Popcorn Ceiling Removal in South Bend

Close-up of a white popcorn ceiling texture, the finish taken off in popcorn ceiling removal in South Bend

Popcorn ceiling removal means we take the sprayed acoustic texture off your ceiling and leave smooth drywall behind. It suits South Bend, Mishawaka and Granger homeowners who are tired of the cottage cheese look, the dust it sheds, or the water stain that won't paint out. You end up with a lab report on what was in the texture and a ceiling that is either ready for your painter or finished and painted by us.

What popcorn ceiling removal involves

We start with a sample from each ceiling and send it to an accredited lab. Once the result clears the ceiling, we cover the walls and floor in plastic, seal the doorway and vents, and mist the texture with water. Wet popcorn softens and comes off the board with a wide scraper. We bag the debris in the room and carry it out sealed.

Under the texture you'll find drywall with tape seams, screw heads and the odd gouge the popcorn hid. If you've booked a finished ceiling, we repair those, then skim coat and paint. If you've booked scrape-only, we stop at bare board and leave the room broom-clean.

Popcorn ceilings in South Bend homes

Seven in ten South Bend homes were built before 1970, and the city's median house dates from 1955. Older houses near River Park and Chapin Park often have plaster ceilings, while the post-war blocks around Keller Park and Twyckenham Hills and the 1970s to 1990s subdivisions in Granger have drywall. Plaster and drywall each need their own scraping pressure and repair method, so we check which one you have at the quote.

Asbestos and the Indiana rules

EPA banned spray-applied asbestos surfacing in 1978. That ban doesn't clear every ceiling sprayed afterward, so we test them all. Indiana's environmental agency, IDEM, exempts owners of a noncommercial home with four or fewer units from its asbestos inspection and notification rules. Rentals and commercial conversions sit outside that exemption. If the lab finds asbestos, we stop and refer you to an IDEM-licensed abatement contractor. Read more on our asbestos testing page.

What affects the price

We charge $1.25 to $2.00 per square foot for scrape-only and $3.50 to $6.00 for a finished ceiling. Painted popcorn, vaulted or stairwell ceilings, and water-damaged board push a job toward the top of the range. A 12 by 12 bedroom runs $180 to $290 scraped or $500 to $865 finished. The lab fee is a separate line on your quote.

Popcorn Ceiling Removal questions

  • Is it safe to scrape popcorn ceilings myself?

    Only after a lab test. If the sample shows asbestos, IDEM's owner exemption covers your paperwork, but you'd still be releasing fibers into your house. Test first, and if it's positive, call an abatement firm.

  • Will you move my furniture?

    You clear what you can carry, and we cover and wrap the rest in plastic. We can shift heavy pieces to the center of the room and cover them as one block.

  • What happens to the light fixtures?

    We drop the fixture canopies and cover the boxes while we work. If you want fixtures moved or added, we refer that to a licensed electrician.

  • Do I need a permit in South Bend?

    The South Bend and St. Joseph County building department decides that for each job. It requires permits for remodeling over $500 and lists drywall on its renovation form. We check before we start and pull permits where the department requires them.

Book a sample and a written quote

We'll measure the rooms, take the ceiling sample and send you a price per room.