A textured popcorn ceiling dates a room, collects dust, and makes patching difficult. Replacing it with a smooth ceiling is one of the most noticeable changes you can make to a room. It is also one of the few paint-related jobs where the first thing we want to know is not what you want, but when your home was built.

That is because textured ceilings in older homes can contain asbestos. We do not guess, and we do not scrape until the question has been dealt with.

What a ceiling conversion involves

A conversation about the age of the house and the history of the ceiling
Testing arranged first when the age or the product raises a question
Floors, walls and fixtures sealed and covered before any scraping
Scraping, skim coating and sanding to a flat, even surface
Primer and two coats of ceiling paint in a flat finish
Lighting, vents and trim protected and left tidy

Home age and your Kelowna ceiling

Whether your Kelowna house is older or newer, its age decides the first step. If the house is older, plan for a lab test of a ceiling sample before we remove anything. If testing shows asbestos, the work becomes a job for a qualified abatement firm, not for a painter with a scraper.

If the ceiling is clear, the job is a messy but straightforward one. We seal the room, protect the floors, scrape in sections, and then skim the surface smooth. Plan to be out of the room for the dusty stage, and note that the ceiling needs time to dry between steps.

If you are not sure of your home’s age, your property records or a previous owner’s paperwork are good places to look. Bring whatever you find to the quote visit. A firm date saves time, because it tells us whether testing comes before anything else.

From textured to smooth

Confirm the test result. Before we book the scraping, we want to see a clear test result when your home’s age calls for one.
Seal the room. Plastic goes over walls, floor and fixtures, and vents are blocked so dust stays in the room.
Remove and skim. The texture is dampened and scraped off, then a skim coat fills the gaps and low spots.
Sand, prime, paint. The ceiling is sanded smooth, primed, and painted. We check it under a raking light before we finish.

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

Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Kelowna: questions

How do I know if my ceiling has asbestos?

You cannot tell by looking. A sample sent to a lab is the way to find out, and we can explain how to get that done before you commit to the work.

Is painting over the popcorn an option?

Yes, sometimes. Painting leaves the texture in place, which is a good choice when removal is not worth the effort or the testing is positive.

How messy is the removal itself?

Messy, which is why we seal the room and keep dust contained. Ask us about moving furniture out beforehand.

Other painting services in Kelowna

Popcorn Ceiling Removal in nearby towns

Tell us the year your house was built and request a free written quote for popcorn ceiling removal in Kelowna.

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

More about popcorn ceiling removal and Kelowna

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

Further reading: Kelowna 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.