Ceilings comparison
Popcorn Ceiling Removal vs Covering: Cost Comparison
Before comparing prices on this one, there is a test to do. Textured ceilings installed before the early 1980s can contain asbestos, and disturbing them without knowing is the expensive mistake in this project.
Removal
$1 to $3 per sq ft
Cover over
$2 to $5 per sq ft
| Feature | Removal | Cover over |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $1 to $3 | $2 to $5 |
| Typical 500 sq ft room | $500 to $1,500 | $1,000 to $2,500 |
| If asbestos is present | Licensed abatement, far more | Often the recommended route |
| Mess | Very high | Moderate |
| Ceiling height lost | None | Half an inch or so with drywall |
| Works over painted texture | Poorly, scraping is hard | Yes |
| Result | Smooth original ceiling | New smooth surface |
| DIY possible | Yes if tested clear | Drywall is a skilled job |
Removal
- Usually cheaper where the texture is unpainted and tests clear
- No loss of ceiling height
- Nothing added to the structure
- A DIY option in a single room once testing is clear
- Very messy, and painted texture is much harder to scrape
- Illegal and hazardous to do yourself if asbestos is present
- Often reveals poor drywall finishing underneath that needs skimming
- Days of disruption in an occupied room
Cover over
- Leaves suspect material undisturbed and sealed
- Works regardless of whether the texture was painted
- Gives a genuinely flat new surface
- Less airborne dust in the house
- Higher cost per square foot
- Loses a small amount of ceiling height
- Adds weight to the ceiling structure
- Fixtures, vents and trim all need extending or resetting
The verdict
Test first, then decide. If the ceiling predates the early 1980s, have a sample analysed by an accredited lab before anyone touches it. If it tests clear and the texture is unpainted, scraping is the cheaper route and a viable DIY job in one room. If it contains asbestos, do not scrape it: covering it over intact is often the appropriate and far cheaper approach, and removal is licensed abatement work with legal disposal requirements. If the texture has been painted, covering usually wins on cost and result regardless of the test.
If you go the removal route, test the texture for asbestos first, then read our WEN DW5084 drywall sander review and our DEWALT DWV010 HEPA dust extractor review, because dust control is what makes this job survivable in an occupied house.
Doing the ceilings job yourself?
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$21.97
Bag-attachment scraper catches popcorn texture as it comes off the ceiling.
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$109.99
Variable-speed sander with built-in vacuum smooths the ceiling after scraping.
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$62.22
Heavy 6 mil poly masks floors and walls from the wet scraping mess.
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$24.99
Skim-coat the scraped ceiling flat before priming and painting.
View on AmazonFrequently asked questions
Does my popcorn ceiling contain asbestos?
You cannot tell by looking. Asbestos was used in ceiling texture into the early 1980s in the United States, and product on shelves continued to be used after manufacture stopped. The only way to know is a sample analysed by an accredited laboratory, which is inexpensive. Do not sand, scrape or dry-brush a suspect ceiling to collect a sample yourself without following the guidance for safe sampling.
What happens if the ceiling tests positive?
Removal becomes regulated asbestos abatement, carried out by a licensed contractor with containment, negative air pressure and legal disposal, at several times the cost of ordinary scraping. Rules vary by state and by whether it is owner-occupied. In many cases the cheaper and entirely legitimate answer is to leave the material undisturbed and cover it, since intact asbestos-containing material that is not disturbed is not releasing fibres.
Can popcorn ceiling be covered with drywall?
Yes, and it is a standard approach. Quarter inch or half inch drywall is screwed through the texture into the joists, then taped and finished. It gives a flat new ceiling, seals the old surface and works whether or not the texture was painted. It costs a little more than scraping and it loses a small amount of ceiling height.
Is popcorn ceiling removal a DIY job?
Once it has tested clear of asbestos, scraping unpainted texture is a common DIY project: mist it, scrape it, then skim and sand the drywall underneath. It is extremely messy and the finishing work is what takes the time. If it has been painted, the texture resists wetting and scraping becomes very difficult, which is when covering it makes more sense.