Popcorn and stipple ceiling removal in Calgary
Popcorn, stipple and other textured ceilings installed before the 1990s often contain asbestos. We test, remove safely, and leave you a smooth ceiling ready for paint.
Textured “popcorn” ceilings were standard in Calgary homes from the 1960s into the 1990s — and ceiling texture applied before the early 1990s commonly contains asbestos. Scraping it yourself, or hiring a painter who doesn't test first, can contaminate the entire home with fibres that are costly to clean up properly. Done right, the job starts with a lab test and ends with a smooth, modern ceiling.
What popcorn ceiling removal costs in Calgary
Where asbestos is present: $8 to $15 per square foot. A single room typically runs $1,500 to $5,000.
For comparison, scraping a ceiling that has already tested clean is closer to $2 to $3 per square foot. That gap is the whole reason to test first — it decides which job you are actually buying.
What moves the price within the range: ceiling height, how many rooms, whether the texture comes off wet or has been painted over (painted texture is significantly slower), and whether furniture and fixtures need protecting or removing.
Whole-house work is priced after a site visit as a fixed, itemized quote with dates in writing.
Testing. A sampling visit is $225 in Calgary plus $85 a sample, so a typical one-room ceiling test at three samples is $480, with results in two to five business days. Rush analysis adds $60 a sample, and we credit the $225 visit fee against the contract if we do the removal. Full testing prices are on our pricing page. If it comes back clean, you don’t need us — a painter or handyman can scrape it, and we’ll say so.
Prices current as of September 2026. Every job is quoted after a site visit.
Popcorn, stipple, stucco ceiling — it’s the same job
People call it different things depending on where they learned the word. Popcorn ceiling, stipple ceiling, stucco ceiling, textured ceiling, knockdown or swirl — in Calgary these all describe sprayed or troweled ceiling texture, and they carry the same asbestos question.
The finish does change the work. A heavy popcorn spray usually wets out and scrapes off in sheets. A tighter stipple or a knockdown pattern is slower, and any texture that has been painted over is slower again, because paint stops water reaching the material underneath. None of that changes the testing decision — only the time on site.
How we do it
1. Test first. We sample the texture and confirm through an accredited lab whether it contains asbestos as part of our testing service. If it doesn't, removal is a standard (and cheaper) job — and we tell you so.
2. Contain. For asbestos-positive ceilings, rooms are sealed with poly, floors and fixtures protected, and negative air with HEPA filtration keeps fibres from spreading.
3. Remove safely. The texture is wetted and removed under controlled conditions, with waste sealed and disposed of at an approved facility.
4. Finish. After clearance, we can skim-coat and prep the ceiling for paint — so you're left with a finished surface, not a construction site.
What that looks like
Illustrated explainer, no sound needed — an animation of our method, not footage of one particular job. For photographs of our own work, see a job step by step.
Why homeowners do it
Beyond the asbestos question, removing popcorn ceilings brightens rooms, modernizes older homes, and measurably helps resale — buyers see textured ceilings as both dated and a red flag for asbestos.
Where we work
We provide popcorn ceiling removal across Calgary and the surrounding communities, including Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Strathmore, High River, Red Deer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my popcorn ceiling has asbestos?
If your home was built or the ceiling applied before the early 1990s, assume it's possible — the only way to know is a lab test of a small sample. We test before quoting removal.
What does popcorn ceiling removal cost in Calgary?
Where asbestos is present, $8 to $15 per square foot, and a single room typically runs $1,500 to $5,000. Ceilings that test clean cost far less, around $2 to $3 per square foot. Testing first tells you which job you have.
Can I paint over a popcorn ceiling instead?
Paint encapsulates the surface but adds weight and makes future removal harder and more expensive. If the texture contains asbestos, painting delays the issue rather than solving it — and it still must be disclosed when selling.
How long does the job take?
Most homes take one to three days per floor depending on square footage and whether skim-coating and paint prep are included.
Is a stipple ceiling the same as a popcorn ceiling?
For our purposes, yes. Popcorn, stipple, stucco ceiling, knockdown and swirl all describe sprayed or troweled ceiling texture, and texture applied before the early 1990s can contain asbestos regardless of which pattern it is. The pattern affects how long removal takes, not whether it needs testing.
One call covers it all
Asbestos Removal
Asbestos was used for decades in Calgary homes and buildings, and it has to be removed safely before renovation or demolition can continue.
Asbestos Testing
Before you renovate, demolish, or buy an older property, know exactly what's in it — lab-verified testing with fast results.
Vermiculite Removal
Vermiculite attic insulation often contains asbestos. We test it, remove it safely, and document everything.
Need help now?
Speak with Aden Integrated Services Ltd about your project.