I’m sure a people more experience than I will comment. We just did a renovation and had swirled drywall compound throughout our first and second floor. We wanted to have smooth ceilings in our renovated spaces…kitchen, dining, and master bathrooms. Initially contractor said it would be easier and ultimately cheaper to just put new drywall over the swirls and that is what was in the quote. We knew some small areas had been painted and perhaps that was the reason. Then he turns around and says he he can just smooth it over with fresh compound which is what he did. It looks good enough and we have had no problems.

Awesome, thanks for sharing your experience! Appreciate the insight

Once you have one ceiling scraped, you should be able to see for yourself, if it will be ok, with just some mud touch ups and sanding. I would leave them texture free, if I was going through all that work.

I’d love too as well, but half the house already has knock down so we figured we’d match it. Thanks!