★★★★★ Zion homeowners trust us with their ceilings $50 OFF when you book your job online Free estimates · (708) 815-7720
★★★★★ Smooth ceilings done right in Zion

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Zion, IL

No dust clouds. No asbestos worries. No texture left behind. We wet-scrape and skim your ceiling flat, then paint it so it looks like drywall from day one.

📍 Serving Zion, IL 60099 and all of Lake County
Licensed & insured in Illinois Free written estimates Popcorn removal from $299/room
$50 OFF ONLINE

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Quick Answer

Quick Answer

Popcorn ceiling removal in Zion starts at $299 per room, with a full skim coat and fresh paint included. The price covers wet-scraping the old texture, sealing the bare surface, applying a smooth skim coat, sanding it flat, and painting the ceiling with two coats of flat white. Vanguard Painting serves Zion and the rest of Lake County, with a crew based right in Melrose Park that knows how to handle textured ceilings without making a mess of your house.

One room from$299
Average home$1,200
Timeline1–2 days
EstimateFree
Wet-scrapeWe dampen the texture first so it comes off clean, not dusty
Skim coatEvery ceiling gets a smooth mud coat after scraping, never left rough
FreeWritten estimate with the price locked before we start
PaintedTwo coats of flat paint included, no extra charge
On every popcorn job

What You Get When We Remove Your Popcorn Ceiling

Book a popcorn ceiling removal in Zion and this is the package. No dust, no mess, no texture left behind.

Room emptied or covered

Furniture moved to the center or covered. Floors taped down with plastic.

Wet-scrape the texture

We dampen the popcorn, let it absorb, then scrape it clean without digging into the drywall.

Stain-blocking primer

Bare spots and any old water stains get sealed before the skim coat goes on.

Full skim coat

Every square foot gets a thin layer of joint compound to erase the scrape marks and make it flat.

Sanded smooth

The mud is sanded flat once it dries. No ridges, no rough patches.

Two coats of paint

Flat white ceiling paint rolled on, two coats, no roller marks.

Cleanup and walkthrough

Plastic pulled, floors wiped, then we walk it with you and fix anything you see.

Asbestos tested on request

We can point you to a tester before we start if your home was built before 1980.

Real numbers

Popcorn Ceiling Removal Prices in Zion

Here's what Zion homeowners pay to get rid of their textured ceilings. The final number depends on the room size, the thickness of the texture, and whether the ceiling has been painted over before.

Single room popcorn removalScrape, skim, sand and paint, one standard bedroom or living room$299
Two roomsStrip and smooth two ceilings, usually the living room and a bedroom$550
Full homeAll ceilings in a typical Zion three-bedroom house$1,200
Ceiling painting onlyAlready smooth? We paint it. Flat white or your chosen color$149
Interior paintingWalls, trim and ceilings all at once, same crew, same visit$1,850
Drywall repairFix cracks and holes before the skim coat goes on$125
Basement ceiling workPopcorn in the basement, same process, maybe more prep$349
Wallpaper removalStrip paper and smooth walls, often combined with ceiling work$399

Not sure if your popcorn has been painted? Call (708) 815-7720. We can tell you over the phone, and most Zion jobs get priced in five minutes.

Local knowledge

Zion Ceilings Have Their Own Story

Zion has a mix of homes built from the 1950s through the 1990s, and a lot of them have original popcorn texture that hasn't been touched since the day the house was built.

Painted-over popcorn

Once popcorn gets painted, it's harder to scrape. We use a different approach and more soak time to get it off without tearing up the drywall.

Drywall seams that show

Popcorn was used to hide bad tape jobs. When we remove it, the seams often need extra mud work to look flat.

Older homes near the lake

Zion's proximity to Lake Michigan means moisture in the air. We use moisture-resistant primer on ceilings in Zion to stop stains from bleeding back.

Homes built before 1980 may have asbestos in the popcorn. We don't test for it, but we can refer you to a local lab and wait for the results before we start. Better safe than sorry.

Estimate to walkthrough

How We Remove Popcorn Ceilings in Zion

Eight steps, same order every time, whether it's one bedroom or a whole house.

1

Inspect and measure

We check the texture thickness, look for water stains, and write the price.

2

Test and prep

If needed, we test for asbestos. Room gets sheeted and furniture covered.

3

Wet the texture

We spray the popcorn with water and let it soak so it scrapes off clean.

4

Scrape it off

Wide knives take the texture off down to the bare drywall without gouging it.

5

Prime bare spots

Bare drywall and any stains get a primer coat to seal them up.

6

Skim coat the ceiling

Thin mud coat over the whole ceiling to erase any scrape marks.

7

Sand and paint

Sand smooth, dust it off, then roll two coats of flat white paint.

8

Clean and walk

Floor plastic pulled, room reset, and we walk it with you to make sure it's right.

Where we are541 Winston Dr Suite 1, Melrose Park, IL 60160
Zion drive timeAbout 35 minutes
Room by room

The Zion Ceilings We Make Smooth

Most calls fall into one of three buckets. Same crew and same standard on all of them.

Popcorn ceiling removal in a Zion, IL living room

Living rooms and bedrooms

The rooms you spend the most time in. Removing the popcorn opens them up and makes the whole space feel taller. Combine with interior painting for a full refresh.

Living roomsBedroomsHallways
Smooth ceiling after popcorn removal in Zion, IL

Kitchens and dining rooms

Grease and cooking smoke can make popcorn ceilings hard to clean. A smooth ceiling wipes clean and keeps the room fresher.

KitchensDining roomsEat-in areas
Basement popcorn ceiling removal in Zion, IL

Basements and rec rooms

Popcorn in basements is common. We use mold-resistant primer when we finish, and often pair it with basement painting.

BasementsRec roomsUtility rooms
Who shows up

A Crew That Knows How to Handle Texture

Our shop is at 541 Winston Dr in Melrose Park. Zion is a straight shot up the Tri-State, which means we're out for estimates the same week you call. The person who prices your job is the person you'll see on the scaffolding.

We've done popcorn removal across Lake County, from Zion up to Waukegan. The same crew, same prep, same price sheet whether you're on Sheridan Road or over by Shiloh Boulevard. If the ceiling needs a touch-up two weeks later, we come back and handle it.

Popcorn removal often turns into a bigger project. Plenty of Zion customers add exterior painting or cabinet painting once we're already in the house.

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Vanguard Painting crew working on popcorn removal in Zion, IL
Sound familiar

What People Hate About Popcorn, and What They Get Instead

Almost every call opens with one of these complaints. Here's the problem on the left, and here's what the ceiling looks like when we pack up.

The problem

Dust falling every time you touch it

Popcorn texture crumbles when you brush against it, leaving white dust on your floors and furniture.

Water stains that won't go away

A roof leak years ago leaves a brown ring that paint won't cover. The only fix is removal.

Outdated look in a renovated house

Your floors are new, your walls are fresh, but the ceiling still looks like 1985.

What you get

Solid, dust-free surface

No crumble, no dust, no particles falling into your food or onto your furniture.

Stains gone for good

Stains are primed out and never come back through the new paint.

Clean, modern ceiling

Looks like drywall. Every room feels bigger, cleaner, and more finished.

True on every Zion popcorn ceiling we take:

Free written estimate, price locked before we start
Licensed and insured in Illinois
Wet-scraped, never dry-sanded, so the room stays clean
Floors and furniture covered every single day
Anything you spot at the walkthrough gets fixed that day
Not sure about the color? Book a color consultation with the job
📞 Removing popcorn in Zion now. Call (708) 815-7720 and we'll price your ceilings in about five minutes.
Finished work

What the Ceilings Look Like When We Leave

Smooth, flat, painted white, and no dust on your furniture.

Smooth ceiling after popcorn removal in Zion, IL
Popcorn removed, skimmed flat, painted white
Popcorn ceiling removal finished in a Zion, IL bedroom
Bedroom ceiling after removal and painting
Completed popcorn ceiling removal in a Zion, IL home
Clean ceiling, no texture, ready for years
Neighbors talking

What Zion Customers Say After the Last Coat

Most of our Zion work comes from somebody a few blocks over. Read what they said about the process, the finish, and how the house looked when we cleared out.

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Also handled

Other Work We Do Around Zion

Popcorn removal is one service, but the same crew handles most of what a home needs.

Interior painting

Walls and trim after the ceiling is done. See Zion interior painting.

Wallpaper removal

Old paper stripped and walls smoothed. Zion wallpaper removal.

Drywall repair

Holes and cracks fixed before painting. Zion drywall repair.

Basement painting

Ceilings, walls and floors. Zion basement painting.

Painting more than one place in the county? We cover the whole Lake County service area, and everything we do in town sits on the Zion painting page.

Quick answers

Popcorn Ceiling Removal in Zion: Common Questions

How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost in Zion?
Popcorn ceiling removal in Zion starts at $299 per room, including scraping, skim coating, sanding, and painting with two coats of flat white paint.
How long does popcorn ceiling removal take in Zion?
Most Zion rooms take one full day for scraping, one day for skim coating and sanding, and one day for painting. Whole homes can take four to five days.
Can you remove popcorn ceilings that have been painted?
Yes, but painted popcorn is harder to remove. We soak it longer and work slower so the drywall underneath stays intact.
Do I need to test my Zion ceiling for asbestos?
If your home was built before 1980, yes. We can refer you to a local lab for testing and wait for the results before we start.
Do you paint the ceiling after removing the popcorn?
Yes, two coats of flat white paint are included. You can also choose a different color if you want.
Can you remove popcorn from a basement ceiling?
Yes, we remove texture from basements too. We use moisture-resistant primer to protect against the Lake County humidity.
Will the room be dusty during the work?
We wet-scrape the popcorn, which means no dust clouds. The skim coat creates minimal dust and we cover your floors completely.
Is Vanguard Painting licensed and insured for this work?
Yes, licensed and insured in Illinois, based at 541 Winston Dr in Melrose Park. Call (708) 815-7720 for a free estimate and $50 off.
Ready when you are

Get Your Zion Popcorn Ceilings Removed Right

Free estimate, a real written price, licensed and insured, and a crew that knows texture. Book online and take $50 off.

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