Popcorn and Textured Ceiling Removal Cost in Ottawa
Test first, then price the removal
Asbestos testing and removal are priced separately by abatement contractors, not on this page.
Reviewed 2026-10-01 · how we set these ranges
This page puts the test before the price. Once a ceiling has tested clear, enter its length and width: the result is the ceiling area times the published removal range.
Built before 1990? Test before anyone scrapes
- Health Canada says asbestos was used in some building materials before 1990, and advises hiring a professional to test for asbestos before renovating or remodelling.
- If a professional finds asbestos, Health Canada says to hire a qualified asbestos removal specialist. That is abatement work (ottawaabatement.com), not drywall work.
- Health Canada also says materials left undisturbed pose no significant health risk, so a ceiling nobody is touching can wait for the test.
Asbestos testing and removal: ottawaabatement.com
Your ceiling (tested clear)
For a ceiling that has tested clear: scrape only at the low end, to scrape, skim coat and paint at the high end.
Ceiling area: length × width
$2 to $10 per sq ft of ceiling
Source: Published Toronto and Ontario contractor price pages, read October 1, 2026 (not Ottawa prices). A range times your own numbers, never one figure and not a quote.
| Item | Published range |
|---|---|
| Textured ceilings | $2 to $10 per sq ft of ceiling |
What the quote should say
- The test result, or who arranges the test, before work starts
- Scrape only, or scrape, skim coat, primer and paint, or new board over the old ceiling
- The ceiling area being priced
- How the room, floors and vents are protected
- Clean-up and disposal
Permits
Removing a textured ceiling is not named on the City of Ottawa's list of work that needs a building permit, or on its list of work that does not. If you are unsure, ask the City. Asbestos removal is a separate job with its own rules for the crew doing it.
Drywall Pro IQ answers on this job
- Popcorn ceiling removal price per square foot after a clear test in Gloucester?
- Should a stipple ceiling in a 1970s Ottawa bungalow be tested first?
- Removing a stippled ceiling in an Ottawa condo, what comes first?
- Nepean stipple ceiling and a drywall quote: test before or after hiring?
- Does wetting a popcorn ceiling make scraping safe in Ottawa?
Quick answers
Does this range include asbestos removal?
No. It is for a ceiling that has tested clear. If a test finds asbestos, removal is priced by an abatement contractor; this site shows no price for that work.
Why does the range run from $2 to $10?
The low end of the range is for a scrape only; the high end is for scraping, skim coating and painting. Ask the quote which of those it includes.
Want this done at your place?
Tell us what needs patching, replacing or boarding and we'll send it to local Ottawa drywall contractors, who reply by email. We send it out to local contractors for you. Free, no pressure.