Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Say Goodbye to the 80's!

Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Popcorn belongs in a theater, not on your ceiling. Our professionals will smoothly remove that outdated popcorn ceiling using industry-leading equipment and safety measures. We’ll leave a sleek, modern surface primed for a new era. Consider it a time-travel service for your home’s aesthetics. We handle the entire process from assessment to clean-up, leaving no trace except a perfectly smooth ceiling.

Fresh Start Membership

Enjoy touch-ups, repairs, pressure washing, surface sealing, and yes—we even change those pesky light bulbs and so much more! Choose a schedule that fits your needs—One-Time, Quarterly, Biannual, or Annual—and enjoy 25% off your first package when you sign up.

Low-VOC, Non-Toxic

Transform your home into a healthy, uplifting sanctuary with our Green, Eco-Driven Mission. We use low-VOC, non-toxic paints and intentional color strategies that not only boost indoor air quality but also enhance your mood and energy—helping you feel your best.

Fast, Accurate Quotes — On the Spot

Gables & Grove, we understand that making a decision on your painting project is time-sensitive. That’s why we offer on-the-spot quotes whenever possible, thanks to our thorough pre-appointment setup that ensures we’re prepared. If a spot quote isn’t feasible, we’ll get your quote to you as quickly as possible. Plus, for added flexibility, we also offer VirtualQuote and our unique Painter for a Day service — find out more on our website.

Everything Under One Roof

Experience a stress-free transition—if we don’t cover a service, we connect you with our carefully vetted trades partners, from plumbing to landscaping, ensuring your project continues seamlessly under one roof.

Our Most

Frequently Asked Questions

Popcorn ceiling removal is the process of eliminating textured ceilings often found in older homes. Removing it updates your home’s look, improves lighting, and can even increase property value, giving your space a modern and clean appearance.

Popcorn ceiling removal can be a messy process. There will be dust and debris, but we take steps to minimize the mess by covering furniture and floors and doing a thorough clean-up afterward.

Ok, let’s be completely clear about this—removing popcorn ceiling is not the most fun you’ll be having in your home this year. That pesky thing called gravity takes dust and debris and sends it everywhere. But wait a minute! Gables & Grove has a specific process for minimizing all of that. We call it the Gables & Grove Popcorn Removal Process, and here’s how it goes:

  1. We don’t just throw down some drop cloths and hope for the best. First, rolls of construction paper go down on your floors. Perfect protection from corner to corner, edge to edge. 
  2. Then we completely cover that paper with a thin layer of Painters Plastic. 
  3. Next come the misting sprayers to dampen the popcorn. Too little mist and you’ll create dust. Too much mist and you’ll have soggy drywall ceilings, and that’s a no-no.
  4. Now we scrape. Starting in the far corner we take wide drywall knives and manually scrape the popcorn from the ceiling, taking care to not damage the drywall above.
  5. All the large debris is down and now on top of that plastic we put down. We get out big contractor trash bags, ball the plastic up, and export that debris from your home direct to our work vehicles—not your trash cans!
  6. A new layer of Painters Plastic is put down over your paper-covered floor.

Let’s take a break right there and talk about how your ceiling goes from popcorn-free to truly smooth. The following describes  how we did  it for many years, and how every one of our competitors continues to do it:

  • Go up with a first coat of compound, and let it dry overnight
  • Come back the next day and sand that coat as smooth as possible (dust!)
  • Apply a second coat of compound, and let it dry overnight
  • Come back the next day, and sand that coat as smooth as possible (dust, dust!)
  • An expert finisher (the guys and gals who do compound work) can achieve a pretty smooth finish with two coats. But, you guessed it, usually a third coat of compound is applied, and left to dry overnight
  • The next day is sanded down nice and smooth  (dust, dust, dust!)
  • And one coat of primer is applied. The primer will reveal all kinds of ugly knife marks and imperfections in the finishing process that have to be touched up…with more compound…and more sanding (dus…ok you, know what I was going to say!)
  • Touch-up priming, and now we’re finally ready for two coats of ceiling paint

Do you see the pain that can come from that process? Let’s list out some problems:

  • That took at least 4 days
  • It caused dust storms like Oklahoma had in the 1920s
  • Then you had up to ½” of compound hanging over your head
  • It took a lot of work to get a smooth finish, and it was never actually perfect
  • The compound+primer substrate dried a gray-white, which even after two coats of ceiling paint gave a “dull” feeling to your new ceiling

Ok, let’s go back to the Gables & Grove Popcorn Removal Process to see how we do it nowadays. At #6, we left off with fresh plastic on the floor…

  1. Our skilled finishers apply one very thin coat of compound to the ceiling. The purpose of this skim coat is to cover any drastic elevation changes, pits, holes, deep gauges, etc.  It’s so thin that it dries within two hours. We lightly sand that skim coat, and prime the ceiling. Why lightly, why not sand it like the other guys? We don’t need it to be perfect, because coming up next…
  2. We hang Systexx, the fiberglass drywall covering that becomes a permanent part of the ceiling and dries to a breathable, perfectly smooth, rock-hard crystal-white finish within 4 hours. 
  3. Then we paint—two coats of your new color on this perfect, strong, crystal-white surface.
  4. You’re done.

Notice a few things?

  • Barely a murmur about dust, or dust storms
  • Your walls are perfectly smooth at the rate of 300 sqft/hour, which means your work is done in ⅓-¼ of the time!
  • Perfectly. Smooth.
  • We’ve minimized the amount of stinky compound that is being applied
  • You’re going to get the true value of your color because we’re going over a crystal-white surface, not that dull-gray.

So, to answer to the question, “Is removing popcorn ceiling a messy, dusty process?, is “it’s up to you!”

Well the short answer is that it’s no longer 1987. And aside from being funny, it’s true, and there’s more: popcorn ceilings date a home but they also collect dust and may contain asbestos. Removing popcorn not only modernizes your space and provides a cleaner, smoother finish, but will also improve your air quality. A true win-win! And the best news: it doesn’t have to be messy. Read on to learn how we’ve removed the pain from popcorn process.

We use plastic sheeting to cover floors, walls, and furniture, and seal off the work area to contain dust. Additionally, we use dust extraction tools and wet the ceiling before removal to reduce airborne particles.

Yes, we can match paint colors using advanced color-matching technology to ensure a seamless look with the existing paint on your walls or ceilings.

While it is possible to live in your home during these processes, there will be some disruption. We recommend setting up temporary living arrangements or designating a separate living area to minimize inconvenience.

The timeframe depends on the room size and ceiling condition, but typically, popcorn ceiling removal takes 1-2 days per room. Our team works efficiently to minimize disruption while ensuring a safe and thorough removal process.

Yes, especially if the popcorn ceiling contains asbestos, a common additive in older homes. We perform a preliminary inspection to assess the material, and if asbestos is present, we follow strict protocols to ensure safe removal.

After removal, we smooth and finish the ceiling to create a seamless look. You can then choose to have the ceiling painted or left as-is for a clean, modern aesthetic.

Yes, removing popcorn ceilings can reduce dust accumulation and improve indoor air quality. Over time, textured ceilings can trap dust, allergens, and other particles, so removal can benefit those sensitive to air quality.

When performed by professionals, popcorn ceiling removal is safe and will not damage your ceiling. Our team uses careful techniques to protect the underlying surface, ensuring a smooth finish without compromising structural integrity.

Absolutely. Removing a popcorn ceiling not only modernizes your space but can also enhance lighting, reduce dust, and increase the home’s resale value, making it a valuable investment for homeowners.

We handle most of the setup, but we recommend clearing furniture and covering any items you want to protect. Our team will then add protective coverings to floors and walls to keep your space safe and clean.

Costs vary depending on room size and ceiling condition. We offer transparent estimates based on the specific needs of your project, allowing you to make an informed decision about your investment.

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