Down here in Florida we walk into a lot of homes that still have those old “cottage cheese” popcorn ceilings. They were the thing back in the day – they hid cracks, soaked up noise and builders could spray them on fast. But in real life? They’re a pain to clean, a nightmare to repaint, and they make an otherwise updated room feel stuck in the 80s.
When we talk about popcorn ceiling removal, we’re simply talking about taking that bumpy texture off and bringing the ceiling back to a flat, smooth finish. It sounds simple, but there’s a right way (and a very wrong way) to do it. Done properly, it freshens up the whole room, helps resale value, and makes future painting jobs much easier.
If you’re staring up at your ceiling thinking, “I love this house, but I hate that texture,” you’re not alone. More and more Florida homeowners, from condos in Kendall to family homes in Riverview, are choosing to scrape, skim and repaint those ceilings for a clean, modern look.
Why Florida Homeowners Are Removing Popcorn Ceilings
- Brings the room up to date: Popcorn instantly dates a space. Once it’s gone and the ceiling is smooth, the whole room feels brighter, taller and more in line with today’s finishes.
- Dust, allergens & possible asbestos: That rough texture grabs onto dust, cobwebs and all the little particles floating around in our humid Florida air. In some older homes, the original material may even contain asbestos, which needs to be handled carefully.
- Better for resale: Buyers notice ceilings. When we’re painting for clients getting ready to sell, smooth ceilings almost always make the home show better – and that can mean stronger offers.
- Easier to live with: A flat ceiling is simple to wipe, patch and repaint. No more fighting with a roller trying not to knock the texture off, and no more weird shadows from the bumps catching the light.
How Painters Remove Popcorn Ceilings – Step by Step
Every house is a little different, but this is the general process we follow. If you’re thinking about DIY, this will give you an idea of what’s involved.
- 1. Prep the room properly: This is where most DIY jobs cut corners. We clear out as much furniture as possible, plastic off the floors, and cover walls, fans, light fixtures and AC vents. Good prep saves hours of cleanup later.
- 2. Test for asbestos if the home is older: If your place was built before the 1980s, don’t skip this. Have a small sample checked for asbestos first. If asbestos is present, you’ll need a licensed abatement specialist. It’s not something to mess around with.
- 3. Soften the texture: On non-painted popcorn, we lightly mist the ceiling with water and give it time to soak in. The goal is to soften the texture so it scrapes off instead of turning into a dusty cloud. You never want to soak it to the point of damaging the drywall.
- 4. Scrape it back to flat: Using a wide drywall knife or scraper, we work in sections, gently peeling the texture off. This isn’t glamorous, it’s slow, above-your-head work. But it’s what gets you from bumpy to flat.
- 5. Patch, skim and sand: Once the texture is gone, we can see what the ceiling is really doing. We fill joints, patch cracks and skim coat where needed. After that, we sand everything smooth. An electric drywall sander with a vacuum attachment can really speed this part up if you’re doing it yourself.
- 6. Prime and paint: Once we’re happy with the surface, we lock everything in with a good quality primer and then finish with the ceiling paint sheen that suits your home and lighting best.
It’s a messy, overhead job that takes some practice, which is why a lot of homeowners end up calling us after trying one room on their own. If you’d rather skip straight to the clean, smooth finish, the house painters at All Star Painter can take care of the whole process for you.
Common Problems We See With Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Asbestos concerns: Any time we’re dealing with older ceilings, the first conversation is about safety. If testing comes back positive for asbestos, Florida law requires the right professionals and procedures. It slows the project down but keeps everyone safe.
- Ceilings that aren’t perfectly flat: Popcorn was often sprayed on to cover up rough taping, patched cracks or wavy drywall. Once the texture is gone, all those imperfections show up under the light. That’s where skim coating and extra sanding come in. It’s the part that really separates a DIY job from a pro finish.
- Dust and debris everywhere: Without proper prep and dust control, the mess finds its way into every room, every vent and every light fixture. We always seal off the work area, protect AC returns and keep cleanup in mind from the very first step.
Knowing these pain points ahead of time makes it easier to decide whether you want to tackle it yourself or bring in a crew that does this all week, every week.
What Comes After the Popcorn Ceiling Is Removed?
Once the texture has been scraped and the ceiling is smooth, that’s when the fun part starts – finishing it the way you want.
- Prime and paint the right way: Bare drywall and fresh joint compound need to be sealed before paint goes on. We prime the ceiling first so the topcoat sits evenly and doesn’t flash or look patchy. After that, pick a paint finish that works with your lighting and room use, usually a flat or matte for ceilings.
- Upgrade your lighting: When the ceiling is open anyway, it’s the perfect time to add or move recessed cans, swap out old fixtures or get rid of that one lonely, off-center light that’s been bothering you for years.
- Add some detail: A smooth ceiling also opens the door to crown moulding, decorative beams or subtle tray details. Even a simple crown line can make the room feel more finished.
It doesn’t seem like a huge change on paper, but most clients tell us the room feels cleaner, lighter and more “finished” as soon as that popcorn is gone and the new paint is on.
What Does Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost?
Pricing always depends on what we’re walking into, but as a rough guide many homeowners see popcorn ceiling removal in the range of about $1–$2 per square foot for straightforward, asbestos-free ceilings. Costs go up when there’s more prep, more repairs or tricky access.
- Ceiling height: Standard 8′ ceilings are quicker and easier to work on. Tall, vaulted or two-story areas need extra time, ladders and staging.
- Complex ceiling layouts: Angles, beams, skylights and lots of corners all slow the process down and can bump up the price.
- Existing damage: Water stains, previous patch jobs and cracked joints all need to be repaired while we’re up there, and that adds labour.
- Asbestos removal: If testing shows asbestos, that’s a completely different scope with licensed abatement and will be priced accordingly.
When you’re getting a painting quote, make sure you’re clear on whether popcorn removal, repairs, priming and repainting the ceilings are all included in the total interior house painting costs. That way there are no surprises halfway through the job.
DIY Popcorn Ceiling Removal vs Hiring a Pro
Can you remove popcorn ceilings yourself? Yes. The real questions are whether you’ll be happy with the result and how much time and cleanup you’re willing to sign up for.
- Safety first: If your ceiling was installed before 1980, you really do need to get it checked for asbestos before scraping anything. Asbestos removal is a specialist job and should never be DIY.
- Time and effort: Even for a smaller Florida home, scraping ceilings is slow, overhead work. Your arms, neck and shoulders will definitely feel it, and sanding over your head is nobody’s idea of fun.
- Risk of damage: Dig a scraper in too deep and you’ll gouge the drywall. Skip the skim coat and every joint line will show in the right light. Fixing those issues usually takes more time than doing it carefully in the first place.
- Finishing skills: The last 10% of the popcorn ceiling removal process, the skim, sand, prime and paint, is what separates a “good enough” DIY job from a ceiling that looks like it’s always been smooth. That’s the part professional painters spend the most time on.
If you’re handy, patient and don’t mind the mess, you can absolutely tackle a room or two. If you’d rather walk back in at the end of the day to a clean house and a professionally finished ceiling, bringing in a painting crew is usually worth it.
Removing popcorn ceilings is one of those projects that quietly transforms your home. Whether you’re after a more modern look, worried about dust and old materials, or just tired of staring at that texture while you watch TV, it’s a change most Florida homeowners never regret making.
If you’re in Kendall, Doral, Riverview, Ocala or just about anywhere else in Florida, All Star Painter can handle the popcorn removal, repairs and painting from start to finish. Reach out, tell us what you’re dealing with, and we’ll help you plan the smooth ceiling makeover your home deserves.
