Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Memphis

If you want popcorn ceiling removal Memphis homeowners don’t have to babysit, that’s what we do. We scrape the texture, fix the drywall underneath, finish it smooth, prime, and paint so the ceiling looks like it was always that way. We’re Caldwell Painting, a family business in Memphis since 2013, and the people in your house are our own employees. No subcontractors.

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This page is for homeowners who are tired of that dated, dusty ceiling and want it done right the first time. Here’s how we handle it, what to watch out for, and what to ask any painter before you hire them.

Is it safe to remove a popcorn ceiling?

Yes, when it’s done with care. If your home was built before 1980, extra steps and cautions need to be taken because of the likelihood of asbestos.

Plenty of Memphis neighborhoods have houses from that era. So we bring this up on the walkthrough, not after the scraping starts.

How we remove a popcorn ceiling

We do it in the same order every time, because skipping a step is what makes a ceiling look bad later.

  1. Walkthrough and free estimate. We look at the ceiling, the age of the house, any water stains, and the lighting in the room.
  2. Protect the room and the house. We seal the room off from the rest of the house, cover the floors, and put plastic over the doorways so dust and mess don’t travel through your home.
  3. Scrape the texture. We take it down to the drywall.
  4. Repair the drywall. Scraping shows everything the popcorn was hiding: tape seams, nail pops, old patches. We fix them.
  5. Finish it smooth. We finish the ceiling smooth. We don’t retexture. Our crew uses HEPA vacuum sanders to keep the dust down.
  6. Prime. We prime the ceiling before it’s painted.
  7. Paint. We paint with Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling or Sherwin-Williams ProMar Ceiling, depending on your budget.
  8. Clean up and walk it with you. We clean up, then do a final walkthrough with you so you can see every ceiling before we call it done.

What finish do you get after removal?

Smooth. We don’t put new texture back up. Once the popcorn is off and the drywall is repaired, we finish the ceiling smooth so it looks clean and current.

A smooth ceiling shows flaws in strong light, so we take our time on it. Window light skimming across a ceiling in the afternoon is what shows bad drywall work. We check the ceiling the way the sun will hit it.

What does popcorn ceiling removal cost in Memphis?

In most cases, popcorn ceiling removal runs $4.50 to $5 per square foot. Your free estimate gives you a real number for your house.

Why homeowners hire us for this

  • Our own crew. Our employees do the work. We don’t hand your house to subcontractors.
  • Family business since 2013. Same family, same standards, right here in Memphis. You can read more about our story.
  • We paint, too. Removal is only half the job. We finish, prime and paint the ceiling, and we can paint the walls while we’re there through our interior painting service.
  • Color help if you want it. A fresh white ceiling changes how your wall colors read. Fallon Caldwell, who trained under Maria Killam, does color consultations starting at $675.

What to ask your painter before they scrape

Ask these on any estimate, ours included.

  • What extra steps do you take in an older home? If the house was built before 1980 and nobody brings it up, that’s a red flag.
  • What finish do I get after removal? Get it in writing.
  • Who’s doing the work? Your employees or a sub you’ve never met?
  • How will you protect my floors and the rest of my house? Scraping is messy. Ask exactly what gets covered and sealed off.
  • What primer and paint go on after? A ceiling that’s been wet down and patched needs a real primer.
  • Is the drywall repair included? Some quotes stop at scraping. Ask what happens when they find seams and nail pops.
  • How long will my room be out of use? Get a clear answer before you schedule.

Where we work

We remove popcorn ceilings across Memphis and the suburbs, including Germantown, East Memphis, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Lakeland and Arlington.

Popcorn ceiling removal FAQ

Does popcorn ceiling have asbestos?

It can in older homes. If your home was built before 1980, extra steps and cautions need to be taken because of the likelihood of asbestos. If your house is from that era, bring it up at the estimate and we’ll walk you through how we handle it.

How long does popcorn ceiling removal take?

It depends on the size of the room and what all is being done. A room where we only paint the walls can typically be done in a day. More involved rooms can take two to three days. A really large living room where everything is being painted can take up to four days. We give you a schedule with your free estimate.

Can you paint over a popcorn ceiling instead of removing it?

You can, but it doesn’t fix the look, and paint makes the texture much harder to scrape later. If you ever plan to go smooth, it’s usually better to remove it now.

Will my ceiling be smooth after removal?

Yes. We finish ceilings smooth, not retextured. Once the texture is off, we repair the drywall underneath and finish it smooth before we prime and paint.

Do you paint the ceiling after removing popcorn?

Yes. We paint with Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling or Sherwin-Williams ProMar Ceiling, depending on your budget. If you want the walls done at the same time, we can quote that too. It’s the easiest time to do it since the room is already prepped.

How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost?

In most cases, popcorn ceiling removal runs $4.50 to $5 per square foot. Your free estimate gives you a real number for your house. For what drives the price, see our popcorn ceiling removal cost guide.

How long does a typical room take start to finish?

A typical room takes two to three days start to finish. A room where we only paint the walls can be done in a day, and a really large living room with everything painted can take up to four days.

Do you do a walkthrough before starting?

The walkthrough with you happens at the estimate. On the job day, the crew just gets started. When the work is done, we do a final walkthrough with you so you can see every ceiling before we call it done.

How do you keep dust out of the rest of my house?

We cover the floors and hang plastic over the doorways so dust and mess don’t travel through the house. When we sand, we use HEPA vacuum sanders to keep the dust down.

Is drywall repair included?

Yes. Once the texture is off, we repair the drywall underneath and finish the ceiling smooth before we prime and paint. It’s part of the job, not an add on.

Who does the work?

Our own employees do the work. Caldwell is a family business, and we’ve been painting Memphis homes since 2013.

What areas do you serve for popcorn ceiling removal?

We remove popcorn ceilings in Germantown, East Memphis, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, Lakeland and Arlington.

Ready to get rid of the popcorn?

If your ceiling is the thing you notice every time you walk in the room, let’s take a look. We’ll check the ceiling, talk through how we’ll protect your home, and give you a real number. Request your free estimate.

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