Table of Contents
- Average Popcorn Ceilings Removal Cost
- What Is a Popcorn Ceiling?
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost Per Square Foot
- Labor Cost to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling
- Factors That Impact the Cost to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling
- Related Services to Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- DIY Popcorn Ceiling Removal vs. Hiring a Pro
- Ways to Save Money on the Cost of Removing a Popcorn Ceiling
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Popcorn ceilings were once all the rage—but chances are they’re no longer a desirable feature in your home. Unfortunately, they may also sometimes contain asbestos, which can make removal tricky. If you’re looking to swap out your dated popcorn ceilings for a more on-trend ceiling style, you could pay somewhere between $900 and $2,600 to have them removed and replaced. The cost can vary depending on the size of the room, the height of your ceilings, and whether or not they’re asbestos-free.
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What Is a Popcorn Ceiling?
Popcorn ceilings look a little like, well, popcorn. They’re typically white, with a bumpy, lumpy texture. These ceilings were popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and can help to muffle sound and cover flaws in your ceiling. But they also come with significant drawbacks—since they’re no longer in fashion, they can reduce the value of your home if you’re thinking about putting it on the market.
They also don’t handle moisture well, which can lead to flaking and peeling. And if your ceiling does contain asbestos, that flaking and peeling could be a direct hazard to your health.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost Per Square Foot
Popcorn ceiling costs an average of $1 to $3 per square foot. The cost to remove this type of ceiling can be more expensive if it does contain asbestos. Since asbestos is a health hazard, you’ll need professional asbestos removal and disposal services in order to properly remove the hazardous materials.
Labor Cost to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling
Labor costs to remove popcorn ceilings average between $15 and $50 per hour. The process may be more labor-intensive if you have especially large rooms or high ceilings. Labor costs may also be higher if you live in an area with a high cost of living. When looking for professional popcorn ceiling removal, it’s a good idea to get multiple quotes from professionals in your area in order to compare rates and get the best deal possible.
Factors That Impact the Cost to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling
Some factors that influence the cost to remove a popcorn ceiling include your ceiling’s height, the size of the room, and disposal costs.
Ceiling Height
Higher ceilings are more difficult to remove popcorn ceilings from and are therefore more expensive. If you have especially high or vaulted ceilings, workers may require taller ladders or scaffolding in order to reach them.
Disposal
How you should dispose of your popcorn ceilings depends on whether or not they contain asbestos. If they do contain asbestos, the debris needs to be taken to an approved asbestos waste disposal site. If your ceilings are asbestos-free, you can put the debris out with your regular trash—or pay extra to have professionals take it directly to the dump.
Square Footage
The larger the square footage of the space, the more expensive it will be to remove your popcorn ceiling. Smaller bedrooms and bathrooms will be more affordable, while larger rooms will cost more. If you’re looking to remove popcorn ceilings from your whole house, expect to pay more. At $1 to $3 per square foot, the cost to remove this ceiling type from a 2,000-square-foot home could be anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000.
DIY Popcorn Ceiling Removal vs. Hiring a Pro
If your popcorn ceiling doesn’t contain asbestos, then it’s possible to remove it yourself. Keep in mind, though, that removing your popcorn ceiling is messy, labor-intensive work. Scraping this material off your ceiling isn’t easy, and requires tools like a ceiling texture scraper or drywall sandar with a vacuum attachment, as well as a pump sprayer to dampen the popcorn ceiling material and safety gear like gloves and goggles.
Even if your ceiling is asbestos-free, it often makes sense to leave this home improvement project to a pro. If your ceiling does contain asbestos, you’ll definitely want to hire professional help—it could be hazardous to your health and that of your family to attempt this project on your own.
Ways to Save Money on the Cost of Removing a Popcorn Ceiling
While you may be tempted to save money on popcorn ceiling removal by tackling this project yourself, it’s a task that’s usually best left to professionals. However, there are still ways to save: first and foremost, by getting quotes from multiple different professionals in your area to ensure that you’re not paying more than you have to. In some cases, it may also be slightly less expensive to drywall over your popcorn ceiling, especially if asbestos is involved.
To arrive at the average costs in this article, editorial team members surveyed six providers and cost databases on national and local levels. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it worth the cost to remove a popcorn ceiling?
Popcorn ceilings are no longer considered fashionable to many, and can negatively affect the resale value of your home. Plus, they may even be harmful to your health if they contain asbestos. Even if they’re asbestos-free, they’re more likely to harbor dust and other allergens than a smooth ceiling. If you’re looking to update your home’s style while also making it safer, removing your popcorn ceilings is the way to go.
Is it cheaper to remove a popcorn ceiling or replace drywall?
If you want to get rid of the sight of your popcorn ceilings but don’t want to go through the potentially messy and expensive process of removing them entirely, drywalling over them is another option. Covering them with drywall tends to be cheaper—but keep in mind that it doesn’t get rid of the problem if your popcorn ceiling does contain asbestos.
What is the least expensive way to get rid of popcorn ceilings?
Popcorn ceiling removal may not be cheap, but it’s the only surefire way to get rid of your popcorn ceilings. While it might be tempting to save a few dollars by tackling this project yourself, removal is usually best left to the professionals. Not only will they ensure that the popcorn ceiling process goes smoothly, but they’re also better equipped to handle harmful materials like asbestos.
Is it okay to leave a popcorn ceiling?
Popcorn ceilings may no longer be fashionable, but as long as the ceiling is intact, then they’re not overtly harmful. If popcorn ceiling removal isn’t high on your list of home renovation priorities, then you may want to live with them in the meantime. However, if your popcorn ceiling is peeling or flaking, that’s a different story. Disintegrating asbestos-laden popcorn ceilings can pose a health risk, so you should remove them as soon as possible.
Is popcorn ceiling removal tax deductible?
In most cases, popcorn ceiling removal is not tax deductible. However, there may be exceptions if you’re renting the property as a landlord, or if you’re self-employed and use the space as a home office. In these cases, popcorn ceiling removal could possibly be classified as a business expense, but only if it occurs in a part of your home where you run a business or rent out a room.
