Add'l. note ... canned lighting has already been done in the living/family room, so I'm wondering if popcorn was painted as well? What is "going price" for removal & sanding to get to "flat" stage?

So exciting! We just moved into a new home which had popcorn ceilings...regardless of their condition we removed them simply because of wanting to increase the home's resell value. (were not moving anytime soon but like you said this is the time for change) If you dont have plans of selling it in the future and you're okay with it save your money... (my brother did it for us as he is a contractor, so I dont have an estimate) I've seen DIY YouTube tutorials but it creates a huge mess and you still need to spackle away once its removed. If you're interested in increasing the home's value I would have it removed. Popcorn ceilings are dated and I highly doubt they'll come back in style. Lots of luck and enjoy the new space!!

Do you "vote" for going FLAT/sanded, or a light orange peel as a finish?

Flat

Now is the time to do it. Popcorn ceilings collects webs and dust and are hard to clean so that's my main issue with them. We have them in a few rooms of our current house, but we bought a bigger house and had the popcorn removed (it was in Hall, all bedrooms, living, dining, and family). The popcorn texture also contained some asbestos so the removal was more expensive. The ceilings had cracks and obvious repairs, and we were told it's challenging to hide repairs with that kind of texture, so that made the decision easier just from a practical standpoint. The new ceilings have a very subtle imperfect smooth texture and look so lovely with no crevices for dust or webs etc. after ceilings we had the floors done, overall those two changes made a huge difference in the feel of the house.

remove all popcorn and return to local movie theaters!!!

Leave them in 1984... they were already 10 years out of date!

Built in 1984, home has been mostly updated but still has popcorn ceilings that are in EXCELLENT condition...

We will be changing flooring before we move in,

The flooring is in not-so-EXCELLENT condition, I take it. :)

If you remove the popcorn, I promise you, you’ll never look back and say, “Boy, I miss those ceilings; biggest mistake ever listening to those people on the Internet!”

Sammy - Actually, the floors aren't BAD, but I'm not a fan of carpet and this house has carpet & laminate.. After living with solid hardwood for 38 years (1965 built home), I want "mop easy" and would love consistency throughout.. I'm looking at waterproof vinyl (wood look). Any comments on Provenza Maxcore? (saw in Tampa yesterday - from CA & beautiful!)

I have no experience with that flooring product, but I do have another tidbit I’d like to share regarding the ceiling: As one who’s dealt with the same situation, and is EXTREMELY pleased with the outcome, I do have one regret vis-à-vis the method used to achieve that outcome. In retrospect, I wish that, in addition to getting an estimate for scraping the existing, I’d have gotten estimates to either just replace the whole damn ceiling or cover it in 1/4” drywall.

We're with everyone who suggested removing the popcorn and going flat. Keeping the outdated popcorn is going to diminish the total visual impact and ambience created by all the other upgrades you'll be doing.

EVERYONE -- Thanks so much! DH is convinced now this needs to get done! Even our son in TX says that's their "regret" that they didn't do. Now with 3 small kids & a house full, it's impossible ...

Even our son in TX says that's their "regret" that they didn't do. Now with 3 small kids & a house full, it's impossible ...

It’s not impossible; it’s just a tad inconvenient. As long as your son is willing to pay the piper, neither he nor anyone in his family has to lift a linger or live through a mess: drywall contractor can move the furniture and your son and his family can either take a real vacation while the work is being done, or take a staycation at a local hotel, which is what my family did. (I stayed behind, though, to supervise the operation.)

Let me get this straight. The house in in the $300M range (which is also known as 300 million) and you're worried about the cost of this??

$300 MM is 300 million. $300M is $300,000.

i would definitely remove the popcorn ceiling. Especially if you arent in keeping with the 1930's design!

I vote to remove popcorn ceiling

Do remove as it is dated and most people don't like the look! Popcorn ceiling in the day was meant for looks and sound proofing, some insulation value, but once painted it all goes away and is just for looks. The price of your home does not go with that type of ceiling look. More value if you remove. Very easy to remove as spray with water and scrape right off. If your popcorn has a sparkly look it has not been painted.

Ken

Leave the popcorn ceiling as is!

JK....... remove it immediately and don't for get to check it for asbestos first

When you get your estimates if you are not going to DIY it-pretty easy really- also get the cost to get a flat look. It is very expensive as the look of flat with no imperfections from muddling and taping is high. It's a tough job. Unless your ceiling is a mess it is an expensive decor choice. And question the claims it adds VALUE to your home. It might add resale preferences and the next buyer will love it--but actualy $$$$ I doubt it. All homes have ceilings.

Ceilings have been painted (probably just once). I may try to remove in one of the small rooms, but tending to hire it out as I don't want the newly painted walls messed up & chiropractors & massage therapists are expensive too. Agree with resale preferences vs. actually MORE $$. Probably doing light spray or mini-knockdown. Thanks!

Clarification ... house is $300,000 range ... :-)

A good sized room with removal and paint job cost us about $1000. Getting the paint done too was important as the new ceiling is very difficult to get streak free due to the new surface.

And the order should be ceilings first, painting second and floors last. Otherwise all those fine particles from the popcorn removal get everywhere and are so hard to clean up from the grooves of the vinyl flooring.

Would remove the popcorn ceiling if at all possible.

Remove popcorn ceilings!!!

Remove them. It makes a huge difference. I'm in the process of doing this myself and do not regret it. Can't tell you about the going price since all I paid was $30 for asbestos test (house built in 1982), whatever a gallon of paint costs, and my own labor. Cover the walls and ceilings with thin paper or plastic drop cloths to make clean up easier.

my relative removed popcorn in public rooms, including bathrooms. she left the sparkly kind just in dreamy bedrooms...which is ok.
I am curious what the sparkles are, anyone know? mica?

Thanks for all your input! The popcorn is GONE ... ceilings being sprayed today (knock-down), then painted. Also had soffits removed in kitchen ... HUGE DIFFERENCE!