Yes — a textured or popcorn ceiling can be smoothed out, and there are two ways to do it. The most cost-effective route is full removal plus two skim coats, primer, and two coats of paint, all-inclusive at $4.50/sqft for unpainted popcorn ($6.50/sqft if it's been painted with latex, $7.50/sqft for oil-base paint). Skimming directly over existing texture without removing it is also possible, but it actually costs more, at $8.50/sqft, because the texture has to be fully stabilized and built up flat first — it's never the cheaper shortcut.

Before any sanding or removal, testing is required under Ontario Regulation 278/05 if the ceiling was installed before the mid-1980s, since chrysotile asbestos was commonly mixed into texture through the 1970s and into that period. We coordinate third-party testing at cost, $300–$500, no markup. Removal itself isn't legally mandated, and the Ontario Building Code doesn't regulate popcorn ceilings directly.

Call (519) 729-7394 for a free quote. KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal · Kitchener service area · Google Reviews