Yes, in most cases — skim coating is the standard way to get a smooth, paint-ready ceiling after popcorn texture is removed, and it's built into our all-inclusive pricing so you're not paying separately for it.

• Full removal + skim coat, unpainted popcorn: $4.50/sqft all-inclusive (removal, 2 skim coats, primer, 2 coats of paint)
• Full removal + skim coat, latex-painted popcorn: $6.50/sqft all-inclusive
• Full removal + skim coat, oil-based painted popcorn: $7.50/sqft all-inclusive
• Skim coat only (no removal, texture already gone): $2.50/sqft, or $3.50/sqft full service
• Skim coating directly over existing texture (no removal): $8.50/sqft — this is a specialty option that costs more than full removal, not a cheaper shortcut

Before any skim coating or removal, we check the ceiling's age. Chrysotile asbestos was commonly mixed into ceiling texture before the mid-1980s, so under Ontario Regulation 278/05, suspect material must be tested before it's disturbed. We coordinate that testing at cost, $300–$500, with no markup. Removal itself isn't legally mandated, and the Ontario Building Code doesn't regulate popcorn ceilings — but skim coating gives the best long-term finish. Call us at (519) 729-7394 for a quote. KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal · Kitchener service area · Google Reviews