★ Bring your ceilings out of 1978
Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Columbia, MO.
Columbia's 1960s–80s ranches and split-levels are full of original popcorn ceilings. We scrape it off, repair what's underneath, skim-coat and refinish smooth or with a modern knockdown — with the room sealed so the mess stays in the plastic, not on your floors.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Columbia, MO — done so well you can't find the repair
Popcorn (acoustic) texture was sprayed on ceilings across Columbia from the 1960s into the 1980s because it hid imperfections and went on fast. Fifty years later it collects dust, is nearly impossible to patch cleanly, darkens every room and dates a house instantly. Removing it is one of the highest-impact updates you can make to an older home in Parkade, Rothwell Heights, the Shepard Boulevard area, or any of the older neighborhoods around town — and to the 1970s–80s homes in Ashland, Fulton and Jefferson City.
The work is straightforward but messy, and the finish underneath the popcorn is almost always rough, which is why it was textured in the first place. Our process seals the room, wets and scrapes the texture, repairs the ceiling drywall, skim-coats the whole surface, sands it flat and finishes it smooth or with a knockdown texture. A typical room is paint-ready in two to three days, most of which is drying time.
See typical prices in our Columbia drywall repair cost guide.
Free estimate
Free quote: popcorn ceiling removal
Tell us about the damage — a photo by text gets you the fastest price.
What we fix
What Popcorn Removal Involves
Every job is different, but here's what's usually included:
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Asbestos guidance for pre-1980 homes
Popcorn texture installed before the early 1980s can contain asbestos. For homes from that era we ask for a lab test first (inexpensive, results in days). We do not remove asbestos-containing material — if the test is positive, we refer you to a licensed abatement contractor.
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Full room containment
Floors, walls, fixtures and doorways are masked with plastic. Popcorn removal is the messiest thing we do and the room stays sealed until cleanup.
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Wet scraping
Unpainted popcorn is misted and scraped. Painted popcorn is harder — the paint seals the texture — and sometimes the better route is a skim coat over it.
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Ceiling repair and skim coat
The drywall under popcorn usually has nail pops, bad seams and gouges. We repair them, then skim the whole ceiling for a flat base.
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Your choice of finish
Dead-flat smooth (the modern look, most labor), or a light knockdown texture (forgiving and popular in Columbia). We prime so it is ready for ceiling paint.
Don't want to remove it? We also patch and blend popcorn after water damage or a repair so the ceiling stays uniform, and we can cover popcorn with a new layer of drywall in some cases. Ask and we'll tell you honestly which route makes sense for your ceiling and budget.
Our process
Our Popcorn Removal Process
Sealed, scraped, skimmed, finished:
- 01
Test (if pre-1980) and mask everything
Lab test for asbestos where the home age calls for it. Then full plastic containment of the room, fixtures removed or bagged, floors double-covered.
- 02
Scrape and repair
Texture is wetted and scraped to the drywall, then every pop, seam and gouge underneath is repaired. Ceilings that were painted over may get a bonding skim instead of a full scrape.
- 03
Skim, sand, finish
The whole ceiling gets skim-coated flat, sanded under a raking light, then finished smooth or knockdown and primed. Cleanup is part of the job — the plastic comes down and the room is left ready to paint.
Pricing
What Popcorn Ceiling Removal Costs in Columbia, MO
Popcorn ceiling removal with retexture typically runs $1–$3 per square foot in Columbia, depending on ceiling height, whether the popcorn has been painted, the condition of the drywall underneath and the finish you choose. A typical 12×15 bedroom lands at the lower end of a few hundred dollars for unpainted popcorn and a knockdown finish; a large painted living-room ceiling finished dead-smooth sits at the high end. We quote the whole room as one flat price after a free look.
Asbestos lab testing, if needed, is a small separate cost through the lab. See the full popcorn ceiling removal cost guide for a room-by-room breakdown.
FAQ
Popcorn Ceiling Removal: common questions
How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost in Columbia?
Typically $1–$3 per square foot including repair, skim coat and a new smooth or knockdown finish, quoted as one flat price per room. Painted popcorn and smooth finishes are at the high end.
Does my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
If the home was built or the ceiling textured before the early 1980s, it might. A lab test costs little and takes a few days. We do not remove asbestos-containing texture; positive results go to a licensed abatement contractor first.
How long does it take?
A typical room is scraped and repaired on day one, skim-coated and dried over the next day, then sanded and finished. Most rooms are paint-ready in two to three days.
How messy is it?
Very — which is why the room is fully sealed in plastic before we start, and cleanup is part of the job. You will not be sweeping popcorn out of the carpet for a month.
Smooth or knockdown — which should I choose?
Smooth is the modern look and hides nothing, so it costs more labor. A light knockdown is forgiving on older ceilings, blends with the rest of most Columbia homes and costs less. We can show you both on a sample board.
More services
Related drywall services
Ceiling Repair
Water-stained, cracked, sagging or damaged drywall ceilings cut out, replaced and texture-matched so the repair disappears under the light.
Pricing & process →Texture Matching
Knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel, stipple, smooth — matched so the patch is invisible after paint. The hardest part of any repair, and our specialty.
Pricing & process →Water Damage Drywall Repair
Stained, sagging or crumbling drywall after a leak — removed, sealed so it never bleeds back, replaced and texture-matched.
Pricing & process →Service areas
Popcorn Ceiling Removal across Columbia & mid-Missouri
Same flat-rate pricing in every town we serve — no trip fees.
Need popcorn ceiling removal? Get a price today.
Text a photo of the damage or fill out the form. Free flat-rate quote, usually within the hour.