concrete ceilings Archives - RemoveCeilingTexture.com

August 5, 2015April 14, 2023

Scraped Concrete Ceilings: The Popcorn is Gone, But Now What?

Before: Scraped ceilings are rough and ugly. After: Ceilings have been resurfaced to a smooth finish

Scraped Concrete Ceilings:

The Popcorn is Gone, But Now What?

If you own an condo apartment in a typical high-rise building, it very likely comes with concrete ceilings. Those ceilings are probably covered in some sort of texture—either the really rough popcorn texture which was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, or the lighter texture that’s still being applied today in the third decade of the 21st century. If you’ve removed the texture yourself, you have no-doubt realized that the ceilings are too rough and uneven to be paint-ready. Why is this, and what should be done next?

Why Are Concrete Ceilings So Uneven?

Concrete is poured into wood forms during construction

The concrete in your building has been poured into formworks, or molds, that are most often made from timber or plywood. These materials are flexible, and somewhat uneven. That means that your ceilings will also be somewhat uneven, and have blemishes from knots or other imperfections of the wood frame.

Rather than spend time grinding little bumps down, filling in holes, or making sure the ceiling is level, most builders just spray it with texture. Fast and cheap for them. To sum things up, scraped concrete ceilings are entirely unsightly, and are nowhere ready to receive the final decoration, which is usually primer and paint.

The Best Way to Get a Smooth, Level Ceiling

Nine times out of ten, you’re going to save time and money in the long run when you hire a professional from the start; this is true whether it’s tiling a bathroom, installing cabinets, or removing popcorn ceilings. And it’s especially valid if those ceilings are concrete, for the reasons mentioned above. Ceiling experts have the tools and experience to accomplish in a few days what would take you a week or more when it comes to unfinished, scraped concrete ceilings. On top of that, it will look professional, instead of ending up looking like a DIY hack job.

But most importantly, if the building was built prior to 1980, there’s a relatively good chance that the ceiling texture could contain asbestos. Scraping the popcorn texture would cause the asbestos fibres to get airborne, which is when they’re most dangerous. Since the fibres are microscopic, the only way to tell if asbestos is present is to have the material tested at a certified lab. Any professional wall & ceiling contractor will be able to do this for you.

However, if you’ve already scraped the popcorn off of your ceilings yourself, that advice is probably not helpful at the moment. Don’t panic; most health problems associated with asbestos are seen in people who have worked in an asbestos-related industry and have had repetitive exposure to asbestos fibres. That being said, it’s always a good idea to monitor your health; have a doctor look into anything suspicious, especially any respiratory issues. Click here to find out more about asbestos-related health issues.

If you’ve scraped your concrete ceilings, are you stuck with the rough-looking, coarse surface? Not at all! A ceiling expert can still create a flawless surface for you.

This scraped concrete ceiling was quite rough before RCT resurfaced it

How Does a Professional Take Scraped Concrete Ceilings & Make Them Smooth?

The key to getting a flawless, smooth ceiling is to skim coat the entire surface—at least twice. That’s right, every square inch needs to be coated. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we use the same method that has been used by plasterers for centuries: a hawk and trowel, and an eye for detail. Working on stilts, on a canvas above your head, takes stamina and skill. Filling-in random holes is one thing, but the real expertise comes in when a wavy ceiling needs to be levelled. This takes a keen eye, and a steady hand. Without the popcorn to hide all the imperfections on the ceiling, the finished product needs to be impeccable. Your average condo owner doesn’t have the time, patience, or skill to attain a perfectly smooth finish, and neither should they be expected to.

On the left, the DIY scraped concrete ceiling. On the right, the professionally finished smooth ceiling.

This was a failed DIY attempt at scraped concrete ceilings. We were called in to fix the ceilings.

There’s No Shame in Admitting You Need Professional Help!

If you’re looking at your scraped concrete ceilings and have realized that they don’t look like a proper, finished surface, RemoveCeilingTexture.com is here to help. We’ve worked extensively on concrete ceilings since 2007 in the Metro Vancouver area, and have seen it all: Failed DIY Popcorn Ceiling Removal, Water-damaged Texture, Rough, Unfinished Concrete Slabs, and Wavy Concrete Ceilings That Needed Filling.

Avoid frustration and contact us today for advice, and a free estimate on resurfacing your ceilings via our contact form, or by phone at 604-420-7578.

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!

September 26, 2013November 2, 2016

Removing Walls–Ceiling Repair

Renovations such as moving or removing walls can greatly improve your home’s layout. Not to mention the therapy demolition can provide! *Sidenote: Make sure there’s no plumbing before you go swinging the sledgehammer!

Removing walls also provides the perfect opportunity for ceiling texture removal. Once a wall is removed, there will be a section of ceiling that is missing the popcorn texture. At RemoveCeilingTexture.com, we can remove the texture on your ceilings and blend the missing area in with the rest of the ceilings to give you a seamless look.

Ceiling Repair After Removing Walls

We’ve dealt with this many times. In downtown Vancouver, a couple was renovating their Burnaby Street condo with guests in mind. They had removed a closet wall in their den for a murphy bed installation. We were called in to repair the ceiling and remove the popcorn ceilings throughout the condo. Once we were finished, the ceiling showed no visible sign of the former wall.

We saw this again in another Vancouver condo on Homer Street. A wall had been removed and there was a large strip of concrete ceiling that was unfinished, and without ceiling texture. The homeowner decided to have us smooth all of the ceilings instead of applying new texture to try to match the existing texture. This was a smart move, as it’s nearly impossible to match it exactly.

A young couple in Langley recently updated their home by removing walls dividing the kitchen from the living and dining rooms. It opened up the floor plan nicely, but they were left with strips of ceiling that they didn’t know how to finish. We were contacted to remove the ceiling texture everywhere and resurface the entire ceiling so that it was one continuous surface.

Ceiling repair after removing walls between the kitchen and dining room - Langley — Ceiling repair after removing walls between the kitchen and dining room – Langley

Ceiling repairs after removing walls between the kitchen and living room - Langley — Ceiling repairs after removing walls between the kitchen and living room – Langley

If you’re going to be moving or removing walls, contact Vancouver’s ceiling experts, RemoveCeilingTexture.com for ceiling repairs. Call us at 604-420-7578 for a FREE quote or send us an email.

Are you moving or removing walls? Contact us today for a FREE quote on ceiling repairs!

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 what DIY texture removal and ceiling smoothing looks like. Remove Ceiling Texture was called in to fix the mess.

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!