Ready to get rid of that outdated popcorn ceiling? Texora Painting repairs damaged acoustic texture and removes popcorn ceilings entirely — leaving smooth, beautiful ceilings that transform how your rooms look and feel.
Get a Free Popcorn Ceiling QuotePopcorn ceiling — also called acoustic ceiling texture, cottage cheese ceiling, or stucco ceiling — was one of the most widely used ceiling finishes in North American homes from the 1960s through the early 1990s. Its appeal was practical: it could be sprayed on quickly and cheaply, it hid imperfections in the drywall underneath, and it was claimed to provide minor acoustic benefits. In Tsawwassen and Ladner, where significant residential development occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, popcorn ceilings are extremely common.
By today's standards, popcorn texture is considered dated and undesirable. Modern home staging advice consistently recommends removing it before listing a property for sale. It traps dust and is nearly impossible to clean. It shows water stains prominently. It makes rooms feel lower and darker. The good news is that Texora Painting removes popcorn ceilings throughout Delta — and the transformation is dramatic.
Popcorn ceiling texture applied before 1990 in BC may contain chrysotile asbestos. This was a common additive in spray-texture products of that era. Homes in Tsawwassen and Ladner built between the 1960s and late 1980s are at particular risk. Disturbing asbestos-containing material without testing and proper abatement is illegal under WorkSafeBC regulations and dangerous to your health. Before any popcorn ceiling removal, have the material tested by a certified asbestos inspector. If asbestos is present, a licensed abatement contractor must remove it. Texora Painting does not work on confirmed asbestos-containing materials — we proceed only after clearance is confirmed.
Best for: small areas of physical damage (a water stain, a section knocked by furniture, a hole from a fixture). We spray-match the existing texture and blend the patch into the surrounding area. A perfect match is rarely achievable on aged popcorn — the original material settles and fades over time — but we get as close as possible. If you are not planning to repaint the whole ceiling, a patch repair is the most practical option.
Best for: modernizing your home, preparing for sale, removing heavily damaged or stained popcorn, or addressing asbestos concerns. Full removal gives you a clean slate — smooth, skim-coated ceilings that look like new construction. This is the most impactful single cosmetic upgrade you can make to a 1970s or 1980s home in Delta.
For homes built before 1990, testing is mandatory before we begin. We can recommend certified asbestos testing services in Delta. Testing typically takes 1–3 business days for results. If asbestos is found, a licensed abatement contractor must remove the material before Texora can proceed.
Popcorn removal is a messy process — the scraped material falls as wet debris and covers everything below. We protect floors, furniture, and all surfaces with plastic sheeting before starting. Proper prep is essential.
The ceiling is lightly misted with water to soften the texture. Once the texture has absorbed enough moisture to release (usually 15–20 minutes), it is scraped cleanly from the drywall below using wide scrapers. Care is taken not to gouge the drywall face — this would require additional repair work.
After scraping, the bare drywall surface has minor imperfections, screw dimples, and slight texture from the old material. We apply one to two coats of skim coat compound to create a smooth, flat surface. This is the most skill-dependent step — a smooth ceiling that looks truly flat requires proper feathering and sanding technique.
The skim-coated ceiling is primed with drywall primer and painted in your chosen colour and sheen. Flat paint is the standard for ceilings — it hides any minor surface irregularities better than any other sheen level.
Popcorn removal with skim coat: approximately $2–$4 per square foot. A 200 sq ft living room ceiling runs $400–$800. Painting is additional at $0.80–$1.50/sqft for ceiling only. Asbestos abatement, if required, is a separate cost. Full-house removal projects receive volume pricing — contact us for a written quote.
Popcorn texture applied before 1990 in BC frequently contained chrysotile asbestos, which was added to the spray compound for durability and fire resistance. In Tsawwassen and Ladner, where many homes were built in the 1970s and 1980s, this is a very real concern. The only way to know for certain is to have the material tested by a certified asbestos professional. Do not disturb the texture before testing — even minor scraping can release fibres.
After confirming no asbestos is present (or completing abatement if it is), the ceiling is misted with water to soften the texture, then scraped clean with wide scrapers. The bare drywall is then skim-coated one to two times to create a smooth surface, sanded, primed, and painted. The scraping phase generates significant debris — thorough room protection is essential.
Removal and skim coat runs approximately $2–$4 per square foot of ceiling area. A 200 sq ft room is roughly $400–$800 for removal and skim coat. Painting is additional. For asbestos-containing ceilings, licensed abatement is an added cost that varies depending on the contractor and extent of the work — typically $500–$2,500 for a residential room.
A single room takes approximately 1–2 days: one day for removal and first skim coat, and a second day for a final skim coat, sanding, and priming. Painting follows once the primer dries. A full-house project of 5–6 rooms typically takes 4–7 days of work, plus painting time.
Yes — we can patch damaged sections using acoustic spray compound matched to the existing texture. A perfect match is very difficult to achieve on aged popcorn because the original material has yellowed, settled, and been painted over many times. We get as close as possible, and a full ceiling repaint after patching helps unify the appearance. If more than one room is affected, full removal is often worth considering.
After removal and skim coating, the ceiling is primed and painted. You can keep it smooth and flat, or add a subtle new texture like knockdown or orange peel if you prefer a softer look than a fully smooth ceiling. Many Delta homeowners opt for smooth — it's the current standard in new construction and adds the most visual impact.
For modern aesthetics, ease of cleaning, light reflection, and resale value, smooth ceilings are strongly preferred over popcorn. Real estate agents in Delta and Tsawwassen consistently note that popcorn ceiling removal adds perceived value and makes homes show better. Rooms genuinely feel larger and more open with smooth, well-lit ceilings.
No building permit is required for cosmetic ceiling work. However, if asbestos is present, WorkSafeBC requires that removal be performed by a licensed abatement contractor — this is a legal requirement, not simply best practice. Attempting DIY asbestos removal puts you, your family, and your neighbours at risk and is illegal.
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