Many Salinas houses and apartments from the 1950s to the 1980s still have sprayed acoustic ceilings. Texture of that age may contain asbestos and must be lab tested before it is touched. Once a ceiling is cleared, we scrape it, repair the joints and paint it.
Sprayed acoustic ceilings were standard in houses and apartments built from the 1950s into the 1980s, and Salinas has many from those years in South Salinas, the Alisal and the earlier North Salinas tracts. People remove them because they hold dust, are hard to clean and repair, and date a room. One thing must come first. Ceiling texture of that age can contain asbestos, and no one can tell by looking. A lab test is needed before anything is scraped.
If the test finds no asbestos, the work is simple but messy. The room is emptied or covered, floors and walls are sheeted in plastic, and power to ceiling fixtures is turned off. The texture is wetted and scraped away with wide blades. Under it the drywall joints are often rough, because they were never meant to be seen. We repair the joints, skim the surface where needed, sand, prime and paint. You can choose a smooth ceiling or a light new texture.
If the test finds asbestos, removal is not a painter's job. It has to be done by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor under state and regional air district rules. We can paint the ceiling after it is cleared. You may also choose to leave a sound ceiling in place and have it painted, which seals it. A smooth ceiling shows more than a textured one, so we check the result with a light held along the surface before the final coat.
Popcorn ceiling removal in Salinas: common questions
Who tests the ceiling for asbestos?
A sample goes to an accredited lab, usually taken by an asbestos consultant or inspector. Please do not scrape off a sample yourself in a way that makes dust. Have the result in hand before any removal is booked.
Can a painted popcorn ceiling still be removed?
Yes, though it takes longer. Paint keeps water from soaking in, so the texture does not release easily. Sometimes it is quicker and cleaner to cover the ceiling with a skim coat or new drywall. We look at it and advise.
How long does one room take?
Scraping a cleared ceiling in an average room takes a few hours. The repair, skim coat, primer and paint take longer, because each layer has to dry. Allow several days for a whole house.
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.