Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Kansas City

Close-up of a putty knife scraping popcorn texture off a ceiling during professional popcorn ceiling removal

Popcorn Ceiling Removal for a Smooth, Modern Finish

Outdated texture, gone. We remove it, repair the ceiling underneath, and leave you with a flawless, paint-ready surface — not a half-finished mess.

That bumpy, dust-collecting popcorn texture was everywhere in the ’70s and ’80s. Elite77 Painters strips it away cleanly, patches what’s underneath, and preps your ceiling for a smooth, contemporary look that instantly modernizes any room.

WHY REMOVE YOUR POPCORN CEILING (it’s more than a style choice)

Popcorn texture doesn’t just look dated — it collects dust, cobwebs, and allergens in every bump, it’s nearly impossible to clean, and it makes rooms feel darker by scattering light unevenly. Older popcorn ceilings can also be difficult and dusty to patch or paint over as-is. A smooth ceiling instantly reads as more modern, adds real value for buyers, and is far easier to maintain going forward.

A note on asbestos: Homes built or textured before the early 1980s may have popcorn ceilings containing asbestos. Before we begin any removal, we can advise on testing so the project is handled safely and in compliance with local requirements.

Popcorn ceiling removal in progress showing a skim-coated, smoothed section next to remaining textured ceiling around a light fixture

SIGNS IT’S TIME TO REMOVE YOUR POPCORN CEILING

Selling or Renovating Soon

Smooth ceilings are a top request from buyers and consistently boost perceived home value.

Yellowing or Water-Stained Texture

Popcorn ceilings show age and staining more visibly than smooth drywall.

Renovating the Room Below It

New flooring, cabinets, or paint look out of place under an outdated ceiling.

Difficulty Cleaning

Dust and cobwebs are constantly visible and hard to remove from the texture.

Planning a Lighting or Fixture Upgrade

Smooth ceilings make new fixtures and recessed lighting look intentional, not patched-around.

You Just Don't Like It

That's reason enough.

THE ELITE77 POPCORN CEILING REMOVAL PROCESS

01

Assess & Test

We inspect the ceiling and, for homes old enough to warrant it, advise on asbestos testing before any work begins.

02

Protect the Room

Furniture, floors, and fixtures are fully covered; we seal off the workspace to contain dust and debris.

03

Remove the Texture

The popcorn finish is scraped away using proper wetting techniques and professional-grade tools to minimize dust and airborne debris.

04

Repair the Ceiling Beneath

Removal often reveals gouges, seams, or old damage — we patch and smooth all of it before moving forward.

05

Skim Coat & Sand

A thin, even layer of joint compound is applied across the entire ceiling and sanded to a flat, uniform surface.

06

Prime & Paint-Ready Finish

The ceiling is primed and left smooth and ready for your choice of a flat paint finish or a light modern texture, if preferred.

PAIR IT WITH A FRESH CEILING (AND ROOM) FINISH

    A newly smoothed ceiling looks best with a clean coat of paint to match — and it’s the easiest time to refresh the walls around it too.

    Many of our popcorn ceiling clients bundle the removal with interior painting or drywall repair for a full room refresh in one visit, one contract, and one crew.

    Freshly painted interior dining room with detailed white wainscoting and light grey walls showing high-quality trim work

    WHY KANSAS CITY HOMEOWNERS CALL ELITE77

    • Free, same-day estimates — not a callback in 2–3 weeks
    • No-Surprise Guarantee — the price we quote is the price you pay
    • Licensed & insured — with painters who are thoroughly screened
    • BBB A+ Accredited and Angi Super Service Award winner
    • Dust and mess contained — we protect furniture, floors, and carpets, and fully clean up after every project
    • Locally owned and operated — serving a 50-mile radius of Kansas City, MO since 2016
    • 195 completed projects in 2024 alone
    painter in kansas city painting old kitchen cabinets

    POPCORN CEILING REMOVAL in Kansas City

    5-Star ON GOOGLE

    Google
    Maria Smith profile picture
    Maria Smith
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    Best experience with our painting process! Robert the owner was helpful and gave us great color ideas. The job was completed sooner than expected. Thank you so much!
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    Carol Fugett profile picture
    Carol Fugett
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    ELITE77 PAINTERS LLC did an amazing job painting my house exterior and were in line with other bids!! Robert, project manager, was professional, friendly, thorough and so easy to work with. Communication with him was great! Had my bid to me within hours and answered all my questions in a timely manner throughout the process and he and his crew did exactly what they said they would do! His crew was also fantastic, thorough, hard workers and also easy to work with! I would most definitely hire them again and recommend to anyone!!!
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    Matt Burton profile picture
    Matt Burton
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    Very responsive communication and the crew did a good job staining my fence in a timely fashion.
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    Taryn Meek profile picture
    Taryn Meek
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    They did a fantastic job on our fence staining! Completed in one day and looks amazing! Would absolutely use again and recommend to everyone!!
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    Randall Elsberry profile picture
    Randall Elsberry
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    Highly recommend Elite77 Painters! Robert and staff very prompt, professional and courteous. ***** Company!
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    Maryuri López profile picture
    Maryuri López
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    I'm glad I found this painting company. They painted my house and now it looks beutiful. Much better than before. I highly recommend!
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    Crystal King profile picture
    Crystal King
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    Elite77 did a nice job on painting my bedroom and was quick with scheduling. Robert was a little slow with responses but overall, I was pleased!
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    Kathy Gosroski profile picture
    Kathy Gosroski
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    Excellent, professional, attention to detail, on time, they did everything right. Highly recommend them.
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    Laura Stilwell profile picture
    Laura Stilwell
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    Elite77 was able to get out and get the job done quickly. Did a fantastic job and was super easy to work with. We highly recommend them for tour painting needs.
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    SARAH GRACE PARLAK profile picture
    SARAH GRACE PARLAK
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    We watched the crew at Elite 77 painters stain our neighbors deck right in back of us last year. They did an amazing job so we called Robert just a few weeks ago to give us a bid and here two weeks later, it is finished as well as staining our fence. We were so impressed with how accessible Robert was and how quickly he responded to our texts. The crew of six people did a wonderful job in doing the needed repairs and staining the deck twice. Robert and the crew communicated With us about what was going on and what to expect and when they’d be here and they always showed up right on time. We loved watching the crew as they seem to be having a really good time as they worked. We cannot recommend Robert and his crew highly enough and appreciate that we have gotten to know him through this process.
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    FAQ’s

    How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost in Kansas City?

    Cost depends on the size of the ceiling, its condition, and how much repair is needed underneath the texture. We provide a free, same-day, on-site estimate so you know the exact price before work begins, with no hidden fees.

    Does my popcorn ceiling contain asbestos?

    It’s possible if your home was built or textured before the early 1980s. We can advise on testing before starting any removal so the project is handled safely — asbestos testing should always be done by a qualified professional before disturbing older texture.

    How long does popcorn ceiling removal take?

    How messy is the removal process?

    It can be dusty work, which is why we fully cover furniture, floors, and fixtures and seal off the work area before we start. We do a complete cleanup once the ceiling is finished, so the room is ready to use right away.

    Can you paint the ceiling after removing the popcorn texture?

    Yes — most clients have us paint the newly smoothed ceiling as part of the same project, and many also refresh the walls at the same time for a fully updated room.

    Ready to trade that dated popcorn texture for a smooth, modern ceiling?

    Call Robert Olivares at 816-879-0155 for a free, same-day drywall repair estimate — or request one online below.