Skim coating is almost always cheaper than replacing drywall, provided the ceiling isn't structurally damaged. Skim coat only costs $2.50 per square foot, and full-service skim coating (prep, two coats, sanding, ready for paint) runs $3.50 per square foot. Full drywall replacement means tearing out the old material, hanging new sheets, taping, and multiple coats of mud, which pushes labor and material costs well above skim coating for the same square footage.

If your ceiling still has popcorn texture, our all-inclusive removal (removal plus two skim coats, primer, and two coats of paint) runs $4.50 per square foot for unpainted texture, $6.50 for latex-painted texture, and $7.50 for oil-based painted texture. Skimming directly over existing texture without removing it first costs $8.50 per square foot, more than full removal, so we never recommend it as a shortcut to save money.

Before we disturb any ceiling installed before the mid-1980s, we coordinate asbestos testing at cost, $300 to $500, no markup. Ontario Regulation 278/05 requires testing before disturbing suspect material, though removal itself isn't legally mandated and the Ontario Building Code doesn't regulate popcorn ceilings.

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