Trusted since 2001 · Same-day response for emergencies · Call 951-458-6466
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Who They're For and What They Solve
Texture removal is the process of stripping applied texture from ceilings or walls and refinishing the surface flat. It covers wet-scraping popcorn, sanding down knockdown and orange peel, and skim-coating fresh joint compound over what remains until the surface reads as smooth and even.
Most people come to us after buying a home built before the 2000s, or while getting ready to list one. Anyone painting soon needs it too, because fresh paint over failing texture just highlights every bump. Landlords turning units over request it constantly for the same modernizing effect.
Texture hides flaws, but it also traps dust, cracks with settling, and dates a room instantly. Left alone, failing texture keeps shedding, absorbs moisture after a leak, and drags down what buyers think a room is worth. Removal resets the surface completely and permanently.
Is It Time?
Here is what usually pushes people to finally call us.
Our Services
Texture removal is not one technique. We assess the surface and choose the approach that actually fits it.
We mist the ceiling, let the texture soften, then wet-scrape it off in controlled sections. Wetting cuts airborne dust dramatically. Afterward we skim, sand, and finish the board to smooth. This is the right call for most intact popcorn ceilings.
Instead of scraping, we apply thin coats of joint compound directly over the existing texture until it disappears. Best for lightly textured walls, painted-over texture that resists wetting, and jobs where scraping risks damaging the board underneath.
Wall textures need sanding and feathering rather than scraping. We knock down the high points, skim the entire wall plane, then sand to a uniform finish. This is how bumpy walls become genuinely flat instead of just less bumpy.
Sometimes texture is the only thing holding a failed ceiling together. If the paper is shredded or water damage has compromised the board, replacing the drywall costs less than fighting it. We tell you this upfront, not mid-job.
Not sure which approach your situation needs? We assess first and recommend only what’s necessary, no upsells.
Why Homeowners Choose Mr. Local Services
We finish to Level 5, the flattest standard in drywall. If any area isn't paint-ready flat after final sanding, we re-coat it at no charge.
Plastic barriers, sealed doorways, floor protection, and HEPA vacuuming every single day. You get your house back clean each evening, not at the end of the job.
The number on your estimate is the number on your invoice. No change orders unless you add scope yourself. Sixteen years of doing this means we quote accurately.
This is our core trade, not a sideline. Licensed, insured, and running in-house crews only. The team that quotes your job is the team that performs it.
How It Works
Call 951-458-6466 and we schedule within 48 hours. We test adhesion, check for water damage, and measure. You get a fixed written quote.
We seal the work area with plastic, mask adjacent rooms, and cover floors and fixtures. Nothing outside the barrier gets dust on it.
We scrape or skim depending on the method chosen, then apply coats, sand between each, and build to a Level 5 smooth surface.
We walk the job with you under bright raking light. Anything imperfect gets re-coated. Then full HEPA cleanup before we leave.
Pricing
We give real numbers instead of dodging the question. Most texture removal runs $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot, and a typical three-bedroom popcorn ceiling project lands between $2,200 and $5,500.
Four things move that number. Square footage is the biggest driver. Ceiling height matters because staging adds labor. Method changes cost, since skim coating over texture often runs less than full scraping. And hidden damage found beneath texture is quoted separately before we proceed.
Every quote is fixed and written. Call 951-458-6466 for an accurate number on your actual space.
Texture applied before 1980 may contain asbestos. We recommend lab testing before any disturbance and will not scrape untested pre-1980 material.
Far less than you expect. Wet-scraping suppresses airborne dust, and sealed containment keeps the rest of your home clean throughout.
A single room typically takes two to three days including drying between coats. Whole-home projects usually run five to ten days.
Scraping suits intact popcorn ceilings. Skim coating suits light wall texture or painted-over texture that won't absorb water. We assess and recommend.
We stop, show you, and quote the repair separately before continuing. Our drywall repair service handles compromised board, cracked seams, and water damage found beneath texture, so the repair and refinish happen in one continuous visit.
No. Containment lets you stay in unaffected areas, and we clean daily so the home stays livable.
Yes. We finish to Level 5 and inspect under raking light. If it isn't paint-ready flat, we re-coat free.
Your assessment is free, your quote is fixed in writing, and your smooth finish is guaranteed. We’re scheduling assessments within 48 hours right now.
