Popcorn ceiling removal in Orlando

What popcorn ceiling removal includes

1. In a house built before the 1990s, a sample of the texture goes to a lab for asbestos before work starts. See asbestos testing.
2. Furniture is moved out or covered, floors and walls are sealed in plastic, and vents, fans and light fixtures are covered or taken down.
3. Unpainted popcorn softens with water and scrapes off. Painted popcorn takes longer; see painted popcorn removal.
4. Scraping exposes the seams, nail pops and gouges the texture was hiding. These are taped and patched.
5. A skim coat for a smooth ceiling, or a knockdown or orange peel texture, then primer and paint.
6. The plastic and the scraped texture are bagged and hauled off.

What popcorn removal costs in Orlando

Angi's 2026 data puts popcorn ceiling removal in Orlando at $889 to $2,770, with an average of $1,806. By area, local pros charge about $1.25 to $6 per square foot. Painted texture, tall or vaulted ceilings, a smooth finish and asbestos all push a job toward the top of that range or past it. See what popcorn removal costs in Orlando.

Check for asbestos first

Sprayed-on ceiling texture can contain asbestos. The EPA banned spray-applied asbestos surfacing materials in two steps, in 1973 and 1978, and asbestos-containing texture has turned up in ceilings applied through the 1980s. The EPA says you generally can't tell whether a material contains asbestos by looking at it. A lab test of a sample settles the question, ideally before the quote is final.

If the test is positive, Florida requires the removal to be done by a licensed asbestos contractor. The one exception is an owner doing the work on a home they live in that isn't for sale or lease. Asbestos testing for popcorn ceilings explains the steps.

Painted, stained or damaged ceilings

Popcorn that has been painted over doesn't soak up water, so it comes off slower and costs more. In a home built before 1978, the paint may contain lead, which brings in federal lead-safe work rules. A ceiling with one leak stain, a sag or a patch that doesn't match may only need ceiling repair.

Condos and townhomes

Federal asbestos rules exempt most single-family homes but cover condominium buildings, and the association usually has to approve work inside a unit. See removing popcorn in a Florida condo before you book.

Ceiling and finish services

• Painted popcorn removalTexture that was painted over and won't soften with water alone.
• Smooth ceiling finishA full skim coat after removal so the ceiling looks flat in raking light.
• Knockdown and orange peelA light spray texture after removal that hides small flaws.
• Asbestos testingLab testing the texture before removal, and what happens if it's positive.
• Ceiling repairLeak stains, sagging drywall, cracks and popcorn patches that don't match.
• Drywall repairHoles, cracks, water-damaged sections and texture matching on walls and ceilings.

Where we work

We take requests across Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties and the Deltona area, including:

• Orlando
• Winter Park
• Maitland
• Altamonte Springs
• Casselberry
• Longwood
• Winter Springs
• Oviedo
• Sanford
• Lake Mary
• Apopka
• Pine Hills
• Ocoee
• Winter Garden
• Kissimmee
• Buenaventura Lakes
• St. Cloud
• Deltona
• DeBary
• Conway

Guides

• Popcorn removal cost in Orlando2026 Orlando prices by ceiling size, and what pushes a quote up.
• Asbestos in popcorn ceilingsWhen asbestos stopped being used, why build year isn't proof, and Florida's rules.
• Remove, cover or paint popcornWhether to scrape, cover or paint over a popcorn ceiling, compared.
• Popcorn removal in a Florida condoAssociation approval, asbestos surveys and notice rules for condo units.
• Ceiling texture types comparedSmooth, knockdown, orange peel and popcorn: looks, cost and upkeep.

Reviewed by August Heckmann. Last reviewed October 15, 2026. How we check our information.