☎ (719) 600-2752
★★★★★ Colorado Springs' Trusted Popcorn Removal Company

Colorado Springs Popcorn Ceiling Removal.

We remove popcorn ceilings and acoustic ceilings with no mess, no stress, and no surprises. Fair prices, tidy work, and smooth finished ceilings.

  • Free Same-Day Estimates
  • Local, Family-Owned Business
  • Serving Colorado Springs for 15+ Years
☎ Call for a Free Quote Get a Quote Online →
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Licensed & InsuredRegistered with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department
15
15+ Years LocalFamily-owned — not a national franchise
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Zero Mess GuaranteeFull containment, wet-scrape, thorough cleanup
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Colorado Asbestos Rules HandledRequired testing coordinated on every job
Before & After

Why Remove Popcorn Ceilings in Colorado Springs?

Popcorn ceilings can make a room feel darker, older, and harder to clean. A clean ceiling instantly gives your home or building a brighter, more modern look - and a professional popcorn ceiling removal service gets you there without mess and guesswork.

  • Brighter Rooms Under Colorado's High-Altitude Light

    With around 245 sunny days a year at 6,000+ feet, our homes get plenty of natural light, but popcorn ceilings work against it. Every bump casts its own tiny shadow, so the textured ceiling dims the whole room. A smooth ceiling does the opposite: it bounces that light back down, making the same room feel brighter and more open without touching a single window.

  • Easier Maintenance in a Dry, Dusty Climate

    Our air keeps dust moving year-round, and popcorn texture tends to grab onto it, along with cobwebs and flaking paint. A smooth ceiling, on the other hand, wipes clean and repaints easily.

  • Faster Sales in a High-Turnover Market

    With military families PCSing on orders every few years, Colorado Springs homes list and re-list regularly — and popcorn ceilings are one of the first things buyers flag as dated. It's also one of the easiest updates to squeeze into a tight timeline: just a few days, and you're left with ceilings that photograph and show much better.

  • Professional Popcorn Ceiling Removal Without the Mess

    Our Zero Mess Guarantee includes full containment, wet-scrape removal, and thorough cleanup from start to finish — with Colorado's required asbestos testing coordinated for you.

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After
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Popcorn Ceiling Removal Services in Colorado Springs

We’ve completed hundreds of ceilings throughout Colorado Springs metro — from homes and condos to apartments and rental properties. As a licensed and insured popcorn ceiling removal company, here's everything we handle:

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Popcorn Ceiling Removal

This is our main service. Many Colorado Springs homes built between the 1960s and 1990s still have popcorn ceilings, especially in older neighborhoods and established subdivisions. Most were sprayed on during original construction to save time and hide seams, which is exactly why they can be tricky to remove cleanly decades later.

We wet-scrape the texture, contain the mess room by room, and leave your ceiling ready for whatever finish you choose — whether that's a quick knockdown or a fully smooth surface. Our company works with commercial-grade scrapers and containment equipment, not hardware-store tools, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guaranteed on the finished result.

  • Floors, walls, trim, and fixtures protected before we touch anything
  • Wet-scrape method softens texture and keeps airborne dust under control
  • Works room-by-room or whole-home, on your timeline
  • Fully licensed and insured — ask for proof before any crew starts work
  • Free on-site estimate before any work begins
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Drywall Repair After Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Popcorn texture was popular with builders partly because it hid drywall imperfections — seams, nail pops, old patch jobs, and uneven areas. Once that texture comes off, those same imperfections are usually the first thing you notice.

We see this often in older Colorado Springs homes. That’s why joint compound work, patching, skim coating, and sanding are built into our process from the start, so you’re not left with a flat but visibly uneven ceiling.

  • Seams, nail pops, cracks, and old patches repaired
  • Multiple skim coat passes for a truly flat surface, not just “scraped”
  • Sanded smooth and primer-ready before we call it done
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Smooth Ceiling Finish

Smooth is the finish many Colorado Springs homeowners want after removal, especially before a sale, remodel, or interior paint update. It takes more labor than a basic scrape — full skim coat, multiple sanding passes, and primer.

The payoff is a ceiling that reflects light evenly and looks like it was never textured in the first place. If the drywall underneath has more damage than usual, we’ll walk you through knockdown as an alternative that hides imperfections while still looking far more current than popcorn.

  • Full skim coat plus sanding for a genuinely flat surface
  • Primed and paint-ready — or we handle the paint too
  • A clean finish that photographs well for listings and remodels
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Ceiling Texture Removal (Stipple, Orange Peel & Knockdown)

Not every textured ceiling in Colorado Springs is actually popcorn. Our city's population boomed from the 1960s on, fueled by growth at Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base, and each wave of suburban construction brought its own spray-applied texture. Neighborhoods like Skyway Park and Cimarron Hills lean toward classic popcorn and acoustic texture from the '60s and '70s, while homes in Briargate and other '80s-and-'90s developments are more likely to have knockdown or a lighter stipple finish.

Popcorn and acoustic texture is the bumpiest and generally the easiest to soften with a wet-scrape. Stipple is finer and hand-troweled or rolled on, so it takes a lighter touch. Orange peel is a thinner, pebbled texture more common on walls than ceilings, though we see it on ceilings occasionally too. Knockdown is a mottled, flattened texture that's sometimes original and sometimes applied over popcorn during a past renovation, so we check what's underneath before quoting the job.

Some textures soften and scrape away easily, while others adhere more tightly to the drywall and need additional skim coating or surface prep. We carry equipment for both wet-scrape and mechanical texture removal and evaluate each ceiling before starting so we choose the right method and leave you with the smoothest finish possible.

Not sure which texture is on your ceiling? We identify it during your free, no-obligation estimate and quote the removal method that fits your home — call (719) 600-2752.

  • Popcorn, acoustic, stipple, and heavy spray texture removal
  • Orange peel and skip-trowel correction handled case by case
  • Knockdown texture removed, matched, or refreshed — your choice
  • Finished with smooth, knockdown, or painted flat texture — your choice
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Ceiling Painting

A ceiling can be perfectly scraped and repaired but still look unfinished without the right paint.

Flat ceiling paint hides small imperfections that become visible under natural light, giving the ceiling a clean, uniform appearance that blends with the rest of the room.

  • Primer coat first, then flat ceiling paint for the truest finish
  • Even, uniform coverage across the whole ceiling, not just visible areas
  • Can be bundled with removal or done as a standalone service
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Test Popcorn Ceiling for Asbestos

Colorado is stricter than most states: ceiling texture has to be tested before it's disturbed in homes of any age, not just pre-1980s builds. Manufacturers used up asbestos-containing inventory for years after the federal ban, so even late-'80s and '90s Colorado Springs homes can test positive. You can't tell by looking; only a certified lab sample answers it.

We build the required testing into every project plan from the first call, and coordinate the inspection so it doesn't stall your schedule. Read more details on testing asbestos in popcorn ceilings.

  • Required in Colorado before disturbing texture — every home, every age
  • Testing is fast and inexpensive relative to the project
  • We coordinate certified local testing and the paperwork that follows
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What to Expect

How Our Popcorn Ceiling Removal Service Works

Every Colorado Springs home or building is different, but our goal is always the same: protect your space, remove the popcorn, fix anything underneath, and give you a transformed ceiling — backed by our Zero Mess Guarantee from the first step to the last.

Room preparation before popcorn ceiling removal

Protect Your Rooms

Before any scraping starts, we protect your space. Floors, walls, vents, fixtures, cabinets, and nearby furniture are covered in plastic sheeting, and supply/return vents are sealed with the HVAC off so texture dust can't travel into your ductwork.

This is where our Zero Mess Guarantee actually starts: careful containment upfront separates a clean popcorn ceiling removal job from one you'll still be cleaning up weeks later.

Wet scraping popcorn ceiling texture

Remove the Popcorn Texture

We soften and remove the ceiling texture using a controlled wet-scrape process. This helps reduce dust and allows us to remove the material without unnecessarily damaging the drywall underneath.

Some ceilings come off easily. Others, especially painted popcorn ceilings, take more time and care, but our dust-controlled method stays the same either way.

Drywall repair and skim coating after popcorn removal

Repair & Smooth the Ceiling

Once the popcorn texture is gone, we inspect the ceiling underneath. In Colorado Springs homes, seams, nail pops, gouges, and the settling cracks common in our dry climate often show up once the texture's off.

We repair the surface, skim coat as needed, and sand everything smooth so the finished ceiling looks clean, not patchy or wavy.

Finished smooth ceiling after popcorn removal

Prime, Paint & Final Walkthrough

Once the ceiling is ready, we prime, paint, and clean up the work area. Colorado's dry air actually works in our favor here, letting coats cure faster between passes. Whether you want a smooth ceiling finish, knockdown texture, or paint-ready surface, we make sure everything is completed properly.

Before we wrap up, we walk the project with you so you can see the final result and make sure everything looks right.

Pricing By Neighborhood & Era

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Cost by Home Age in Colorado Springs

Your home's build year predicts a lot about the project — what texture is on the ceiling, whether it's been painted over, how much repair is underneath, and what it costs to remove.

When Your Home Was Built What We Typically Find What It Means for the Job Typical Rate*
Pre-1960s
Old Colorado City, Knob Hill, Manitou Springs		 Original acoustic texture, usually painted multiple times; plaster mixed in with drywall in the oldest homes Testing first (required in Colorado at any age). Painted layers take the most scraping and skim work; oldest ceilings need the most repair $2.00–$3.00+/sq ft after a clear test
1960s–1970s
Skyway Park, Cimarron Hills, Security-Widefield, Garden Ranch		 Classic popcorn from the Fort Carson / Peterson boom years, roughly half painted over Testing first. Unpainted texture soaks up water and wet-scrapes cleanly — usually the fastest, most predictable jobs, often a day per room $1.50–$3.00+/sq ft
1980s–1990s
Briargate, Rockrimmon, Broadmoor-area builds		 Later popcorn, knockdown, or finer stipple — these are thin coats of hardened joint compound bonded to the drywall, not the soft acoustic texture of older homes, so they don't soften with water and scrape off the same way Testing still required — Colorado law doesn't carve out newer homes, and late-'80s/'90s texture can still test positive. $1.50–$2.50+/sq ft
2000s or newer
Powers Corridor, Monument, Falcon		 Rarely true popcorn — usually knockdown or light texture the owner wants smoothed Typically texture conversion rather than popcorn removal — skim coating the existing texture to a smooth finish Quoted by project — call for a fast estimate

*Scraping, prep, containment, and cleanup. Finish upgrades, extensive drywall repair, and abatement (if a test comes back positive) are additional — full breakdown in the cost guide. Not sure whether yours is painted? Check a closet ceiling: unpainted texture looks rough and flat, painted has a slight sheen.

DIY or Hire It Out?

DIY vs. Professional Popcorn Ceiling Removal

The scraping is the easy part. The difference shows up months later, under fresh paint and Colorado's bright raking light. Here's what each path actually produces.

The Typical DIY Result

  • Still $200–$400+ out of pocket buying materials: sheeting, compound, sander rental, primer, and paint — often most of what a pro would have charged at Colorado Springs rates
  • Skipping Colorado's required asbestos test isn't a shortcut — disturbing texture over 32 sq ft without one is a compliance problem, and a positive ceiling scraped illegally becomes a decontamination bill and a disclosure issue at sale
  • Scraped flat, but not actually smooth — seams and nail pops "ghost" through the paint once our high-altitude light hits at an angle
  • Compound that dried too fast in Colorado's dry air — thick coats crack, and rushed recoats crack again
  • Swirl marks from uneven sanding that only become visible after the first coat of paint
  • Dust in rooms that were "sealed off" — texture dust migrates through gaps in DIY plastic and into HVAC returns
  • No insurance backstop if drywall, wiring, or a fixture gets damaged mid-project
  • One weekend becomes three since skim coats need time between every pass

Professional Popcorn Ceiling Removal

  • One quoted number covers it all — materials, commercial-grade equipment, labor, containment, and cleanup, with nothing to buy, rent, or haul back to the store
  • Colorado's testing requirement coordinated for you — certified inspection first, scraping only after a clear result
  • Containment sealed before the first scrape — vents covered, HVAC off, dust controlled at the source
  • Repairs planned into the job: seams, nail pops, and dry-climate settling cracks fixed and skim coated, not painted over
  • Compound worked in coats timed for our dry air — sanded and primed to a surface that stays flat-looking in direct light
  • Licensed, insured, and backed by a written workmanship warranty — if a seam shows through later, we come back and fix it
  • A single room typically done in a day; whole homes in 2–4 days once testing clears

What DIY Popcorn Ceiling Removal Still Requires — and What Goes Wrong

Skipping the pro doesn't skip the equipment or the steps. Every item below is still on your list to buy, rent, and use:

You Still Need What It's For Get It Wrong, and...
A certified asbestos inspection Required in Colorado before disturbing ceiling texture, at any home age Skip it and a positive ceiling scraped means contamination, a decontamination bill, and a problem to disclose when you sell
Plastic sheeting, tape & vent covers Sealing the room and HVAC before any scraping Texture dust easily escapes through gaps and into open returns, then recirculates through the whole house for weeks
Pump sprayer & scraper Wetting the texture so it softens and releases Too much water soaks the drywall and tears its paper face; too little means dry-scraping resulting in maximum dust, gouged drywall
Joint compound & taping knives Skim coating the seams, nail pops, and gouges the popcorn was hiding In Colorado's dry air, compound sets fast — thick or slow-worked coats crack as they dry, and a failed skim coat has to be sanded off before anyone can redo it
Pole sander or drywall sander Flattening each coat before the next one goes on Uneven pressure leaves swirl marks and ridges that stay invisible, until the first coat of paint settles
Drywall primer Sealing the repaired surface so paint absorbs evenly Skip it and patched areas "flash" through the finish, visible from across the room

TL;DR — Hire a pro if any of these apply: the popcorn is painted over, the project is bigger than one small room, ceilings top 9 ft, or you're selling or PCSing on a timeline.

DIY is reasonable only if all of these are true: the ceiling has already tested negative (required in Colorado first, at any home age), it's one small room with unpainted texture, and you already have drywall patching and sanding skills.

How to Choose

What Makes the Best Popcorn Ceiling Removal Company?

Popcorn ceiling removal looks similar from one contractor to the next until the job actually starts. Here's what to compare before you hire anyone in Colorado Springs.

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Licensed & Insured — Verify It Through Pikes Peak Regional Building Department

Colorado doesn't license contractors at the state level — in Colorado Springs and El Paso County, that's handled by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, and you can look up any contractor's license status through PPRBD before hiring. Then ask for proof of liability insurance. If drywall, wiring, or a fixture gets damaged mid-job, an unlicensed or uninsured crew's mistake becomes your bill. We're fully licensed and insured, and we'll provide both before work starts.

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A Local Popcorn Ceiling Removal Crew, Not a Subcontracted Franchise

Ask who actually shows up: the person quoting your job, or a subcontracted crew? Some companies sell the job and hand it off, which is where scope details, finish expectations, and containment promises get lost in translation. As a local, family-owned company, we walk your home for the estimate, and we're the same crew that removes your popcorn ceiling.

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Written Workmanship Warranty on Drywall Repair & Finish

Some ceiling problems only show up later — a patched seam ghosting through the paint under low winter light, a hairline settling crack reopening after a dry Colorado season. What matters is what the company does then. We back every job with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a written workmanship warranty: if something's off after we've been paid, coming back to make it right is our job, not a favor.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Popcorn Ceiling Removal Contractor

Use this checklist when you're comparing quotes — the answers separate a ceiling that stays flawless from one that needs to be redone.

Ask This A Good Answer A Red Flag — and Why It Matters
Wet-scrape or dry-scrape? "Wet-scrape is our standard method on every job." Dry scraping by default, or wet-scrape as a paid upgrade — dry scraping throws far more texture dust into the air, and you'll be finding it in vents and on surfaces for weeks after the crew leaves
Is skim coating and drywall repair included? Repair is priced into the original quote, with the scope explained upfront "We'll see what's under there" — that low quote grows mid-project, once the texture is off, your ceiling is torn up, and you have no realistic option but to pay whatever the repair costs
"Smooth finish" — is that Level 4 or Level 5? A full Level 5 skim coat over the whole ceiling, so seams can't telegraph under Colorado's bright raking light They don't know the difference — you may be comparing a cheaper Level 4 quote against a true Level 5 without knowing it, and a Level 4 ceiling that looks smooth at first can show faint seam lines once low sun rakes across it
When does containment happen? Floors, walls, and vents sealed before the first scrape, HVAC off during work "We clean up thoroughly afterward" — cleanup can't recover dust that already got pulled into an open HVAC return, which then recirculates through every room in the house
Is the warranty in writing? A written workmanship warranty covering the repair and finish, reviewed at the estimate A verbal "we stand behind our work" — if a patched seam ghosts through the paint three months later, a handshake gives you nothing to enforce
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Colorado's Rules, Explained

Testing Popcorn Ceilings for Asbestos in Colorado: What the Law Actually Requires

Colorado handles asbestos differently than most states — and it changes how every popcorn ceiling project here has to start. Here's the simple, plain-English version.

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Why Colorado Requires Asbestos Testing at Any Home Age

Most states treat asbestos as a pre-1980s problem. Colorado doesn't: state regulations require ceiling texture to be tested by a certified inspector before it's disturbed, regardless of when the home was built. The reasoning is historical: manufacturers used up existing asbestos-containing inventory for years after the federal ban, so texture sprayed in the late 1980s or even the 1990s can still test positive.

For Colorado Springs that matters: a large share of our housing stock — Briargate, Rockrimmon, the '80s–'90s waves — sits exactly in that "newer but not exempt" window.

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How Asbestos Testing Works, and the 32 Sq Ft Threshold

The test itself is simple: a certified inspector takes small samples of the texture, a lab analyzes them, and results typically come back within a few business days at a modest cost relative to the project. Undisturbed texture on your ceiling is not an emergency — the risk comes from disturbing it, which is exactly what scraping does.

The number to know is 32 square feet: disturb more than that (which is essentially most rooms), and El Paso County and state protocols apply in full.

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If the Asbestos Test Is Positive: Abatement Before Removal

A positive result doesn't end the project, it just changes the order of operations. Abatement is a separately certified trade performed under containment, with notification to the state before work begins and a waiting period built into the schedule. In Colorado, this cannot be a DIY job under any circumstances.

Once abatement is complete and the space is cleared, the rest of the project proceeds normally — repair, skim coat, finish, paint. Plenty of the smooth ceilings we've finished started as positive tests.

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We Coordinate Asbestos Testing, Abatement & Popcorn Removal

We build the required inspection into the plan from the first call: we coordinate certified testing, hold all scraping until results are back, and — if abatement is needed — sequence the certified abatement crew and our finish work so you're not managing multiple contractors or deciphering notification paperwork yourself. We'll also give you a realistic start date that accounts for the inspection window, so the timeline is accurate.

Choosing Your Finish

Smooth Ceiling vs. Knockdown Texture vs. Covering Popcorn: Which Finish Is Best?

Colorado Springs homeowners choose between a fully smooth skim-coat finish and knockdown texture, or skip removal entirely and cover the popcorn. Let's compare.

Option Look & Resale Appeal What It Involves Drywall Flaws Under the Popcorn Time & Cost
Smooth Skim Coat The most modern finish — reflects Colorado's bright light evenly and photographs best in listings; the top pick before a sale or PCS move Full popcorn removal, then a full skim coat over the entire ceiling (a "Level 5" finish), sanding passes, and primer Fully repaired — seams, nail pops, and the settling cracks common in our dry climate are fixed and disappear under the skim coat Single room: 1–2 days. Whole home: 2–4 days — Colorado's dry air actually speeds compound drying, and our crew staggers rooms on multi-room jobs. Highest cost of the three: the most labor hours
Knockdown Texture Clean, subtle, and current — far more modern than popcorn, slightly less premium than smooth Full popcorn removal, targeted repair, then a light mottled texture sprayed and flattened Minor flaws get hidden by the texture instead of needing perfect repair — the smart pick if the drywall underneath is rough Single room: usually 1 day. Whole home: 2–3 days — fewer coats and less sanding. Costs less than smooth
Cover the Popcorn (No Removal) Looks smooth when done well, but slightly lowers the ceiling and leaves the old texture sealed in place No scraping — skim coat applied over the texture, or a thin drywall layer installed beneath it Nothing gets repaired — flaws and texture stay hidden underneath rather than fixed Timeline comparable to removal. Skimming over texture takes multiple coats; a drywall overlay needs full seam finishing. What it saves is the scraping step.

Not sure which fits your ceiling? We bring samples of smooth and knockdown to every free estimate.

Why Choose Us

A Local Popcorn Ceiling Removal Company with 15+ Years of Experience

Local Experience You Can Count On

Hi! My name's Chris, I've been doing drywall and ceiling work here since 2009. Colorado's asbestos testing rule trips up a lot of homeowners, and a lot of contractors would rather not deal with it, so I built that into how we quote every job from day one. Even today, it's still my crew and my name on the estimate.

Specialists in Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Popcorn ceilings are almost all we do, and that focus shows up in the details. We know many Colorado Springs homes built from the 1960s through the 1990s still have their original ceiling texture, while others have been painted over or patched during past renovations. We also know that once the texture comes off, hidden drywall seams, nail pops, and old repairs often become visible. That's why we plan for those repairs from the beginning instead of surprising you halfway through the project. We've seen what rushed removal jobs look like months later—uneven patches, visible seams, and paint that highlights every imperfection—and we've built our process specifically to avoid that outcome.

Homes, Rentals, and Commercial Properties

We help homeowners, landlords, and property managers remove outdated popcorn ceilings throughout Colorado Springs Metro. Whether you're updating a single bedroom before listing your home or renovating every ceiling in a multi-unit property, you'll get straightforward pricing, clear communication, and the same crew from your estimate through the final walkthrough.

✓ Free, Fast Estimates ✓ Fair, Upfront Pricing ✓ 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Colorado Springs CO home served by local popcorn ceiling removal service

What Colorado Springs Homeowners Say

★★★★★

"Our house had painted-over popcorn in every room and I was dreading it after reading horror stories online. Your crew caught the paint layer at the walkthrough, priced the extra skim work into the quote upfront, and the ceilings came out perfectly smooth. Not one surprise charge the whole project."

— Callie H., Rockrimmon
★★★★★

"We got PCS orders and had six weeks to list. Your team handled the asbestos testing paperwork, scheduled the scrape the day results cleared, and had the whole main floor smooth and painted with time to spare. The great listing photos got us three offers in a weekend."

— Nate R., Security-Widefield
★★★★★

"Honestly didn't think we needed testing until your team walked me through why our build year mattered. Results came back clear in a few days, the removal itself only took two, and the knockdown finish looks incredible under our vaulted ceiling. House feels twice as bright."

— Sara M., Briargate

Ready to Remove Your Popcorn Ceiling?

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Areas We Serve

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Near Colorado Springs

We remove popcorn ceilings throughout Colorado Springs, including older homes in Briargate, Rockrimmon, Old Colorado City, Security-Widefield, Fountain, and Cimarron Hills.

Colorado Springs Briargate Rockrimmon Old Colorado City Broadmoor Garden Ranch Knob Hill Powers Corridor Cheyenne Mountain Cimarron Hills Security-Widefield Fountain Monument Black Forest Manitou Springs

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Service FAQs

Is professional popcorn ceiling removal worth it?

For most Colorado Springs homes, professional removal is worth it. At $1.50–$3+ per square foot, a professional removes the popcorn in a typical small bedroom for roughly $300–$600. Doing it yourself, you still buy plastic sheeting, joint compound, sanding tools, primer, and ceiling paint — usually $200–$400 in materials. That means DIY often saves just $100–$300, sometimes nothing at all, in exchange for 2–3 weekends of work.

Colorado adds an additional step: state rules require an asbestos test before ceiling texture is disturbed, in homes of any age — and projects over 32 square feet (nearly every room) fall under state protocols if the test is positive.

Beyond the legal side, scraping is the easy part; the hard part is making the ceiling look finished: containment, repairing the seams and nail pops the texture was hiding, skim coating flat, and painting without lap lines. Colorado's dry air is unforgiving here: compound dries fast, so thick or rushed coats crack — and our bright, high-altitude light rakes across ceilings and exposes every swirl mark a DIY sanding job leaves behind.

Hiring a professional is the clear choice when any of these apply:

  • The popcorn has been painted over — common in Colorado Springs homes from the '60s–'80s; paint seals the texture so it won't wet-scrape cleanly
  • The project is larger than one small room — over 32 sq ft, Colorado's testing and abatement rules apply in full
  • Ceilings are over 9 ft, vaulted, or above a stairwell
  • You're selling or PCSing on a timeline — usually not worth a three-weekend project that stalls your listing

DIY is reasonable only when all of these are true:

  • The ceiling has already tested negative for asbestos — in Colorado this comes first, whatever the home's age
  • One small room, standard height, easy to empty
  • The texture is unpainted
  • You're comfortable with drywall patching and sanding — see our DIY vs. professional comparison above

Going with a professional also means the result is guaranteed, not just attempted — we handle the testing coordination and back every job with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if anything's off afterward, making it right is our problem rather than yours. Full pricing is in our Colorado Springs cost guide and calculator.

How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost in Colorado Springs?

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!

What should I look for when choosing a popcorn ceiling removal service in Colorado Springs?

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.

For the full checklist, see our questions to ask any popcorn ceiling removal company.

Is there a popcorn ceiling removal company near me in Colorado Springs?

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.

What exactly is a popcorn ceiling?

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.

Why do people remove popcorn ceilings?

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.

Will removing popcorn ceiling increase home value in Colorado Springs?

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.

Will removing my popcorn ceiling make the room louder?

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.

My popcorn ceiling has been painted over. Is that a problem?

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.

Can I just cover my popcorn ceiling instead of removing it?

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.

See the full comparison in our smooth vs. knockdown vs. cover table.

Do I need drywall repair after the popcorn comes off?

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.

Is a popcorn ceiling the same thing as an acoustic ceiling?

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.

Should I get my ceiling tested for asbestos before removal?

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.

How long does asbestos testing take to get results back?

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.

Is removing my popcorn ceiling going to make a huge mess in my house?

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!

Will the dust from popcorn ceiling removal get into my HVAC system or air ducts?

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 finish or knockdown texture — which one should I choose?

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.

How long does it take a professional to remove a popcorn ceiling?

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.

Do I need to move out of the house during popcorn ceiling removal?

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.

Do you offer a warranty or guarantee on the finished ceiling?

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.

Do you remove popcorn ceilings in apartments, condos, or rental properties?

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.

Do you serve areas outside Colorado Springs?

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.

Ready for a Cleaner, Smoother Ceiling?

Call now for a free Colorado Springs popcorn ceiling removal estimate, or send the form and we’ll follow up.

Phone: (719) 600-2752

Service area: Colorado Springs, Monument, Fountain, Security-Widefield, Cimarron Hills, Manitou Springs, Falcon, Black Forest, and throughout El Paso County.

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