I recently received a quote for $10.2k to remove the popcorn ceiling in my home located in the Denver metro area. That breaks down to around $8 per square foot. The house was built in the 90s, so the quote doesn't factor in asbestos testing. There's also about 100 sq ft that would need scaffolding for the job. As a first-time homebuyer, this quote really shocked me, and I'm now wondering if this amount is typical. I'm in the process of getting additional quotes, but I'm feeling a bit anxious about this one!
3 Answers
You might want to ask if the quote includes more than just scraping off the popcorn. It could be covering complete drywall replacement or additional treatments like skim coating, which might explain the price.
That quote sounds a bit high to me! 1,300 square feet isn’t that huge. Make sure to check if it includes any painting or other work after removal.
If there’s no asbestos, you could consider doing it yourself. I tackled my own popcorn ceiling, and the county took all the waste for free. It was a decent amount of labor and definitely messy, but not too hard!
Even with asbestos, it’s manageable if you take the right precautions. I handled mine, and there are safe ways to do it.

Good point! I need to clarify what exactly they’re planning to do besides just removing the popcorn.