Popcorn ceiling removal in Miami and South Florida
Dust-controlled scraping, a skim coat, and a smooth, modern ceiling in place of the dated texture. Free written estimates for homes, condos and commercial spaces.
Popcorn ceilings, also called acoustic or textured ceilings, were sprayed onto homes across South Florida for decades because the texture was cheap to apply and hid seams and imperfections in the drywall above. Today most buyers and homeowners see it the opposite way: a popcorn ceiling reads as dated, it collects dust in a way a flat ceiling doesn't, and it makes a room feel lower and heavier than it is. Removing it is one of the most requested jobs we do, and it's the one this company was built around.
We treat popcorn ceiling removal as a full process, not just a scrape. That means testing where it's warranted, protecting the room before anything gets wet, scraping and skim coating for a genuinely flat result, and cleaning up at the end of each day so a multi-day job doesn't leave you living in a construction site the whole time.
Step by step
Walkthrough and, when needed, testing
We look at the ceiling, the room, and any fixtures in the way. If the home was built or last textured before the mid 1980s, we talk through having a sample tested for asbestos before any scraping starts.
Protecting the room
Floors, furniture, cabinets and outlets get covered. Light fixtures, vents and smoke detectors are removed or masked so nothing gets textured over or damaged during the wet scrape.
Wetting and scraping the texture
The texture is lightly wetted to control dust, then scraped off the drywall. This is the messiest stage of the job, and where our dust control practices matter most.
Skim coating
A thin layer of joint compound is applied across the ceiling to fill in the texture pattern left behind by scraping and to even out the surface.
Sanding and priming
Once the skim coat is dry, we sand it smooth and prime the ceiling so it's ready for paint and reads as a clean, flat surface rather than a patched-over texture.
Paint and final cleanup
We can paint the ceiling in the same visit, reinstall fixtures and covers, and do a final cleanup of the room before we walk it with you.
A word on asbestos
Textured ceilings installed before the mid 1980s can contain asbestos, which was a common additive in spray texture at the time. It isn't something you can tell by looking at it. Before any scraping begins on an older ceiling, we recommend having a sample tested by an accredited lab. If the test comes back negative, we move ahead with standard removal. If it comes back positive, the ceiling needs a licensed asbestos abatement contractor, which is a different scope of work with its own containment and disposal requirements. We do not perform abatement ourselves, and we'll tell you plainly if that's the situation rather than scrape over it.
What affects the cost
We don't post prices online because every ceiling is different. These are the factors that actually move the number, and they're the same things we walk through in person before writing your estimate.
- Square footageThe larger the ceiling area, the more scraping, skim coating and material it takes.
- Ceiling heightStandard eight foot ceilings are straightforward. Vaulted or double height ceilings need scaffolding and more time.
- Texture type and thicknessSome texture scrapes off cleanly. Heavier or repainted-over texture takes longer to remove.
- Whether testing is neededOlder homes may need a lab sample tested before work starts, which affects the timeline.
- Furniture and room prepA fully furnished room takes more setup time than an empty one.
- Number of paint coatsA single ceiling color is different work than a full repaint with multiple coats.
- Repair extentWater stains, cracks or sagging drywall found under the texture add repair work beyond a standard scrape.
- Access in high-risesCondo buildings can add elevator booking, certificate of insurance requests, or move-in restrictions that affect scheduling.
When to call someone in
Popcorn ceiling removal is one of those jobs that looks simple from a video and turns into a much bigger mess in practice. A small closet ceiling is a reasonable weekend project for a confident homeowner. A full living room, a vaulted ceiling, or any ceiling in a home built before the mid 1980s is where we'd tell you to call a pro, both for the asbestos question and for the skim coat work that separates a smooth finish from a lumpy one. Skim coating a whole ceiling flat, sanded and paint ready is a skill that takes practice to get right, and a bad skim coat is harder to fix after the fact than it would have been to hire it out from the start.
Ceilings and drywall from real jobs
Popcorn ceiling removal across South Florida
We remove popcorn ceilings in homes and condo buildings throughout the following areas.
Popcorn ceiling removal, answered
Could my popcorn ceiling contain asbestos?
Textured ceilings installed before the mid 1980s can contain asbestos. We recommend having a sample tested by an accredited lab before any scraping begins. If a test comes back positive, removal needs a licensed asbestos abatement contractor, which is different work than standard popcorn ceiling removal.
How messy is popcorn ceiling removal?
It is a wet, dusty process by nature, so we use dust control practices, cover floors and furniture, and clean the room at the end of each work day rather than leaving debris until the whole job wraps.
Will the ceiling look completely smooth afterward?
Yes. After the texture is scraped off, we apply a skim coat, sand it, and prime it so the finished ceiling reads as a clean, modern flat surface, not a patched-over texture.
Do you also repaint the ceiling and walls?
We can. Many clients have us paint the ceiling and touch up the walls in the same visit, since the room is already prepped and covered.
How do you protect light fixtures, vents and smoke detectors?
We remove or mask fixtures, vents and detectors before scraping begins and reinstall or replace covers once the ceiling is finished, so nothing gets textured over or damaged.
Can you match texture instead of removing it?
We can, but most clients calling about popcorn ceilings want it gone rather than repaired to match, since a smooth ceiling is the more common finish request in Miami right now.
Often paired with this job
Free estimate for popcorn ceiling removal
Tell us about the ceiling and the room, and we'll follow up to schedule a walkthrough.
754.900.8247