No, knockdown and popcorn ceilings aren't "outdated" in a functional sense, but most Kitchener-Waterloo homeowners remove them because they date a home, hide water stains poorly, and may contain asbestos if applied before the mid-1980s. Chrysotile asbestos was commonly mixed into ceiling texture through the 1970s and into the mid-1980s, so any textured ceiling from that era should be tested before sanding, scraping, or removal. Under Ontario Regulation 278/05, testing is required before disturbing suspect material, though removal itself isn't legally mandated and the Ontario Building Code doesn't regulate popcorn ceilings. We coordinate third-party asbestos testing at cost, $300-$500, with no markup.

If your ceiling tests clear, removal runs $4.50/sqft all-inclusive for unpainted popcorn (removal, two skim coats, primer, two coats of paint), $6.50/sqft for latex-painted ceilings, and $7.50/sqft for oil-based painted ceilings. A condo or a few rooms (400-600 sqft) typically falls in the $2,000-$4,500 range. Larger homes cost more at the same per-square-foot rates.

• Skim coat only, no paint: $2.50/sqft
• Skim coat full service: $3.50/sqft
• Skim coat over existing texture, no removal: $8.50/sqft

500+ homes completed since 2019, $2M insured, WSIB covered. Call (519) 729-7394 for a free quote. KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal · Kitchener service area · Google Reviews