restoration” company worked on them and the after photos are after we fixed them.
Water damaged ceilings near doorwayCracked, water damaged ceilings
Have water damaged ceilings or other ceiling problems? Click here to contact us for a free quote.
The owner of this condo in Burnaby, like many others, was suffering from cracks that appeared in the centre and along the edges of the concrete ceiling. Frustrated after many years of looking at the ugly cracked ceiling, she decided to do something about it. She was told by other contractors that “nothing could be done” about the crack problem other than filling the crack with silicone caulking which was even uglier than the crack itself. Frustrated, the owner contacted us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com.
Cracked ceiling in condo repaired near Metrotown; Burnaby, BC
This condo came with a typical concrete ceiling that was sprayed with coarse popcorn texture by the original builder. We removed the coarse texture, ground the ceiling all the way down to the source of the crack, patched the crack so that it wouldn’t come back in the future and finished the ceiling to a very smooth, flat and beautiful finish. The way it should have been done in the first place. We also painted the ceiling and the walls for this nice lady. Now, she has a fresh, smooth ceiling in her home and she can breathe easier without all the dust and allergens getting trapped in the popcorn texture.
Click on thumbnails to see full size pictures:
Popcorn ceiling texture removed from concrete ceilingsCracked ceiling around the edges
Cracked ceiling around pot light repaired
Contact us for Cracked Ceiling Repair
If the concrete ceiling in your condo is cracked and cracks are showing through the popcorn ceiling texture, don’t wait any longer for the problem to get worse. Use the quick form below to contact us here at RemoveCeilingTexture.com and let us help you get your ceilings back to being crack-free, smooth and free of texture.
Do you have cracks in your ceilings? Click here to take action!
This cozy apartment unit in Coquitlam had been listed for sale and was on the market for nearly 3 months. Every time potential clients came through, they would complain about several cracks in the ceiling which was covered by very course popcorn texture. Ugly ceilings were preventing the sale of this apartment.
Cracked popcorn ceiling prevents sale of unit
All offers made on this unit were $5000 lower than the listing price, citing the ugly ceiling. Prior to contacting us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com, the owner had sought help from other “handyman” sources. He had been told that there was no way to fix these several cracks in the ceilings permanently, unless the ceiling was completely ripped out and new drywall installed on the ceiling. This was not an option for the owner as it was a very expensive method and it would mean severe disruption to his lifestyle. It would also mean that he would have to take his apartment off the market for a lengthy period of time until the ceilings were fixed.
So he finally did the right thing and got in touch with us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com.
As you can see in the pictures below, RemoveCeilingTexture.com came to the rescue of this seller. We were able to fix all the cracks in the ceiling and remove the ugly ceiling texture so this homeowner could sell his apartment at full asking price. Better yet, we fixed and beautified the ceilings for a fraction of the dollars that potential buyers were holding back from him. The cracks on the ceilings were fixed, the ceiling popcorn was removed and the ceiling was painted and ready all withing 3 days.
If you are thinking about selling your Vancouver home, don’t let an ugly ceiling lower your property value. Let us help you maximize your sale price by making your ceilings smooth, beautiful and free of cracks and free of popcorn texture. Book your free consultation TODAY by getting in touch with us.
Click on thumbnails to enlarge
Cracked popcorn ceiling prevents sale of unit
Is your ugly ceiling hurting your home's market value? Click here to get in touch with us!
Texture Scraper’s Remorse in North Vancouver; This high rise apartment in North Vancouver was purchased by a couple as a smart real estate investment. They wanted to be able to rent it for top dollar. However, it’s hard to get top dollar with dingy ceiling texture. They thought, “We’ll just scrape off the texture. How hard could it be?” Well, without proper tools and experience, our texture scrapers soon realized that they were in over their heads. Literally! Before they were even halfway through the first room, they decided they needed professional help. That’s when they contacted us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com .
But what about the line between the texture and their enthusiastic, but failed attempt at scraping it? Would it always be visible? Could they ever get the smooth, white ceiling they had hoped for?
As you can see in the before & after photos below, we were able to make this failed scraping attempt, into a beautiful, smooth and texture-free ceiling that will help this North Vancouver couple get the most out of their real estate investment. When renting your property, it is important to remember that visual appeal is an important factor in maximizing your rental income.
If you have textured ceilings in your apartment, townhouse or detached house and you want a completely smooth and texture-free look, do not make the mistake that the texture scraper in our story did. Contact us at RemoveCeilingTexture.com today by clicking HERE and let us make the process of going from ugly textured ceilings, to smooth, clean and flawless ceiling, easy and headache free. Our first consultation is absolutely free of charge and we can provide a firm quote on every single job. The dollar number that we provide with our quote, is the dollar number that you will be paying at the end of the project, and not a penny more.
This cozy apartment in the Riley Park neighborhood of Vancouver was an interesting project for us to work of particularly because it came equipped with a beautiful vaulted ceiling that was 17 feet high at its peak. Combine that with several skylights throughout the apartment and soon you realize that you have to have a professional working on your ceiling to produce a professional result.
Popcorn ceiling texture removed in hallwayPopcorn ceiling texture removed in kitchenPopcorn ceiling texture removed from vaulted ceilingAnd finally, the owners of this apartment can breathe easier with their new smooth, clean bedroom ceiling
Popcorn belongs at the movies, Not on your ceilings
The acoustic ceiling removal trend started in the early 80’s and has become a necessity in many areas when selling your home. Often, if they are not removed before placing your home on the market, potential buyers will request concessions for their replacement.
Many people simply hate the look of the cottage-cheese-like texture and wonder why they were applied in the first place. As with most construction trends you can follow the money trail for the answer; the widespread adoption of this finish practice by builders throughout America was simple economics. It was far less labor intensive and therefore cheaper to cover a partially finished drywall ceiling with a rough texture than to complete the drywall taping work to the stage needed for a smooth finish.
What started the removal trend? Some say it was the asbestos scare while others claim it was simply changing tastes of buyers. If your home does contain asbestos you must inform the potential buyers through disclosure or face possible legal action later down the road.
Prior to asbestos being outlawed in 1978, the natural but cancer causing fiber was added to the acoustic mix primarily as a binder to help hold the material together. Additionally the chrysotile asbestos used in popcorn ceilings is an outstanding fire proofing agent plus it increases the life of the pump used to apply the material by acting as a lubricant of sort.
But not all acoustic ceilings contain asbestos, and only lab testing can confirm its presence. You cannot smell it, taste it, or see it without a microscope and the training to know what you are looking for. Although acoustic was reformulated in 1978 existing stocks of the material were used well into the 1980’s.
By the late 90’s the use of this popcorn-looking texture fell out of favor with most builders because of public perception. It does, however, continue to this day with some builders, primarily those of lower end housing. Mobile homes are a great example of the cost saving building practice as most new units still contain machine applied asbestos-free acoustic.
Our exclusive, patent-pending removal process is straight forward, simple and clean. We can also eliminate the threat of asbestos in your ceiling texture, for the life of the building.
Many that attempt to take on the job of popcorn removal as a do-it-yourself project without taking the time to learn the techniques needed for success will damage the drywall when scraping off the acoustic, resulting in even more work and expense than removing the material the right way the first time.
If you are looking for a way to increase the value of your home, or you are just tired of looking at those spider web collecting, dust mite gathering, ugly popcorn ceilings, consider removing those eye sores and giving your home a fresh new look.
Contact RemoveCeilingTexture.com TODAY for a FREE in-home estimate. RemoveCeilingTexture.com serves the Metro Vancouver area including Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Richmond, Port Moody, Surrey, Delta, Langley, White Rock, Tswassen.
