A textured ceiling that once looked modern now collects dust, hides light and dates a room. Many Keremeos homeowners ask us about removing it, and our first reply is always a question about when the house was built.

That question is about safety, not paperwork. Textured ceilings in older homes can contain asbestos, so the ceiling has to be tested before anyone scrapes it. Only after the result do we plan the actual removal.

What the removal job includes

A conversation about the home’s age and any past ceiling work
Sampling for lab testing before scraping starts, arranged through you
Full masking of floors, walls, vents and fixtures
Wetting and scraping of the texture, then clean-up of the debris
Skim coating or sanding to a smooth, paint-ready ceiling
Primer and two coats of ceiling paint

Why age decides the plan

If your Keremeos home was built in the decades when textured ceilings were common, assume nothing. We will not scrape a ceiling that might contain asbestos. If the test comes back positive, the work stops being a painting job and has to go to a qualified abatement contractor.

If the test is clear, the job becomes straightforward. Dust is the main nuisance, so we seal off the room and keep the mess contained rather than letting it travel through the house.

Preparation inside the house matters as much as the scraping. Ceiling fans and light fixtures need to come down or be well covered, and any wiring above the ceiling should be checked by an electrician if you are unsure of it. We ask you to clear the room of small furnishings and we cover the rest. Expect the job to run over a few days, since skim coats need to dry before sanding. Painting comes last, and we advise leaving a window open afterwards so the smell of fresh primer clears while the ceiling cures.

Order of work

Ask and test. We learn the age of the home, then you send a sample to a lab. Nothing gets scraped before the result is back.
Seal and wet. The room is masked, then the ceiling is misted so the texture comes off in heavy flakes, not airborne dust.
Scrape and smooth. Texture is removed, the ceiling is skimmed and sanded flat, and any damaged drywall is repaired.
Prime and finish. A stain-blocking primer goes on first, followed by flat ceiling paint to keep light reflections soft.

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

Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Keremeos: questions

Can I just paint over the popcorn texture instead?

You can, though it keeps the texture and makes later removal harder because paint glues the texture to the ceiling. We explain the trade-off during the quote.

What happens if the lab finds asbestos?

We stop, and you hire an abatement specialist. We can quote the repainting afterwards once the ceiling has been dealt with safely.

Is a smooth ceiling worth the cost?

It depends on the room. Bedrooms and living areas often justify it, while storage rooms may not. We separate each room on the quote so you can choose.

Other painting services in Keremeos

Popcorn Ceiling Removal in nearby towns

To plan a smooth ceiling in Keremeos, request a free written quote and have your home’s build year ready.

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

More about popcorn ceiling removal and Keremeos

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

Further reading: Keremeos on Wikipedia and Health Canada: asbestos and your health.

Watch: popcorn ceiling removal in action

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