Popcorn and textured ceilings in the Bronx mostly date from the 1960s to the 1980s. A ceiling of that age should be tested for asbestos before anyone scrapes it, and in New York City asbestos work belongs to licensed asbestos contractors. Once a ceiling is cleared, we remove the texture, skim it smooth, prime and paint.
Sprayed popcorn texture is less common in the Bronx than in the suburbs, since so much of the borough was built before it came into use. We find it in houses and apartments built or redone from the 1960s through the 1980s, in finished basements and in top floor rooms where it was sprayed to hide a rough ceiling. Swirled and stippled plaster textures are also around, and those are skim coated flat instead of scraped.
Testing comes before any scraping. Ceiling texture from those decades can contain asbestos, and you cannot tell by looking. A sample goes to a laboratory. If the result is positive, the removal is asbestos work, which in New York City is done by licensed asbestos contractors under the city's rules, not by a painter. If the ceiling has been painted, old paint layers are also treated as possible lead paint in buildings from before 1978.
When the ceiling is clear to remove, the room is emptied or wrapped, floors and walls are covered in plastic, and the ceiling light is taken down. The texture is dampened in sections and scraped off. What is left is rarely smooth, so we repair joints, apply skim coats, sand, prime and paint. It is a messy job that takes several days for a typical room. Painted popcorn is harder to remove, and covering it with new drywall can be the better route.
Popcorn ceiling removal in Bronx: common questions
Who arranges the asbestos test?
You can hire a testing firm directly, or we can point you to the kind of company that does it. We need to see the laboratory result before scraping a ceiling of that age.
Can you repair a patch of popcorn instead of removing all of it?
Small repairs can be matched with a patching texture, though an exact match is hard and the patch may show in side light. An untested ceiling is still not sanded or scraped.
Do I need my co-op board's approval?
Many boards treat ceiling removal as an alteration and want notice, insurance papers and the test result. Check your house rules or ask the managing agent before you book the work.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.