Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Toronto & GTA
Dated stucco ceilings scraped, skim-coated and painted to a smooth, modern finish. Dust contained, furniture and floors protected, most rooms done in 2 days. Free on-site estimate and a written quote before any work starts.
WHY REMOVE A POPCORN CEILING?
Popcorn (stucco) ceilings date a home instantly, trap dust, are almost impossible to clean, and show every patch and water stain. A smooth ceiling makes rooms look taller and brighter, takes paint evenly, and is one of the most noticeable upgrades per dollar in a condo or house. Buyers and appraisers notice it too. Homes textured before 1990 may contain asbestos; we arrange a lab test before any scraping and only remove ceilings that test clear.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN OUR CEILING REMOVAL SERVICE:
Full protection first: floors, furniture, light fixtures and doorways sealed with plastic so dust stays in the work area. Then we wet and scrape the texture down to the drywall, repair any damage underneath, and apply a skim coat of compound across the whole ceiling. After sanding to a flat, even surface we prime and paint with two coats of ceiling paint. We finish with a full clean-up and a walkthrough with your project lead. Everything is in one written quote, so there are no surprises on the final bill.
3 steps from a dated ceiling to a smooth one
We visit, measure and check the ceiling condition, then give you a fixed written quote with a start date. Our crew scrapes, repairs, skim-coats and sands the ceiling, then primes and paints it. You get a clean, finished room and a project lead who walks it with you before we leave.
1. Free estimate
On-site visit to measure and check for repairs; lab test arranged for pre-1990 ceilings. Written quote with scope, price and timeline.
2. Removal & skim coat
Room sealed, texture scraped to the drywall, repairs made, then the full ceiling skim-coated and sanded flat.
3. Prime, paint & clean-up
Two coats of ceiling paint, plastic down, floors cleaned, and a final walkthrough with your project lead.
Popcorn ceiling removal in Toronto: what it costs, asbestos testing and how long it takes
Most Toronto and GTA homes built between the 1960s and the early 1990s have popcorn (stucco) ceilings in at least one room. Removing them is one of the highest-impact, lowest-disruption updates you can make: the room looks taller, brighter and newer, and the ceiling finally takes paint evenly. Here is what homeowners ask us most before booking.
What affects the cost of popcorn ceiling removal
There is no single price per room because ceilings differ. The things that move the quote up or down are: the ceiling area in square feet; ceiling height (anything over 9 feet needs scaffolding or platforms); whether the texture has been painted over, which makes it much slower to scrape; the condition of the drywall underneath and how many seams, cracks or old patches need repair; the asbestos test result for pre-1990 ceilings; and whether you want the walls repainted while the room is already protected. We measure and check all of this during a free on-site visit, then give one fixed written price that covers removal, repairs, skim coat, sanding, priming and two coats of ceiling paint. The number on the quote is the number on the invoice.
Asbestos testing for ceilings textured before 1990
Popcorn texture applied in Ontario before 1990 may contain asbestos, and you cannot tell by looking. Before any scraping starts we take a small sample and send it to an accredited lab; results usually come back within a few business days. If the ceiling tests clear, we schedule the removal. If it tests positive, we do not remove it: that work must be done by a licensed asbestos abatement company, and we will point you to one. Ceilings textured after 1990, and any ceiling with a negative test, we handle start to finish.
How long popcorn ceiling removal takes
Plan on about two days per room. Day one: the room is sealed with plastic, floors and furniture are covered, the texture is wetted and scraped down to the drywall, repairs are made and the whole ceiling gets a skim coat. Day two: sanding, priming and two coats of ceiling paint, then plastic down and a full clean-up. A typical two-bedroom condo or the main floor of a house takes about a week; larger homes are scheduled room by room so you can keep using the rest of the house. You do not need to move out, and we can work around a schedule if some rooms are in use.
Removal and repainting in one visit
Because the room is already protected and the crew is already on site, most clients repaint the walls at the same time. We quote the ceiling removal and the interior painting together, so there is one crew, one schedule and one finished room at the end. Ask for both on the estimate form and we will price them as a package.
Questions & answers
1. How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost in Toronto?
It depends on the ceiling area, height, the condition of the drywall underneath and whether the texture has been painted over (painted popcorn is slower to remove). We quote after a free on-site visit, and the written quote covers removal, repairs, skim coat, sanding, priming and two coats of paint, so there is one price for a finished ceiling.
2. Could my popcorn ceiling contain asbestos?
If the home was built or textured before 1990, possibly. We arrange a lab test of a small sample before any work starts and never scrape a ceiling until the result is back. We do not remove ceilings that test positive for asbestos; that work needs a licensed abatement company, and we can point you to one. Ceilings that test clear, and any home textured after 1990, we handle start to finish.
3. How long does it take, and how messy is it?
A typical room takes about 2 days: scraping, repairs and the skim coat on the first day, sanding, priming and painting on the second. Scraping is messy by nature, so we seal the room with plastic, cover floors and furniture, and clean up fully before we leave. You can stay in the home while we work.
4. Do you paint the ceiling and the rest of the room too?
Yes. Priming and two coats of ceiling paint are part of the service. Many clients repaint the walls at the same time since the room is already protected and the crew is there; we can quote both together so you deal with one crew and one schedule.
