Colorado Springs Popcorn Ceiling Removal.

The cost typically ranges from $1.50–$3+ per square foot for scraping, prep, and cleanup — with the final number depending on ceiling height, condition, whether it's been painted over, and how much drywall repair is needed afterward.

Larger whole-home jobs usually come in at a lower per-square-foot rate than single-room projects. For room-by-room pricing, whole-home estimates, DIY considerations, and a free cost calculator, see our Colorado Springs popcorn ceiling removal cost guide .

We provide free estimates for homeowners throughout Colorado Springs Metro & El Paso County. Call (719) 600-2752 today to get started!

Square footage is the biggest factor — larger jobs cost less per square foot. After that, the things that move the number most are:

• Whether the ceiling has been painted over — painted popcorn is harder to scrape (more on that below)
• Ceiling height — anything above 9 feet needs extra setup
• How much drywall repair is needed — older homes often have more hidden damage under the texture
• Asbestos testing or abatement — adds cost but will leave your home safer
• Your finish choice — we do what suits your style

For most Colorado Springs homes, yes. Beyond the dated look and the dust popcorn texture collects, Colorado Springs sees a high rate of household turnover thanks to our military population — families stationed at Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the Air Force Academy often move on orders every few years, and a smooth, updated ceiling helps a home show and sell (or rent) faster on a tight timeline.

Beyond the resale angle, hiring a professional means avoiding the containment, drywall repair, and asbestos-compliance missteps that can turn a weekend project into a multi-week one — Colorado's asbestos inspection rules apply to homes of any age, so getting that step handled correctly the first time matters here. Every job we do is backed by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee — if anything about the finish isn't right, we come back and make it right at no additional cost.

A few things separate a ceiling that stays flawless from one that needs to be redone: how much drywall repair and skim coating is actually included versus billed as an upsell afterward, and whether the wet-scrape method is their default approach or a dry-scrape shortcut that kicks up far more dust.

It's also worth asking how they handle painted-over popcorn specifically, since that's where a lot of rushed jobs cut corners and leave visible seams or an uneven, patchy texture behind. If a contractor can't explain their repair and finishing process in plain terms, that's usually the thing worth paying attention to.

That's why we back every job with a real workmanship warranty instead of just a handshake — if anything's off after the fact, we come back and fix it.

Yes, we are a local, family-owned company that's been serving Colorado Springs for over 15 years, so we're not dispatching a crew from out of town. We work throughout the metro area, including Briargate, Rockrimmon, Old Colorado City, Security-Widefield, and the surrounding El Paso County communities.

Because we're local, scheduling and response times tend to be faster than with regional or national companies, and every job is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Popcorn ceiling is a sprayed-on texture that was everywhere in homes built from the 1950s through the late 1980s. You'll also hear it called acoustic ceiling, cottage cheese ceiling, stipple texture, or even "popcorn roof" — they're all the same thing. Builders loved it because it hid drywall imperfections and went up fast. But today, it easily collects dust, looks dated, and is nearly impossible to paint evenly without making it look worse.

Many Colorado Springs homes built during the city's major growth from the 1970s through the 1990s still have popcorn ceilings today — especially in established neighborhoods like Briargate, Rockrimmon, Security-Widefield, and Fountain.

Honestly, a few reasons. The dated look is a common one. Beyond that, the texture grabs dust and cobwebs like velcro, it makes rooms feel darker and lower, and if you've ever tried to repaint a popcorn ceiling you know what a nightmare that is. A lot of our Colorado Springs customers are also getting ready to sell — smooth ceilings photograph better, show better, and agents consistently say they help with buyer perception. The ones who aren't selling just want their home to feel more modern without a full renovation.

We also help many Colorado Springs homeowners refresh older homes before a move, including military families preparing for a PCS transition or resale.

Removal typically recoups its own cost rather than adding a large amount on top — but in Colorado Springs specifically, smooth ceilings are in high demand, and local agents consistently report that popcorn texture is one of the first things buyers mentally flag as dated.

If the rest of your home already looks updated, a popcorn ceiling can stand out as the one thing that ages the space — which is exactly when removal tends to make the biggest difference in how a home shows.

Popcorn texture does have some sound-dampening properties, so in theory a smooth ceiling reflects sound a little more than a textured one. In practice, for most single-family Colorado Springs homes this difference is minor and not something most homeowners notice day to day.

If sound is a real concern for you — say, a shared wall in a condo or a room above a home office — mention it when we quote your project and we can talk through finish options that help.

It makes the job harder, but we can still get it done. Our wet-scrape method works by misting the ceiling with water so the texture softens and lifts off cleanly. Painted popcorn usually requires more scraping effort, more sanding afterward, and more skim coating to get a clean result. It's not a dealbreaker — we handle painted ceilings all the time — but it's worth mentioning when you call so we can factor it into your estimate.

Yes, some homeowners choose to skim-coat directly over the texture or have a thin layer of new drywall installed on top, rather than scraping the popcorn off entirely. It avoids the mess of removal and can be a faster path to a smooth-looking ceiling.

The tradeoff is that covering adds material cost and lowers your ceiling height slightly, and it doesn't resolve any asbestos concern the way removal does. For most Colorado Springs homes we still recommend full removal, but we're happy to walk you through both options based on your ceiling's condition.

In many Colorado Springs homes, popcorn texture helped hide drywall seams, nail pops, old patches, and settling cracks — something we see fairly often in older homes due to the region’s dry climate and seasonal movement.

Once the texture comes off, those imperfections often become more noticeable. That's why we include joint compound work, patching, and sanding as part of our process — it's what separates a professional result from a DIY-looking one.

Usually, yes. Popcorn ceilings are sometimes called acoustic ceilings, cottage cheese ceilings, or acoustic texture ceilings. That said, not every textured ceiling is technically popcorn. Some Colorado Springs homes also have stipple, orange peel, or heavier spray textures that require a slightly different removal process. We've seen them all, and can handle each one to get you a smooth, finished result.

Yes, in Colorado, state law requires an asbestos test before any ceiling texture can be disturbed or removed, regardless of when your home was built. Because manufacturers used up existing inventory for years after federal bans, even homes built in the late 1980s or 1990s can contain asbestos.

The good news is testing is usually straightforward and gives you peace of mind.

Turnaround depends on the lab, but a standard sample typically comes back within a few business days. If your timeline is tight, ask about rush testing when you schedule — it's not something we can promise universally since it depends on the lab's workload, but it's often available.

This is honestly one of the top concerns we hear. The short answer is: not if it's done right. Before we scrape anything, we cover the floors and furniture with plastic sheeting, protect the walls and trim, and remove or cover light fixtures. The wet-scrape method we use keeps airborne dust significantly lower than dry scraping. We vacuum and clean up before we leave. Most customers are surprised by how contained the mess stays — it should not look like a construction bomb went off in your living room!

It can, if a ceiling is scraped without taking precautions — dust pulled into a return vent can circulate through your whole house well after the job is done. If you choose to go with us, we make sure to cover and seal nearby vents before we start and keep the HVAC system off during scraping, in addition to protecting floors, walls, and fixtures.

Smooth is the most popular choice for Colorado Springs homeowners right now, especially if you're updating for resale or just want a clean, modern look. It takes more labor (skim coating, multiple sanding passes) but the result is completely flat and looks the most current. Knockdown is a subtle, mottled texture — it's easier to apply, hides minor drywall imperfections a little better. It still looks far more modern than popcorn. If your drywall has a lot of flaws underneath, knockdown can actually be the smarter choice. We're happy to show you samples of both.

Once removal begins, a single room typically takes about a day, and a whole-home project usually runs 2–4 days depending on drywall repair and finish choice. The one Colorado factor worth planning around is timing: state and El Paso County rules generally require a certified asbestos inspection, and a 10-working-day county notification period, before disturbing texture more than 32 square feet can begin, and that applies to homes of any age. In practice, most projects need that inspection and notification window completed before the physical removal starts, which adds time to the front end of your schedule beyond the hands-on work itself. We'll walk you through the realistic timeline, inspection included, during your estimate.

No, most homeowners stay in the house during a standard room-by-room job — we seal off the work area with plastic sheeting so the rest of the home stays usable. The main thing to plan around is noise during scraping and sanding, and keeping pets or young kids out of the sealed-off room while it's in progress.

While homeowners can technically DIY small projects, Colorado law requires any home—regardless of age—to be tested for asbestos before disturbing ceiling textures. If testing comes back positive (or if the project exceeds 32 sq. ft.), strict state abatement protocols apply.

Beyond the legal and safety requirements, DIY attempts usually run into trouble with the actual finish work: getting drywall flat, skim-coating evenly, sanding without leaving marks, and painting without lap lines.

As a licensed local contractor, we coordinate all necessary state testing requirements and carry proper containment equipment and insurance to keep your home clean and compliant. Our work comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, giving you a smooth, beautiful ceiling without the safety risks, mess, or stress.

Yes, we back our work with a satisfaction guarantee plus a workmanship warranty on the drywall repair, skim coating, and finish. If something isn't right after the job's done, we'll come back and make it right at no additional cost.

We'll go over exactly what's covered and for how long during your estimate, so there's nothing vague about it later.

Yes — we do popcorn ceiling removal in homes, condos, apartment units, rental properties, and multi-room renovations throughout Colorado Springs.

Whether you're a homeowner updating a single room, a landlord preparing a rental turnover, or a property manager refreshing multiple units, we can help. We also handle drywall repair, skim coating, texture finishing, and repainting after removal so the ceiling is ready to go.

Yes — we regularly provide popcorn ceiling removal in Monument, Fountain, Security-Widefield, Cimarron Hills, Manitou Springs, Black Forest, Falcon, and surrounding areas throughout El Paso County. If you're not sure whether you're in our service area, just give us a call — chances are, we can help.