How Much Does It Cost to Remove popcorn Ceiling 1 Texture?
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Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost by Project Range
How Much Does It Cost to Remove popcorn Ceiling 1 Texture?
Popcorn ceiling 1 is a cottage cheese-like texture applied to ceilings that was popular from the 1950s to the 1980s. The texture is fairly easy to apply and has natural acoustic properties and it easily to covers imperfections in the ceiling. However, it has been linked to asbestos 2 and is generally not a technique used in modern construction or remodels.
Popcorn ceiling 1 removal can be a DIY project, but hiring a professional is always recommended. For this discussion, we will consider the costs of removing popcorn ceiling 1 in a 10'x10' room with minor issues, which averages between $700 and $1500.
Simply patching or repairing popcorn ceiling 1 can be difficult and expensive, so it is usually worth simply removing it instead of repairing it. Another reason to remove popcorn ceiling 1 is that it is commonly viewed as an outdated design practice that can date a home.
Removing popcorn ceiling 1 is typically done in five steps:
- The walls and floor of the room are covered with plastic sheets, removing popcorn ceiling 1 is a fairly messy process.
- If the popcorn ceiling 1 was installed before 1977, a small section of the popcorn ceiling 1 is tested for asbestos 2 (for an average cost of $50-$100).
- The ceiling is sprayed with water in sections (the ceiling area around fans or fixtures shouldn’t be sprayed with water because it can damage the fixture and cause electrical issues. For these areas, it is better to use sandpaper to loosen the popcorn ceiling material).
- Once the water has been absorbed into the popcorn ceiling material, it is scraped off.
- After all the material has been removed, the ceiling is smoothed and made even.
Plaster popcorn ceiling 1 would be removed with the same process.
Popcorn ceiling 1 doesn’t automatically need to be removed. There are pros and cons to the ceiling application:
| Ceiling application | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
Fairly easy to install Covers ceiling imperfections Cheap to install Dampens sound and provides good acoustics | Difficult to repair Heavy Difficult to paint and clean Older applications (before 1977) commonly had asbestos 2, which can be deadly |
Cost Breakdown
Materials
A water sprayer, plastic sheeting, drop cloths, and scrapers, typically average $50-$100 for a 10’x10’ room.
Labor
Most professionals charge based on the square footage of the ceiling instead of an hourly labor cost. The average cost per square foot is $1-$3 depending on the size of the room, the quality and age of the popcorn ceiling 1, and if there is paint and/or asbestos 2. In general, materials cost are included in the square footage price.
Enhancement and Improvement Costs
- Adding a detailed texture to the new ceiling can cost $200-$250.
- A basic paint job on the new, smooth ceiling averages $75-$125 professionally.
Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet
Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.See full cheat sheet.
1 Popcorn ceiling: A spray-on or paint-on treatment for the upper interior surface of a room which has a rough curd-like texture and is used to hide imperfections, absorb sound, and reduce echoes
3 Drywall: Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper
How much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling texture in my city?
Cost to remove popcorn ceiling texture varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.
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