Skim coating alone costs $2.50 per square foot for skim coat only, or $3.50 per square foot for full-service work. Skim coating over existing texture without removing it first runs $8.50 per square foot, more expensive than removal because it's harder to do well. Ceilings cost more than walls due to overhead work, and a premium Level 5 finish costs more than standard Level 4 from added labor.

Most homeowners want popcorn gone. Our all-inclusive removal pricing (tear-off, two skim coats, primer, two coats paint):

• Unpainted popcorn: $4.50/sqft
• Latex-painted: $6.50/sqft
• Oil-based painted: $7.50/sqft

A main floor, a few rooms, or a condo (400-600 sqft) runs $2,000 to $4,500. Bigger jobs with 900-1,500 sqft of ceiling run $4,050 to $11,250.

Many Kitchener-Waterloo homes built before the mid-1980s have popcorn texture containing chrysotile asbestos. Ontario Regulation 278/05 requires testing before disturbing suspect material, so we coordinate lab testing at cost ($300 to $500, no markup) through a licensed lab; we don't perform the abatement ourselves. The Ontario Building Code doesn't regulate popcorn ceilings and removal isn't legally required, but most owners choose it for resale value. We've done this in 500+ KW homes since 2019, $2M insured and WSIB covered. (519) 729-7394 · KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal · Google Reviews