Hudson, WI & Surrounding Area

Popcorn Ceiling
Removal Done Right

We remove popcorn texture, skim coat for a smooth finish, and paint — one crew, start to finish. Serving Hudson WI, River Falls, New Richmond, Woodbury, and Lakeville. Free in-home estimates.

Call (715) 200-8337

Free in-home estimates

Dust-contained process

Locally owned

Get Your Free Estimate

Tell us about your project and we'll follow up quickly.

5.0 Rating— Hudson area homeowners

500+

Ceilings Removed

1–3 Days

Typical Project

Travel Fee

What Is Popcorn Ceiling?

The Texture That Dated Your Home — and Why It Has to Go

Popcorn ceilings — also called acoustic ceilings, cottage cheese ceilings, or stipple ceilings — were applied on virtually every new home built between the 1950s and the late 1980s. Builders loved them because they were cheap to apply, hid imperfect drywall work, and (in theory) dampened sound.

The problem is that the texture doesn't just look dated — it actively works against your home. The bumpy surface traps dust, absorbs stains, and is essentially impossible to clean. It shadows the room, making ceilings feel lower than they are. And it deteriorates over time, shedding grit and debris into your living space.

Removal is one of the highest-ROI updates you can make before listing a home — and one of the most satisfying renovations if you simply want to modernize a space you live in every day.

Problems Popcorn Ceilings Cause

✕Traps dust, allergens, and cobwebs — can't be wiped clean
✕Absorbs and holds stains from water leaks for years
✕Makes rooms feel darker due to irregular shadow patterns
✕Deteriorates over time, shedding grit and particles
✕Deters buyers and reduces perceived home value
✕Difficult or impossible to touch up — repairs show
✕Crumbles and sheds particles over time

Our Process

How We Remove Popcorn Ceilings

Every job follows the same disciplined process — from the initial assessment to the final walkthrough.

Free In-Home Assessment

We come to your home and evaluate every ceiling in scope. We check whether texture has been painted over (which affects the removal method and cost), assess the drywall condition underneath, identify any repair needs, and look for signs of water damage or other issues. You get a written, itemized quote — not a phone estimate.

No chargeWritten quoteSame-week scheduling

Site Preparation

Before any scraping begins, we lay heavy plastic sheeting across the entire floor and drape furniture that can't be moved. We seal every HVAC vent to prevent texture particles from circulating through the ductwork. We protect light fixtures, ceiling fans, and anything else that stays in the room. This prep work is what separates a clean job from a disaster.

Full floor coverageHVAC sealedFurniture protected

Wet Scraping the Texture

For unpainted ceilings, we lightly mist the surface with water and allow it to penetrate — softening the texture without soaking the drywall paper. We then scrape it off in smooth, controlled passes. Painted ceilings require a different technique: we score the surface to break the paint seal before applying moisture, then scrape carefully to avoid gouging the drywall beneath. Either way, the goal is clean removal without drywall damage.

Unpainted or paintedNo drywall damageEfficient method

Repairs & Skim Coating

Once the texture is gone, you see the ceiling as it actually is — tape lines, screw pops, hairline cracks, uneven joints. This is normal. We address repairs first, then skim coat the full ceiling surface with joint compound, applied in careful passes and feathered edge-to-edge. After drying, we sand the surface until it's uniformly flat. This is the step most DIY projects skip — and it's the one that matters most to the final result.

All repairs includedFull skim coatSanded flat

Prime & Paint

A skim-coated ceiling must be primed before paint — joint compound is porous and will drink flat paint unevenly if you skip this step. We apply a drywall primer, allow it to cure, then apply two coats of quality flat ceiling paint. The result is a clean, uniform, properly sealed finish. We walk the completed ceiling with you before we pack up and leave.

Drywall primerTwo coats paintFinal walkthrough

Every Job, Every Time

What's Included — No Add-Ons, No Surprises

Full Floor Protection

Heavy-duty plastic sheeting across every floor in the work area — no exceptions.

HVAC Sealing

Every supply and return vent sealed before scraping begins to contain particles.

Complete Texture Removal

All popcorn texture removed — we don't leave patches or low spots behind.

Standard Repairs Included

Screw pops, hairline cracks, and tape imperfections addressed before skim coat.

Full-Surface Skim Coat

Joint compound applied edge-to-edge, not just over problem spots.

Sand-Flat Finish

Every surface sanded until uniform — no ridges, no trowel lines visible.

Daily Site Cleanup

At the end of every workday, the area is swept, debris bagged, and your home is livable.

Final Walkthrough

We walk the finished ceiling with you before we leave. Your approval is the final step.

An Important Distinction

Painted vs. Unpainted Popcorn Ceilings

This is the first thing we check during every estimate — because it changes the approach, the time, and sometimes the cost.

Unpainted Texture

Most homes built before the mid-1980s

Water penetrates immediately — texture softens easily
Wet-scraped in one pass with minimal drywall risk
Fastest removal method — lower labor cost
Moderate skim coat work after removal
Most straightforward job type we do

Painted Texture

Common in homes updated in the 80s–90s

Paint layer seals the surface — water can't penetrate directly
Requires scoring or dry-scraping before moisture is applied
Takes longer per room — more labor involved
More drywall repair often needed underneath
We identify this during the estimate and quote accordingly

More about painted popcorn removal

Pricing

What Popcorn Ceiling Removal Costs — and What Affects the Price

We don't give phone estimates. Every quote is based on an in-person assessment because the factors below genuinely change the cost — and the only way to know what applies to your home is to look at it.

Most homeowners in the Hudson area pay $1–$3 per square foot for removal only. The full process — removal, skim coat, and paint — typically runs $2.50–$5 per square foot depending on the factors below.

Full pricing guide

Square Footage

The single biggest variable. More ceiling = more time and materials. We quote the actual scope after measuring in person.

Painted vs. Unpainted

Painted ceilings take longer to remove. If yours has been painted once or twice, expect higher labor cost per square foot.

Ceiling Height

Standard 8 ft ceilings are straightforward. Vaulted or cathedral ceilings add scaffold setup time and working difficulty.

Repair Scope

Standard repairs (screw pops, hairline cracks) are included. Larger damage — extensive water staining, missing drywall compound — is quoted separately.

Paint Included?

Removal + skim coat alone vs. full project through paint affects total cost. We quote both options so you can decide.

From Our Customers

What Homeowners Say

“We bought our house knowing the ceilings needed to go. These guys came out the week after we closed, had the whole main floor done in two days, and the ceilings look amazing. Couldn't be happier.”

Sarah M.

Hudson, WI

Main floor removal + skim coat + paint

“Super clean, super professional. They covered everything before starting and vacuumed up when they left. I half expected a disaster and instead got a spotless house with smooth ceilings.”

Tom & Kris W.

Hudson, WI

Full house removal, occupied home

“I got three quotes. These guys were mid-range on price but by far the most thorough in explaining what the job actually involved. Booked them on the spot. The result was exactly what I wanted.”

Derek L.

Hudson, WI — west side

Living room + bedroom removal

“We needed to get our house ready for listing in a short window. They fit us in, worked efficiently, and the realtor said it was one of the most impactful pre-listing updates we made.”

Mark & Lisa D.

Woodbury, MN

Pre-listing full house removal

“They found some water staining under the texture that I didn't know was there. They stopped, explained it to me, sealed the stain, and moved on. No upsell, just good communication.”

Greg T.

New Richmond, WI

Main floor removal + skim coat

“Honest estimate, showed up on time, finished ahead of schedule, and left the house cleaner than they found it. That's rare from any contractor.”

Rachel S.

River Falls, WI

Two-story home, removal + paint

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