Updated October 2026 · Based on current Palm Beach County market rates
Most Palm Beach County homeowners pay $3.75–$5.50 per square foot for a scraped, skim-coated and painted ceiling, or about $550–$800 for a 12×12 bedroom. Scrape-only starts at $1.50 per sq ft. Painted texture, high ceilings and a smooth Level 5 finish push the price toward the top of the range.
| Finish | What's included | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Scrape only | Protect, contain, scrape, HEPA clean | $1.50–$2.50 |
| Scrape + skim + prime | Plus skim coat, sand, primer | $3.00–$4.50 |
| Scrape + skim + paint | Plus flat ceiling white | $3.75–$5.50 |
| Knockdown | Scrape, then new knockdown texture | $3.00–$4.75 |
Room and whole-home prices assume scrape, skim coat, prime and paint at standard 8–9 ft ceiling height.
| Room | Price |
|---|---|
| Bedroom (~144 sq ft) | $550–$800 |
| Living room (~300 sq ft) | $1,125–$1,650 |
| Kitchen (~150 sq ft) | $550–$825 |
| Whole condo (~1,000 sq ft) | $3,750–$5,500 |
| Home size | Price |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $3,750–$5,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $5,625–$8,250 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $7,500–$11,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $9,375–$13,750 |
A ballpark in ten seconds. For an exact price, send photos through the quote form.
Ballpark only, based on typical Palm Beach County rates. Your written quote may differ after we see the ceiling.
Get exact quotePaint seals the texture, so it has to be wetted or scraped harder.
Scaffolding and extra setup time.
Moving and covering furniture adds labor.
Work hours, hallway protection and insurance certificates.
A positive test changes who can do the work.
Water stains, cracks and loose tape found after scraping.
Testing costs $250 for a standard lab sample, credited toward the job if you hire us.
How testing works →DIY removal looks cheap: a sprayer, a scraper and plastic sheeting run a few hundred dollars. The real costs are containment, disposal of a wet, heavy mess, and the skim coat afterward, which is where most DIY ceilings go wrong. And skipping the asbestos test is the one shortcut that can't be undone: if the texture contains asbestos, scraping it spreads fibers through your home.
Read the full comparison →$1.50–$2.50 for scrape-only and $3.75–$5.50 for a finished, painted ceiling in Palm Beach County.
Usually removal. Covering popcorn with new 1/4-inch drywall or ceiling panels typically costs more per square foot, lowers the ceiling slightly and means working around lights and vents. Covering can make sense when the texture tests positive for asbestos and abatement isn't an option.
Yes. Paint seals the texture, so it takes more soaking and scraping. Expect roughly 25% more than unpainted popcorn.
Testing is $250, credited toward the job if you hire us.
No. Quotes are free.