Textured ceilings were popular for a long time, and plenty of Penticton homes still have them. They hide flaws, but they also hold dust, look dated and make a room feel lower. Taking them off gives you a flat ceiling that takes paint cleanly and lets light spread properly.

This is a job where the first question is not about colour. It is about the age of your home.

What removal involves

A first conversation about when the house was built and whether the ceiling has been painted
Sampling and lab testing before any scraping, because older texture can contain asbestos
Sealing the room, covering floors and fixtures, and protecting doorways from dust
Wetting and scraping the texture, or sanding if the ceiling was painted over
Skim coating and sanding the ceiling flat after the texture is gone
Priming and painting the new ceiling, with cut-ins done along the walls

Testing comes first, always

Textured ceilings in older homes can contain asbestos, and Penticton has homes from many different decades. We do not guess by looking. We ask the age of your house first, and if there is any doubt, you arrange a test before we scrape anything. If the result is positive, the removal becomes a different job that needs a specialist.

If the test comes back clean, we can proceed. Clear the room or let us cover it. Ceiling dust travels, so we seal vents and doors and clean as we go.

Plan for the room to be out of use for a few days. Scraping, skim coating, drying and sanding cannot be rushed, and the paint goes on last. If you can, move small furniture out beforehand and tell us about light fixtures or fans so we can protect or remove them safely. Once the ceiling is flat, it is a good moment to change the light fixtures or add pot lights, since the electrician can work before we prime and paint.

Our order of work

Ask and test. We confirm the home age, you arrange sampling where needed, and we only continue once the result is known.
Seal the room. Plastic goes over floors, furniture, vents and openings so dust stays where we are working.
Scrape and skim. Texture comes off, rough areas get skim coated, and the surface is sanded until it is flat under a work light.
Prime and finish. A primer seals the compound, and ceiling paint goes on in even passes before we walk the room with you.

The full process, prep and pricing factors are on our main popcorn ceiling removal page.

Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Penticton: questions

Who arranges the asbestos test?

You send a small sample to a lab. We explain how to collect it safely and wait for the result before we scrape.

Is it faster to just paint over a popcorn ceiling?

It can be, but paint adds weight to the texture and makes later removal harder. We discuss both options so you can choose.

How messy is the job?

Wet scraping is cleaner than dry, and skim coating creates sanding dust. We contain both and clean the room before we leave.

Other painting services in Penticton

Popcorn Ceiling Removal in nearby towns

Tell us when your Penticton house was built and we will outline a free written quote that begins with testing.

Request your free written quote or call (778) 760-0346.

More about popcorn ceiling removal and Penticton

Have a question first? Read the FAQ, learn about Alto Pro Painters or contact us.

Further reading: Penticton on Wikipedia and Popcorn ceilings on Wikipedia.

Watch: popcorn ceiling removal in action

How to remove a popcorn ceiling, by Lowe's Home Improvement on YouTube.