A full popcorn ceiling removal in the Kitchener-Waterloo area runs $4.50 to $7.50 per square foot, all-inclusive, depending on whether the texture was ever painted. A main floor, a few rooms, or a condo (400-600 sq ft) typically totals $2,000 to $4,500. A 3-bedroom home (900-1,500 sq ft) runs $4,050 to $11,250.

• Unpainted texture: $4.50/sq ft for removal, two skim coats, primer, and two coats of paint.
• Latex-painted texture: $6.50/sq ft — sealed paint takes longer to scrape off.
• Oil-based paint: $7.50/sq ft, the toughest to remove.
• Skim coat only: $2.50/sq ft; full-service skim coat: $3.50/sq ft.
• Skimming over existing texture (no removal) costs more, not less: $8.50/sq ft.

Since a lot of KW-area homes were built before the mid-1980s, budget $300-$500 for asbestos testing (billed at cost) before any scraping — chrysotile was commonly mixed into texture up through that era. Ontario Regulation 278/05 requires testing before disturbing suspect material; removal itself isn't legally mandated, and the Building Code doesn't regulate popcorn ceilings. We coordinate testing with certified labs — we don't perform abatement ourselves. I'm Eddie, owner of KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal & Painting: 500+ homes completed across the region since 2019, $2M insured, WSIB covered, free in-home quotes. (519) 729-7394 · KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal · Google Reviews