Postwar ranch ceilings full of spray texture? Removing them runs $2–$4.50 per square foot — one of the cheapest upgrades a Sherman Oaks home can make.
The postwar ranch tracts north of Ventura Boulevard were finished with popcorn and stucco ceilings as standard — a spray texture that hid drywall seams for the builder and now dates every room it covers. Stucco ceiling removal is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact upgrades available to Sherman Oaks homeowners: $2–$4.50 per square foot for a change you feel the moment you walk in.
Most of the flatland housing stock was built between the 1950s and the 1970s, and textured ceilings were the default finish for decades. Over time the texture collects dust, yellows near vents and kitchens, and shows every repair patch as a brighter spot. It also drags on resale: buyers read popcorn ceilings as "project," and removing them is one of the first things listing agents suggest.
Homes built before 1978 can have asbestos in the acoustic texture — that's federal guidance, and it applies across Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks included. The practical answer is testing before anything is disturbed: a small sample analyzed by a lab tells you exactly what you're dealing with. We arrange the testing, and if the material contains asbestos we handle the removal through proper licensed procedures with containment and air clearance. If it doesn't, you've spent a modest amount to remove all doubt before scraping starts.
2026 pricing for Sherman Oaks homes, from a single bedroom to the whole house.
| Scope | Typical Cost | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Per square footStandard texture, no asbestos | $2 – $4.50 / sq ft | Containment, removal, ceiling repair, prime, and paint. |
| Single roomBedroom or office, ~120–300 sq ft | $600 – $2,400 | Full removal and refinish with a smooth or light orange-peel finish. |
| Whole houseTypical ranch, 1,200–2,200 sq ft | $2,500 – $7,500 | All ceilings, sequenced room by room so you can keep living at home. |
| Skim-coat alternativeTexture left in place | $3 – $6 / sq ft | Skim coat over the existing texture, sanded smooth, primed, painted. |
| Asbestos abatement add-onPre-1978 homes, if testing is positive | Quoted per job | Licensed containment, removal, and post-work air clearance. |
Testing for pre-1978 homes is quoted separately and credited toward the removal if you proceed with us.
A typical ranch home takes 2–5 working days depending on the number of rooms and whether asbestos procedures apply. You get the schedule before we start and a single point of contact throughout.
Send a few details and we'll respond within 2 hours during business hours with a proposed inspection time. Prefer to talk? Call (818) 555-0103 Monday through Saturday, 7AM to 7PM.
We'll respond within 2 hours during business hours.
Free on-site estimates across Sherman Oaks, usually within 48 hours of your call.
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