Popcorn Ceiling Removal
in Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Elite Drywall has been removing popcorn ceilings across the Grand Strand for 20+ years! Popcorn ceiling texture — applied to the majority of residential construction in the United States between the 1950s and 1990s — is the single most common cosmetic upgrade request in Myrtle Beach's resale and renovation market. The Grand Strand's housing stock includes a significant volume of homes built during that window, particularly in established communities like Briarcliffe Acres, Surfside Beach, and older sections of Myrtle Beach proper along Kings Highway and Ocean Boulevard. Beyond aesthetics, popcorn texture presents two practical problems in coastal South Carolina: it traps dust and humidity, making it a surface where mold can establish in high-moisture rooms, and it is difficult to repair after water damage without matching the original texture — which is often impossible once the original material is discontinued. According to the National Association of Realtors, updated ceilings rank among the interior renovation items with the strongest return on investment in residential resale preparation.
Removing popcorn ceiling texture requires more than scraping — the ceiling surface underneath is frequently damaged, uneven, or unfinished to a level that was never intended to be visible. Myrtle Beach Elite Drywall handles popcorn removal through the complete sequence: scraping, surface repair, skim coating, and finish to a paint-ready Level 4 or Level 5 surface. We do not hand off a scraped ceiling and call it done.
Why Choose Us
Local Drywall Contractors with Grand Strand Experience
We have completed hundreds of residential and commercial drywall projects across Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Conway, Carolina Forest, Forestbrook, and the surrounding Horry and Georgetown county communities.
Full Level 1–5 Finishing and Texture Matching on Every Project
Every surface we finish is taken through the correct taping and finishing sequence for the specified paint sheen and lighting condition — with texture matched on every repair scope before we leave the job.
Proven Track Record Across Residential and Commercial Projects
In our most recent client satisfaction review, 97% of respondents rated finish quality and texture matching as "met or exceeded expectations" — across new construction, remodel, water damage repair, and commercial buildout scopes.
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Popcorn Ceiling Removal Services We Provide
Asbestos Testing Coordination
Popcorn texture applied before 1978 has a documented probability of containing asbestos — the EPA estimates that a significant percentage of pre-1978 popcorn ceilings contain asbestos fibers, which were used as a binder in spray texture materials until they were banned for that application. Disturbing asbestos-containing material without proper testing and abatement protocol is a federal violation and a health hazard. Before any scraping begins on a home built prior to 1978, we require asbestos testing by a certified third-party inspector. We can refer homeowners to certified testing services in Horry County. If asbestos is confirmed, abatement must be completed by a licensed abatement contractor before we begin removal work. We do not proceed on pre-1978 ceilings without a clear test result.
Wet Scraping & Texture Removal
The standard removal method for non-asbestos popcorn texture is wet scraping — the ceiling surface is misted with water to soften the texture compound, then scraped with a wide blade tool in controlled passes. Wet scraping minimizes airborne dust and reduces the risk of gouging the underlying drywall face. In rooms with existing paint over the popcorn texture — common in Myrtle Beach homes that have been repainted multiple times without addressing the ceiling — the painted surface resists water penetration and requires scoring before misting. We assess the painted-over condition before starting and adjust the removal approach accordingly.
Ceiling Surface Repair & Skim Coating
The drywall surface revealed after popcorn removal is almost never ready for paint. The original drywall was finished only to the level required before texture was applied — typically Level 3 or lower — meaning tape joints, fastener dimples, and surface irregularities are visible once the texture is gone. In many Myrtle Beach homes, the original ceiling drywall also shows evidence of minor water staining, joint movement from seasonal humidity cycling, or previous patch repairs that were textured over rather than properly finished. We skim coat the entire ceiling surface after scraping to bring it to a uniform Level 4 or Level 5 finish, addressing all surface defects before the skim coat is applied.
Ceiling Painting Preparation & Priming
A skim-coated ceiling requires a PVA or bonding primer before paint — bare joint compound and skim coat material absorb paint unevenly, producing a blotchy appearance called flashing that shows clearly under overhead lighting. We apply primer to all skim-coated ceiling surfaces before handoff, leaving the ceiling in true paint-ready condition. In rooms where the walls are also being repainted, we coordinate the ceiling work timeline so the painter can complete walls and ceiling in a single mobilization.
Full-Room Ceiling Replacement
In cases where the ceiling drywall beneath the popcorn texture is too damaged — from water intrusion, structural movement, or previous poor repair work — to accept a skim coat with a predictable result, full ceiling board replacement is the more cost-effective path. We identify this condition during the assessment phase rather than after scraping has begun. Full replacement involves removing the existing board, installing new drywall on the ceiling joists, and finishing through the full five-level sequence to a paint-ready surface.
Multi-Room & Whole-House Packages
Homeowners preparing a Grand Strand property for resale, long-term rental conversion, or post-renovation cosmetic refresh frequently want popcorn removed from multiple rooms or the entire home in a single project. We provide multi-room and whole-house popcorn removal packages with sequenced scheduling — typically working room by room to allow drying time between skim coat applications without extending the total project timeline unnecessarily.
Types of Properties We Serve
Owner-Occupied Resale Preparation
Homes listed for sale in Horry County with popcorn ceilings consistently receive buyer feedback requesting removal as a condition of or credit toward purchase. Removing popcorn and delivering a smooth painted ceiling before listing eliminates that negotiating friction and typically costs less than the concession a buyer would request to do it themselves. We work on occupied homes with dust containment protocols and scheduling that minimizes disruption to daily living.
Short-Term & Long-Term Rental Properties
Investment property owners in the North Myrtle Beach and Ocean Boulevard rental corridor use between-season windows — typically late fall through early spring — to complete cosmetic upgrades including popcorn removal. We build rental property schedules around ownership availability windows and deliver paint-ready ceilings within timelines that keep the property on track for the next rental season.
Estate & Inherited Property Renovation
A significant portion of Myrtle Beach's older residential stock changes hands through estate sales and inheritance, often entering the market with deferred cosmetic maintenance including original popcorn ceilings from the 1960s through 1980s. These properties frequently have pre-1978 ceilings that require asbestos testing before any work begins. We guide new owners through the testing and removal process from start to finish.
New-to-Market Home Flips
Active investors purchasing and renovating Grand Strand properties for resale include popcorn removal in nearly every flip scope for homes built before 1995. We work with renovation investors on multi-property schedules and provide consistent pricing across repeat project scopes.
What Our Customers are Saying
"We were preparing our house in Surfside Beach for sale and had original popcorn ceilings throughout. They removed everything, skim coated, and primed — the ceilings looked brand new. Our realtor said it was one of the smartest pre-listing investments we made."
— Carol A., Surfside Beach, SC
"The ceiling in our master bedroom had water staining under the popcorn from an old roof leak. They scraped it, repaired the staining and joint damage underneath, skim coated the whole surface, and primed it. Our painter couldn't believe how clean it was."
— Robert M., Myrtle Beach, SC
"We own a rental unit in North Myrtle Beach and had them remove the popcorn in the living room and two bedrooms between seasons. They worked within our rental window and the ceilings came out perfectly smooth."
— Linda K., North Myrtle Beach, SC
"Our flip in Carolina Forest had popcorn throughout the entire house. They completed the whole job in four days and the ceilings were primed and ready for our painter the next morning."
— Steve H., Carolina Forest, SC
Popcorn Ceiling Removal FAQs
How do I know if my popcorn ceiling contains asbestos?
The only way to confirm whether popcorn texture contains asbestos is laboratory testing of a physical sample. Visual inspection cannot determine asbestos content. If your home was built before 1978, asbestos testing is required before any scraping begins. A certified inspector collects a small sample from an inconspicuous area and submits it to an accredited laboratory — results typically take two to five business days. If your home was built after 1978, asbestos in popcorn texture is unlikely but not impossible, as some manufacturers continued using existing stock material for a period after the EPA ban. When in doubt, test. We require a clear result before beginning removal on any pre-1978 home and can connect you with certified testing services in Horry County.
Can popcorn ceiling be removed without making a mess?
Wet scraping produces significantly less airborne dust than dry scraping, but it is not a clean process. Scraped texture falls to the floor in wet clumps and generates dust during the sanding phase. We use drop cloth containment on all floor surfaces, seal HVAC vents in the work area, and bag all removed material for disposal. Furniture should be removed from the room or covered before work begins. In occupied homes, we contain the work area to the room being scraped and clean up at the end of each work day.
What does the ceiling look like after popcorn is removed but before skim coating?
Uneven. The underlying drywall was finished to a Level 3 or lower standard — visible tape joints, fastener dimples, and surface texture from the original taping compound are all exposed when the popcorn comes off. In older homes, previous water stains, patch repairs, and joint movement are also revealed. This is why skim coating the entire ceiling after scraping is not optional — a scraped-only ceiling painted without skim coating will show every imperfection under any overhead lighting condition.
How long does popcorn removal take for a typical room?
A standard bedroom or living room — roughly 150 to 200 square feet of ceiling — takes one to two days for scraping, surface repair, and skim coat application, plus drying time before sanding and priming. The drying phase in Myrtle Beach's coastal humidity can extend the timeline by several hours compared to drier inland markets, as joint compound and skim coat material cure more slowly at elevated relative humidity. A whole-house removal scope on a typical Grand Strand home runs three to six working days depending on square footage and ceiling condition.
Does removing popcorn ceiling increase home value?
The NAR and multiple regional appraisal studies consistently show that smooth ceilings are preferred by buyers over popcorn texture in resale transactions, and that popcorn removal as a pre-listing improvement typically returns more than its cost in reduced buyer concession requests. In Myrtle Beach's competitive resale market — particularly in the mid-range price bands in Carolina Forest, Forestbrook, and Murrells Inlet — updated ceilings remove a common buyer objection before it becomes a negotiating point.
Myrtle Beach Elite Drywall provides popcorn ceiling removal, skim coat finishing, and ceiling surface repair for residential and commercial properties throughout Horry and Georgetown counties, including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Conway, Carolina Forest, Forestbrook, Grande Dunes, Briarcliffe Acres, and DeBordieu Colony. Fully insured.
Contact us to schedule a quote: (843) 585-8273