popcorn removal from ceiling

[TimG]

All,

I've been getting some quotes for the removal of popcorn from the ceiling in my laundry room and some of these prices seem out to lunch.

the popcorn isn't painted, so removal should be a breeze. The room is only 63 sqft and pretty much empty.

looking at removal, skimming, and getting ready to paint.

I've been getting quotes between $1500 and $2000 for this. seems insanely high.

Need a sanity check here.

Thanks

T

[bjstare]

All,

I've been getting some quotes for the removal of popcorn from the ceiling in my laundry room and some of these prices seem out to lunch.

the popcorn isn't painted, so removal should be a breeze. The room is only 63 sqft and pretty much empty.

looking at removal, skimming, and getting ready to paint.

I've been getting quotes between $1500 and $2000 for this. seems insanely high.

Need a sanity check here.

Thanks

T

Work like this doesn't scale down very well. They still have the time to drive to your place/prep/cleanup etc, and that would be similar for 63sqft and 150sqft.

Regardless, that is more money than I'd be willing to pay for what is a relatively simple job. The worst part is cleaning it up. Spend $100 on tools and DIY on a saturday. Google is your friend.

[tirebob]

I think the smaller the room the more per SF you will pay. A person still has to haul all their crap out and back etc whether it is a bigger job or a smaller job, then it will come down to time in the middle. I know personally I would hate to do a job like this as a home owner but that price does seem out to lunch so I asked a buddy who does this kind of stuff (in GP unfortunately) and he said he would charge around $10/sf on a small job, maybe even a little less.

[JfuckinC]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/3-pc-reciprocating-saw-scraper-blade-set/product/PA0008501868

This is the ticket my friend, so easy. Just keep the blade at a shallow angle so you don't rip into the ceiling.

[firebane]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/3-pc-reciprocating-saw-scraper-blade-set/product/PA0008501868

This is the ticket my friend, so easy. Just keep the blade at a shallow angle so you don't rip into the ceiling.

Good info! I need to do this myself and this will save my arms.

[Neil4Speed]

That seems expensive, but I agree with the scale down comments.

I paid $4k to do about 1000sq ft in April and got knockdown. Some of it was pretty high up in the living room as well.

For a small space like that I would just take it on myself. The scraper blade sounds interesting for sure... I still want to do my basement one day down the road (not an immediate priority though). I have seen some people rig them up to shop vacs to collect as well.

[bjstare]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/3-pc-reciprocating-saw-scraper-blade-set/product/PA0008501868

This is the ticket my friend, so easy. Just keep the blade at a shallow angle so you don't rip into the ceiling.

You must have some exceptionally gentle hands. Seems like that would be fucking impossible not to ruin drywall with haha.

[Tik-Tok]

Personally, a room that small, I would drywall over it. You'll have what, one seam to mud, and the edges?

[swak]

We scraped the popcorn off our entire place a few years ago... Just use plastic mud scrapers, and bought a chemical sprayer and wet the ceiling first, came off like nothing!
Then hired a company to fix it up nicer, and enusre it was smooth - Paid $1500'ish to do 1600 sq ft (incl 3 staircases) - Edmonton contractor. PM me if this helps you, I can try and find his business card.

[JfuckinC]

You must have some exceptionally gentle hands. Seems like that would be fucking impossible not to ruin drywall with haha.

Haha, i don't think I've ever been known for gentle hands..

Honestly it just skidded along the drywall if you didn't go at too much of an angle into it. the blades aren't sharp.

[TimG]

Does anyone know a good ceiling skimmer and finisher?

Looks like we're going to remove the popcorn ourselves. just need someone to make it paint ready.

We're eventually looking to do the entire house (~1600 sq ft) but want to do a small job first.

[suntan]

Does anyone know a good ceiling skimmer and finisher?

Looks like we're going to remove the popcorn ourselves. just need someone to make it paint ready.

We're eventually looking to do the entire house (~1600 sq ft) but want to do a small job first.

I used this guy years ago

https://textureking.ca/

[G-ZUS]

Removing it is easy. I just hired a semi retired taper off kijiji, he did my whole basement for 1800 compared to other 3 to 4000 quotes i was getting. If you want his contact, pm me

[JRSC00LUDE]

Removing unpainted popcorn in the easiest thing in the world. Do it yourself then the taper can see what they're up against for a skim.

Whenever I had to do it I used a 6 inch plastic blade (too wide is too hard to control, too narrow is also and that's where you nick the board) and simply used a paint roller in a tray of warm water and rolled the stipple, let is soak for a few minutes and just sluffed it off.

[90_Shelby]

Personally, a room that small, I would drywall over it. You'll have what, one seam to mud, and the edges?

This.

We simply dry walled over all of the ceilings in our place, quality of finish is much better as the surface is actually flat.

[suntan]

Wait hold on, this is a for a laundry room? I think it cost me under $300 total. It literally wasn't worth my time and effort to do it.

Mind you this was years ago so it's probably 15x more now.

[Maxt]

Be careful, depending on the year of the house, it could be asbestos. When looking at houses a few years ago, I pulled a sample of the popcorn ceiling from house built 78-80 ish, sample came back positive for asbestos.

[ExtraSlow]

Be careful, depending on the year of the house, it could be asbestos. When looking at houses a few years ago, I pulled a sample of the popcorn ceiling from house built 78-80 ish, sample came back positive for asbestos.

Good call, make your kids do it.

[Tik-Tok]

Good call, make your kids do it.

Tiny lungs have less of a chance of breathing it in.

[ExtraSlow]

Tiny lungs have less of a chance of breathing it in.

Its science!

[Maxt]

Good call, make your kids do it.
Their kids were.. They told me how their kids would bounce a ball off the ceiling at night and their beds were covered in it.

[suntan]

I don't even think asbestos fibres can fit up those tiny nostrils.

[killramos]

Science

[arcticcat522]

Be careful, depending on the year of the house, it could be asbestos. When looking at houses a few years ago, I pulled a sample of the popcorn ceiling from house built 78-80 ish, sample came back positive for asbestos.

Same if built in the 60's probably

[mr2mike]

Tips.
Wet the ceiling with a spray bottle first. Stops the stuff from floating in the air.
Poly off areas like you're an American Psycho keep it isolated.

The popcorn was there to hide the crappy tape and joint work. You could be in for some headaches after the popcorn is gone.
I guess high build primer is your friend. Get a vat of that.

[Tik-Tok]

The popcorn was there to hide the crappy tape and joint work. You could be in for some headaches after the popcorn is gone.
I guess high build primer is your friend. Get a vat of that.

The other reason I suggested drywalling over it. Plus if it is asbestos, you've kind of half assed encapsulated it.

[suntan]

Tips.
Wet the ceiling with a spray bottle first. Stops the stuff from floating in the air.
Poly off areas like you're an American Psycho keep it isolated.

The popcorn was there to hide the crappy tape and joint work. You could be in for some headaches after the popcorn is gone.
I guess high build primer is your friend. Get a vat of that.

Ceiling actually has to be sorta decently done for popcorn/knockdown to look nice.

Flat ceilings are a flex.