Ceiling Texture & Popcorn Ceiling Removal in the Tri-Cities
Transform dated textured ceilings into smooth, modern surfaces throughout Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol.
Modernize Your Home with Smooth Ceilings
Popcorn ceilings and heavy textures were popular design choices from the 1950s through the 1990s, but today they make homes feel dated and dark. Modern homeowners throughout the Tri-Cities area are choosing to remove those rough, bumpy textures in favor of clean, smooth ceilings that brighten rooms and add a contemporary feel to any living space.
Rock's Painting specializes in safe, efficient ceiling texture removal for homes in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, and surrounding communities. Our skilled team removes popcorn, knockdown, orange peel, and other textured finishes, replacing them with beautifully smooth ceilings that completely transform the look and feel of a room. Whether you are updating a single bedroom or renovating your entire home, we deliver clean, professional results you will love.
With a 5.0-star rating across 9+ Google reviews, Tri-Cities homeowners count on Rock's Painting for ceiling transformations that exceed expectations.
Why Remove Popcorn Ceilings
There are several compelling reasons to remove textured ceilings from your home. Here are the top five benefits our customers in the Tri-Cities enjoy after ceiling texture removal:
- Modernize Your Home's Appearance: Textured ceilings instantly date a home. Removing popcorn texture and replacing it with a smooth finish gives every room a fresh, updated appearance that aligns with current design trends. It is one of the most impactful cosmetic upgrades you can make.
- Easier Cleaning and Maintenance: Textured ceilings trap dust, cobwebs, and allergens in their rough surface, making them difficult to clean. Smooth ceilings are far easier to maintain, simply requiring an occasional wipe to stay pristine. This is especially beneficial for families with allergy sensitivities.
- Better Light Reflection: The bumpy surface of popcorn ceilings absorbs and scatters light, making rooms feel darker and smaller. Smooth ceilings reflect light evenly throughout the room, creating a brighter, more open atmosphere that makes your living spaces feel larger and more inviting.
- Increase Your Home's Value: Real estate professionals consistently note that smooth ceilings are a selling point for buyers. Removing popcorn ceilings can increase your home's perceived value and make it more attractive on the market. It is an investment that pays returns when it comes time to sell.
- Eliminate Potential Asbestos Concerns: Homes built before 1980 may have popcorn ceilings containing asbestos fibers. Removing this texture under proper safety protocols eliminates a potential health hazard and gives you peace of mind. We always recommend professional testing for pre-1980 homes before beginning removal work.
Our Ceiling Texture Removal Process
We follow a detailed, systematic process to ensure safe removal and a flawless final finish on every ceiling project:
Testing (Pre-1980 Homes)
For homes built before 1980, we recommend professional asbestos testing before any removal work begins. We can guide you through the testing process and connect you with certified labs in the Tri-Cities area. If asbestos is detected, we discuss safe alternatives including professional abatement or encapsulation with a new drywall overlay. Your safety is always our top priority.
Room Preparation
Thorough preparation is key to a clean project. We remove or cover all furniture, lay heavy-duty plastic sheeting across floors and walls, cover electrical fixtures and ceiling fans, and seal doorways to contain debris. This comprehensive protection ensures the mess stays contained to the work area and your belongings stay clean.
Texture Removal
Our primary removal method uses a professional-grade Festool sander paired with a dust extractor, making the process 80–90% dustless compared to traditional scraping. This is an expensive, specialized piece of equipment, but it delivers dramatically cleaner results for your home. For certain texture types, we may also use the wet scraping method — misting the ceiling with water to soften the texture before carefully scraping it away. Our team works section by section to bring the surface down to the original drywall.
Skim Coat & Finish Sanding (Optional Upgrade)
Basic texture removal gives you a clean ceiling, but for a truly smooth, modern finish, we recommend a skim coat and finish sanding. We apply a thin layer of joint compound across the entire ceiling to fill any imperfections, seams, and minor gouges. Once dry, we sand again with the Festool — this time stepping up through progressively finer grits, finishing at 220 grit or higher for an extremely smooth surface. The second sanding produces even less dust than the first since the skim coat creates a much finer material to work with. This upgrade is an additional charge on top of basic removal, but it is the difference between a good-looking ceiling and a flawless one. Most of our customers choose this option.
Priming and Painting
The final step is applying a high-quality primer followed by two coats of ceiling paint. Primer seals the new surface and ensures uniform paint adhesion, while the finish coats deliver a clean, bright white ceiling that transforms the room. We use premium flat or matte ceiling paint that minimizes imperfections and provides beautiful light reflection throughout the space.
Types of Ceiling Textures We Remove
Our team has experience removing every type of ceiling texture found in Tri-Cities homes. No matter what style of texture your home has, we have the tools and expertise to remove it cleanly and efficiently:
Popcorn / Acoustic Texture
The most common textured ceiling, popcorn (also called acoustic or cottage cheese) features a bumpy, irregular surface that was originally designed to dampen sound and hide imperfections. It is also the most frequently requested texture for removal. Our wet scraping method handles popcorn ceilings efficiently and with minimal mess.
Knockdown Texture
Knockdown texture creates a mottled, stucco-like appearance by spraying compound onto the ceiling and then flattening the peaks with a wide knife. While more modern than popcorn, many homeowners prefer the cleaner look of a completely smooth ceiling. Knockdown requires slightly more effort to remove due to its flatter profile but responds well to our professional techniques.
Orange Peel Texture
Named for its resemblance to the skin of an orange, this fine, bumpy texture is sprayed on and left to dry without flattening. It is common in homes built from the 1980s through the 2000s. Orange peel is relatively thin and straightforward to skim over or remove, making it one of the quicker texture removal projects.
Stipple Texture
Stipple texture is created by dabbing a thick mixture of compound onto the ceiling with a brush or roller, leaving a heavy, pointed pattern. It can be quite thick and requires thorough soaking and careful scraping to remove cleanly. Our experienced team handles stipple removal with precision and patience.
Swirl Texture
Swirl patterns feature arching, overlapping circles created by hand with a brush or sponge. This decorative texture is often found in older homes and formal rooms. Removal requires the same wet scraping process, followed by thorough skim coating to achieve a uniform smooth surface.
Related Articles
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Ceiling Texture Removal FAQs
Answers to common questions about popcorn ceiling removal in the Tri-Cities.
Is popcorn ceiling removal messy?
Far less than you would expect. We use a professional Festool sander with a dust extractor that captures 80–90% of the dust at the source, making our process significantly cleaner than traditional scraping methods. We also cover all floors, walls, and furniture with heavy-duty plastic sheeting before any work begins. After the work is complete, we perform a detailed cleanup so your home is left spotless.
How long does popcorn ceiling removal take?
A single average-sized room typically takes one to two days, including prep, removal, skim coating, sanding, and painting. Multiple rooms or larger areas may require three to five days. The timeline depends on the ceiling condition, whether the texture was painted over, and the desired final finish. We provide a detailed timeline during your free estimate.
Should I test my popcorn ceiling for asbestos?
If your home was built before 1980, we strongly recommend asbestos testing before any ceiling texture removal. Popcorn ceilings applied during the 1950s through late 1970s sometimes contain asbestos fibers. Testing is affordable and provides peace of mind. We can guide you through the testing process and recommend certified testing services in the Tri-Cities area.
How much does ceiling texture removal cost?
The cost depends on the size of the area, ceiling height, condition of the texture, and the level of finish you want. Basic texture removal is one price, and the skim coat with finish sanding for an ultra-smooth result is an additional upgrade. Priming and painting the finished ceiling are also available. We provide free, detailed estimates that break down each step so you know exactly what you are paying for — no hidden fees or surprises.
Can you just cover popcorn ceilings instead of removing them?
Yes, in some situations we can install a thin layer of new drywall over existing popcorn ceilings, which is called encapsulation or overlay. This can be a good option when the texture contains asbestos or when the ceiling surface is in poor condition. However, removal typically provides better results and does not reduce ceiling height. We will discuss all options during your consultation and recommend the best approach for your situation.