Popcorn and swirl ceilings are common in Pittsburgh area homes built or remodeled from the 1950s to the 1980s. Some ceiling texture from those years contained asbestos, so a lab test comes before any scraping. Once the texture is off, the ceiling is skim coated, sanded, primed and painted flat.
Sprayed popcorn texture and swirled plaster patterns turn up in Pittsburgh area homes built or redone between the 1950s and the 1980s. That covers ranch and split level houses in suburbs like Penn Hills, Monroeville and Bethel Park, and also older city houses where a new ceiling was hung below cracked plaster. The texture hid flaws and saved finishing time. Today it traps dust, shades the room, is hard to patch after a leak and makes a low ceiling feel lower.
Testing comes before anything else. Some ceiling texture made in those years contained asbestos, and you cannot tell by looking. A small sample goes to a lab. If it comes back positive, the ceiling should be handled by an asbestos professional, not scraped by a painter. If it is clear, we empty or cover the room, mask the walls and floor, wet the texture and scrape it off. Texture that has been painted over does not soften easily and takes much longer.
What is under the texture is rarely ready for paint. Joints and screw heads were often left rough because the spray would hide them. We skim the ceiling with joint compound, sand it flat, prime and paint. A flat white finish is the usual choice because it shows the fewest flaws. If the ceiling is too rough to save, covering it with new drywall is the other route. Plan to be out of the room for a few days, since this is dusty, messy work.
Popcorn ceiling removal in Pittsburgh: common questions
Does my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
Only a lab test can say. Texture applied before the 1980s is the main concern. Do not scrape or sand it until a sample has been tested. If asbestos is found, the work belongs to a qualified asbestos contractor.
Is it easier to cover a popcorn ceiling than to remove it?
Sometimes. When the texture has several coats of paint, or the ceiling under it is in poor shape, a new layer of thin drywall can be the cleaner answer. It lowers the ceiling slightly. We look at both options at the estimate.
Can you remove the texture in a room with furniture in it?
Small pieces should be moved out. Large pieces can stay in the middle of the room under plastic, but an empty room is faster and cleaner. Everything left in the room is fully covered before we start.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.