The best dust-free method for removing popcorn ceilings is the wet-scrape technique: a garden pump sprayer lightly mists the texture with water, which softens it in minutes, then a wide 6-inch drywall scraper lifts it off in sheets instead of raising airborne dust. This beats dry sanding or scraping, which is not recommended if asbestos may be present. Before wetting or scraping anything, Ontario Regulation 278/05 requires testing any texture applied before the mid-1980s, since chrysotile asbestos was commonly mixed into ceiling texture until then. We coordinate asbestos testing at cost, $300 to $500, with no markup; removal itself is not mandated by law and the Ontario Building Code does not regulate popcorn ceilings. Once texture is confirmed safe, our all-inclusive rate for unpainted ceilings is $4.50 per square foot, covering removal, two skim coats, primer, and two coats of paint. Painted ceilings run higher since the paint seals the texture and takes more labour to strip. Call (519) 729-7394 for a free quote. KW Popcorn Ceiling Removal · Kitchener service area · Google Reviews