Popcorn ceiling removal price per square foot after a clear test in Gloucester?

Published Toronto and Ontario contractor prices for popcorn ceiling removal run about $2 to $10 per square foot, for a ceiling that has tested clear. The range runs from scrape only at the low end to scrape, skim coat and paint at the high end.

What moves a quote within that range for your Gloucester ceiling:

• the total ceiling area
• whether the contractor is scraping only or also applying a skim coat and finishing to a specific level
• the finish level you name (the Gypsum Association's GA-214 guide, an industry recommendation, describes Level 5 as a thin skim coat over the entire surface, suited to gloss or dark paints, and it costs more than a lower level)
• whether primer and paint are included or quoted separately
• the ceiling height

A written quote should state the square footage being priced, exactly what is being removed, what finish is applied after scraping, the finish level by number, whether primer and paint are included, and how many coats of compound are in the price. Ask the contractor to name the finish level in the quote so you can compare bids on equal terms.

One note on the test: if the house was built before 1990, Health Canada advises testing before anyone cuts, sands or scrapes. A clear result means the contractor can proceed; a positive result means abatement work first, and that belongs to ottawaabatement.com.

These are published Toronto and Ontario contractor prices read October 1, 2026, not Ottawa prices, so ask each contractor to give you a firm per-square-foot figure for your ceiling alongside the full scope in writing.

Before you commit, ask the contractor exactly what the per-square-foot price includes at the finish level you want, and get that scope confirmed in the written quote.