Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost in Memphis, Step by Step

In most cases, popcorn ceiling removal cost in Memphis runs $4.50 to $5 per square foot. That covers the whole job, scrape through the texture and down to the drywall, not a scrape and leave it bare. Here’s the order we actually do the work.

This is for Memphis homeowners who are tired of that popcorn ceiling and want to know what they’re paying for before they call anybody.

What we’ll cover:

1. The estimate
2. Protecting your home
3. Scraping the ceiling
4. Drywall repair
5. Smoothing the ceiling
6. Priming
7. Painting
8. The final walkthrough

How popcorn ceiling removal cost is figured

It’s priced by the square foot of ceiling. $4.50 to $5 in most cases. We don’t break it out step by step. A cheap scrape only quote and our number are not the same job.

Walls are priced separately from the ceiling. Want them painted too? That shows up as its own line on the estimate.

A typical room takes 2 to 3 days start to finish. Walls only painting is about a day. A really large living room with everything painted can take up to 4 days. Our own employees do every step.

Step 1

The estimate

We come to your house, measure the ceiling, and walk the job with you. Ceiling paint options, whether you want the walls painted too, how long it will take. You get the estimate the same day we visit. It’s free.

If the home is pre 1980, extra steps and cautions need to be taken because of the likelihood of asbestos. We say that at the estimate, before anything gets scheduled.

Step 2

Protecting your home

Floors get covered. Plastic goes over the doorways so dust and mess stay in the work area.

On job day the crew just starts. We already walked the job with you at the estimate, so you’re not standing there explaining it again.

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Step 3

Scraping the ceiling

We scrape the popcorn all the way down to the drywall. Not partway. Not just the loose spots. Down to the drywall.

It’s slow, overhead work. Bigger ceiling, more of it. The price is by the square foot.

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Step 4

Drywall repair

Once the texture is gone, you see what was underneath. Cracks, tape seams, water stain spots. Those are the three we fix most. Every seam gets taped before we go further.

Popcorn hides a lot. We fix what it was hiding so it does not telegraph through the new paint.

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Step 5

Smoothing the ceiling

We finish the ceiling smooth. We do not retexture it.

The taped seams get sanded, then spot primed. Sanding is done with HEPA vacuum sanders. They pull the dust in as we go instead of throwing it around the room.

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Step 6

Priming

Every seam has already been spot primed. Then the whole ceiling gets primed, so the seams end up with 2 coats of primer.

After that much scraping and repair, we use a PVA primer or a high build primer. Either one gives the ceiling paint an even surface to stick to.

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Step 7

Painting

Then we paint it. Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling or Sherwin Williams ProMar Ceiling, depending on your budget. We tell you which one fits back at the estimate.

Ceiling paint	How we pick it
Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling	Our higher budget pick
Sherwin Williams ProMar Ceiling	Our lower budget pick

Step 8

The final walkthrough

When the ceiling is done, we walk the room with you. You look at it. We look at it with you. That is the end of the job.

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What to ask before you compare prices

Ask these before you stack two quotes against each other:

• Does the price include repair, smoothing, priming and painting, or just scraping?
• Will the ceiling be finished smooth or retextured?
• How will you cover my floors and keep dust out of the rest of the house?
• Do you use HEPA vacuum sanders?
• My house is pre 1980. What extra steps will you take?
• Are the people in my house your own employees?

Want the walls done while we are there? Bring it up at the estimate. Walls are priced separately from the ceiling.