Asbestos Removal Spokane WA: Popcorn Ceiling Removal
That bumpy ceiling may be harmless or it may hold asbestos. You cannot tell by looking. We help you test it, then remove it safely if the result is positive.
- Test before you scrape
- Sealed room, wet removal
- Water-damage cases first
- Ready for new paint
✓ Licensed and insured. Many years in business serving the greater Spokane area.
Popcorn ceilings and asbestos in Spokane homes
Sprayed texture was common in the years when asbestos was still used in building products. Many Spokane ceilings have been repainted several times since.
Scraping a ceiling dry is the way most people release fibers by accident. The Environmental Protection Agency warns that sanding or scraping some textured and patching products can release fibers (EPA). For that reason, the first step is a sample taken by an accredited inspector, not a putty knife.
SRCAA treats the topic seriously enough to use it as an example in its own fact sheet: a popcorn ceiling that has been water damaged must be removed immediately by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor (SRCAA fact sheet).
How to tell if a ceiling needs attention
Water stains or sagging
Moisture loosens the bond. This is the case SRCAA says calls for immediate licensed removal.
Flaking or dropping texture
Bits on the floor or windowsills mean the surface is breaking down.
A remodel is coming
Recessed lights, a wall removal or a new heating run can all disturb the ceiling.
Unknown age
If you do not know when the ceiling was finished, a lab sample is the only answer.
Buyer or lender request
Home inspectors often flag textured ceilings in older houses for testing.
Past scraping
If someone scraped part of it, stop, close off the room and call before cleaning up.
How we remove a textured ceiling
The method is slow on purpose. Wet material stays on the ceiling instead of floating in the room.
- Confirm the result. We work from the lab report and the survey list for the house.
- Cover and seal. Floors, walls, vents and doorways are covered in plastic and taped. Fixtures are protected or removed.
- Set up filtered air. A negative air machine pulls air through a HEPA filter so the room stays under slight suction.
- Wet and scrape. Crews mist the texture and remove it in sections, dropping it into bags rather than onto the floor.
- Clean everything. Wet-wipe and HEPA vacuum every surface, then remove the plastic in layers.
- Hand off. You get a clean ceiling surface ready for patching, texture and paint by your next trade.
Rules for ceiling jobs in Spokane
- Survey required: any renovation touching the ceiling needs a survey by an accredited inspector first (SRCAA).
- Small jobs: under 10 linear feet or 48 square feet per structure per calendar year does not need notice if you are not an owner-occupied single-family homeowner, and cumulative work over that does.
- Larger rooms: notice and a fee apply, with fees from $91 to $1,525 depending on the amount.
- Homeowners: an owner-occupied single-family homeowner may do their own removal with no notice or fee, though SRCAA encourages certified workers (SRCAA).
Compare options on the homeowner rules page and see how fees work in the notification guide.
Textured ceilings around Spokane
Ceilings are the first thing buyers notice and the first thing sellers want fixed. In neighborhoods like the South Hill and Browne's Addition, older plaster and later texture coats often sit in the same house. In newer parts of Spokane Valley, ceilings from the 1970s are the ones most likely to be in question.
Places we serve
Back to the Asbestos Removal Spokane home page.
Popcorn Ceiling Asbestos Removal: questions and answers
Do all popcorn ceilings contain asbestos?
No. Only a lab test can say. Older ceilings are more likely to contain it.
Can I scrape it myself?
Owner-occupied single-family homeowners may remove their own material under SRCAA's allowance, but the agency encourages certified workers (SRCAA). Rentals do not qualify.
What if the ceiling got wet?
SRCAA's example says a water-damaged popcorn ceiling must be removed immediately by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor (SRCAA).
Is painting over it okay?
Paint does not remove asbestos, but it does not disturb it either. Ask your inspector, because any later scraping or sanding changes the rules.
What does ceiling removal cost?
National guides list $9 to $20 per square foot for popcorn ceilings (Angi*). Local quotes depend on room size and access. See the cost guide.
Who finishes the ceiling afterward?
We leave a clean, bare surface. A drywall or paint crew handles patching, texture and paint.
Ceiling texture in question?
Tell us the age of the house and the room size. We will explain testing and removal.
* Cost figures are national estimates from the linked source, not a quote from us. Spokane prices vary by material, amount and access.