Popcorn texture is common in Detroit area homes and additions from the 1960s to the 1980s. Some of it contains asbestos, so an older ceiling should be lab tested before anyone scrapes it. Once it is cleared, we remove the texture, smooth the ceiling, prime it and paint it.
Sprayed popcorn texture turns up in Detroit area ranch houses, in bedrooms added to older homes and in basements finished some decades ago. It was a quick way to hide ceiling joints. Today it mostly gathers dust, yellows and sheds when touched. Before any scraping, an older ceiling needs a lab test. Some popcorn texture was made with asbestos, and nobody can tell by looking. If the test finds asbestos, removal is work for a licensed asbestos contractor, and we do not disturb it.
When the lab result is clear, the room is emptied or covered. Plastic goes over the floor and down the walls, and light fixtures and vents are masked. The texture is misted with water so it softens and comes away in sheets under a wide blade with little dust. Texture that was painted soaks up less water and takes more effort. We bag the waste as we go so it is not tracked through the house.
Scraping is only half the job. The ceiling board under popcorn was never finished to be seen, so joints, screw heads and gouges show. We tape and fill where needed, skim the surface, sand it flat and prime it. Then it gets flat ceiling paint, which is kind to small flaws. If a ceiling is in poor shape or cannot be scraped, covering it with new drywall is another route, and we will explain both choices with their trade-offs before you decide.
Popcorn ceiling removal in Detroit: common questions
How do I get my popcorn ceiling tested for asbestos?
A small sample is sent to an accredited laboratory. You can hire a testing firm to take it, which is the safer course. Do not scrape or sand the ceiling before you have the result in writing. Bring the report to the estimate and we will plan from there.
Can popcorn texture just be painted instead?
Yes, if it is intact and you can live with the look. It is sprayed or rolled gently so the texture does not pull off. Keep in mind that paint makes later removal harder, since painted texture will not absorb water as easily.
How messy is the removal?
It is a wet, messy job inside the plastic, and a tidy one outside it when the room is sealed properly. We cover floors and walls, close the doorway, and carry the bagged waste out. Plan to keep that room empty until the ceiling has been painted.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.