Popcorn and other sprayed ceiling textures turn up mostly in Manhattan's post-war apartment buildings. Older texture can contain asbestos, so it has to be tested before anyone scrapes it, and New York City regulates asbestos work through the Department of Environmental Protection. Once a ceiling is cleared, we remove the texture, skim coat, sand, prime and paint.
Sprayed popcorn texture is less common in Manhattan than in the suburbs, but it is here. It shows up in post-war apartment buildings, where it was sprayed onto concrete slab ceilings or drywall to save finishing work. Pre-war apartments more often have smooth plaster, sometimes with a swirled or stippled coat added later. Before recommending anything we find out which you have, what is under it and whether it has been painted, because a painted texture will not soften with water and has to be handled differently.
Testing comes before scraping. Ceiling texture applied decades ago can contain asbestos, and looking at it will not tell you. A sample goes to a laboratory first. If it contains asbestos, we do not remove it; that is work for a licensed asbestos contractor under New York City Department of Environmental Protection rules. If the result is clear, we empty or cover the room, seal doorways and vents, wet the texture, scrape it down, and bag the waste for removal by the service elevator.
Scraping is only half of the job. A concrete slab ceiling is rarely flat. It shows form lines, patches and pits once the texture is gone. We skim coat it, often in two or three passes, sand, prime and paint with a flat ceiling paint that hides minor waves. Where removal is not sensible, a new skim coat over a sound, tested texture is another route. Expect several days per apartment, plastic sheeting in the rooms while we work and a visibly brighter ceiling at the end.
Popcorn ceiling removal in New York: common questions
Who tests my ceiling for asbestos in New York City?
A sample should be taken and analyzed by qualified people, and for buildings the city has its own rules on asbestos surveys by certified investigators. Ask your managing agent what the building requires. We do not scrape any texture until a result is in hand.
Is the ceiling under the popcorn concrete or drywall?
In many post-war Manhattan towers it is the concrete slab of the floor above. In top floor units and renovated spaces it can be drywall. We check at the estimate, since concrete needs more skim coating to look smooth.
Does my building need to know about this work?
Yes, tell them. It makes dust and debris and takes several days, so most co-ops and condos want a certificate of insurance and may ask for the asbestos test result. We give you both documents to pass on.
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.