The average cost to build a house in Houston is $ 178 per square foot. This price is valid for a 2500 square foot custom home without a basement. Depending on the area of the city, the average price may vary by 10%. The lowest price using cheap materials will be $ 126 – 130 per square foot.

The climate and infrastructure in Houston attract more and more new residents every year. Because of this, the construction of new houses is very important in the city. Many companies are operating in the city that provides services for the construction of houses.

Because the cost per square foot to build a house in Houston may differ significantly, the Remodel on point team has collected all possible information for a detailed description of prices for each stage of work.

Detailed Cost per Square Foot to Build a House in Houston

When it comes to building a house, we are often told only the total cost of the entire house. Because of this, many people who want a new home for themselves sometimes do not understand why they are paying that kind of money.

Remodel on point have prepared for you detailed information about the cost of each process associated with building a house. In my example, we are based on a standard 2500 square foot home with no basement. For convenience, we have divided the table into two parts, external and internal work.

If in the case of external work everything is quite simple, then it is much more difficult to understand the cost of interior decoration. This is because each homeowner has different preferences and needs. Therefore, we advise you to use the information provided as an example, and for detailed information, you should contact the general contractor.

After talking with you and knowing all your preferences, he will be able to calculate in more detail all the necessary costs that will be needed to build your house.

Factors that Affect Cost to Build a House in Houston

The prices shown in the table above are average. Also, in each city, several factors can affect the increase in the cost to build a house in Houston. Since the city is close to the ocean, sandy soil is found in some areas of the city. The foundation on such soil may not be reliable, because of this, builders may resort to installing additional pillars underneath to give the building stability.

Such additions to the foundation can increase the value of the home by $ 6,000 – $ 8,000. Likewise, if the home is in an area prone to flooding, the foundation may need to be raised a foot or more. The need for this is determined at the stage of planning the construction of a house and is regulated by city law. Depending on the height of the rise, the cost to build a house in Houston also increases.

These are the main reasons for the increase in value that are specific to the area. But it is worthwhile to understand that during the design of the future home, you may have your additional wishes, which will entail an increase in costs.

How Much is It to Build a House in Houston in Different Areas

The cost to build a house in Houston can make a big difference. First of all, this is because it is a rather large city in which there are many different areas. In the central part of the city, the cost of construction work may increase up to 10 -12%.

This is because construction work is much more difficult in densely populated areas. The possibility of using large construction equipment and the delivery of building materials is hindered. In addition, due to the proximity of neighboring houses, more serious safety measures are required.

The cost per square foot to build a house in Houston will be much lower if you choose areas such as Greater Inwood or East Houston as your new place to live. Plenty of free space contributes to the ease of construction work. This will slightly reduce the construction time of the house and, accordingly, you will need less working time for which you pay as the owner of the future home.

Cost to Build a House in Houston without a General Contractor

Involving a general contractor in the construction of your future home will relieve you of a lot of responsibility. A general contractor will take care of the planning of the construction works and all the necessary documents. Also, you will not need to worry about finding teams to perform each type of work and the supply of material.

In general, the presence of a general contractor will significantly reduce your involvement in the process of building a house. Accordingly, you will have to pay a lot for the provision of such several services. What is the cost to build a house in Houston with a general contractor? Depending on the services provided, you may hear rates in the range of 9-10% of the total project cost.

Depending on the size of the house, this may not be a small amount. If you are ready to handle all the processes yourself, then you can save 50 – 70 thousand dollars. It is also worthwhile to understand that in this case, in addition to saving money, you will also assume full responsibility for the upcoming project.

Remodel on point advises you to think it over and weigh the pros and cons first. And if you decide to do this on your own, then you should take the time to sort out all the issues before starting construction.

What Better Build or Buy a House in Houston?

When it comes time to buy a new home, people often wonder whether to buy it or build it. Undoubtedly, if you urgently need housing, then buying a house will be the right option because you will not have to wait about a year until the house is built. However, when you build a house and think over all the details, you can get your dream home that will meet all your desires.

The cost to build a house in Houston will be slightly cheaper than buying a ready-made option. The price difference is usually 5-10%. In addition, if you want to change something in the house, it will be additional costs.

Therefore, if you have the time and desire for the house to meet all your needs, Remodel on point advises you to consider building a house instead of buying.

Are Houston Costs Different from the Rest of the Country?

Houston is considered one of the largest cities in the USA. In addition, the temperate climate in the southern states attracts many new residents. Despite this, the cost per square foot to build a house in Houston is significantly different from most other big cities.

The average cost to build a house in Houston $ 180 per square foot. For example, in New York, the average prices for the same house range in the range of $ 210 per square foot. The same can be observed in other big cities such as Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and others.

Based on this, we can say with confidence that building a custom home in Houston is a pretty profitable solution if you like the local climate and the infrastructure that is growing every year. In addition, a pleasant factor is that the price will be 10% cheaper compared to other big cities.

Average cost to build a house in Chicago area is $258 per square foot plus local taxes. This includes soft costs and construction phases. Builder charges 5%-15% on top of all expenses for house construction. Complex modern home projects are more expensive to build in Chicago and can go as high as $350 per square foot.

Why buy a house on the market when you can build one? The question is always about time and money. Of course construction will take up to a year for new custom home. However economically it makes more sense to build a house you desire, although upfront costs are higher than purchasing with mortgage.

Chicago area is extremely large and developing with high speed. Even within such area the costs will vary. Our idea is to show approximate costs and educate home owners on where does the money go. With all steps and expenses listed in our table each one of you can understand the how much does it cost to build a house in Chicago area.

This table explains details on hard construction costs for building in Chicago Illinois:

Our team produces information to teach home owners on stages and approximate costs for house. Please do not take these numbers as baseline and demand home builders to go by budgets we mentioned. Every construction project is different even in close proximity. To provide exact quotes you can reach our team.

Soft Costs For Home Construction in Chicago

Don’t forget that tenth of thousands of dollars fly out of your pocket even before construction starts. All the work that excludes jobsite construction is called soft, therefore expenses involved are soft costs.

To be more specific in Chicago house construction these expenses cover architectural documents with all permits, loans, city fees, project management and sometimes the profit for the builder.

Here is a table of how much does it cost to build a house in Chicago with only soft construction costs:

Soft costs to build a house in Chicago may differ by a lot. Building on your own as a contractor or supervisor requires budget for documents and few ongoing processes.

Hiring home construction company however makes soft costs go through the roof. Expect to cover construction supervisor, company overheads and profit for builder. The good thing is your house has higher chances of being completed within timeline and warranty is given to home owner.

Other Ongoing Expenses to Cover

Many companies and estimators break down costs of construction, but many things are left under the table for home owner to worry about. Remodel On Point wanted to explain all other expenses that you can face while waiting for home to be completed.

While work is in progress the costs are going to be adding up for electrical or gas bills, property taxes, home insurance, loan interest, mortgage and even city garbage collection fees.

Based on average home construction time of one year we calculated that these expenses can add up to $30 000 or even more and on average 3% on top of home building expenses. Do not forget to calculate them in your budget or can potentially run out of money before house construction in Chicago is completed.

How Much It Costs to Build in Different Chicago Areas

We always talk how different cities and states have cost variations. To answer how much does it cost to build a house in Chicago general contractor needs to know which area you are talking about. As it appears, building closer to downtown is more complicated and can cost up to 20% more for exactly the same house than in Chicago suburbs.

Additional costs appear mostly during demolition and construction of exterior box for the house. As you can imagine the space to work with is very tight and extra safety measure may be required. Good example of that would be shoring system and protection from damage. Imagine spending extra $50 000 – $100 000 just for making sure that nearby homes do not pivot due to deep excavation next their buildings.

Unlike in suburbs of Chicago, downtown core is hard to maneuver heavy machinery. Same size house can take up twice as long for the excavation crew to dig out. There is no space to place extra soil. Every move has to be planned precise. Framing and façade is more expensive as well. Contractors need boomlifts, scaffold system and access points. All of these slow down the work therefore client will pay more money.

All the work inside the house will pretty much cost the same. The only differences we can point out are parking and delivering materials. Overall interior finishes and cost to build house in Chicago is 5% higher for central area of the city.

Building a House without a General Contractor

Typically people think they can save money by taking on the project without builder involved. How hard can it be to hire different trades and make sure they complete the job? In reality it is way harder than everyone thinks and in fact you may spend way more money without assistance of experienced home builder in Chicago.

Not knowing how much does it cost to build a house in Chicago in exact details can play a big role. The biggest benefit of general contractor is they have connections within trades and suppliers that provide discounts. Also they make fewer mistakes in ordering materials.

For example installation of flooring for new modern home can cost $3 per square foot. Years of relationship with flooring trades can get builder discount down to $2.5 per square foot.

They are not worrying about payment and can be flexible. Flooring supplier can also provide 10%-15% discount to custom home builder in Chicago because he buys through them all the time.

They know how to calculate materials perfectly and can order with minimum waste. This is an example of one step that changes the cost per square foot to build a house in Chicago and there are many more trades to go through.

We understand that cost to build a house in Chicago with home builder includes company fees and profit, but do you save much? The job may take a year to complete and you can be better off doing day to day job leaving home construction to professionals.

Other Factors that Affect Cost to Build a House in Chicago

Season – Ideal home construction starts in spring and ends in fall. At least the interior finishes can be carried over. When contractors do it the other way around it costs a lot more. A good example of that would be adding chemicals to concrete for it to set and not crack during cold temperatures

Foundation Type – All around Chicago we see new homes with basements. Of course you get extra space inside the basement, but expenses are going to be higher. Slab on grade or crawl space is cheaper to construct per square foot of house.

Materials and Finishes – Of course there are more luxurious and high end materials that can be used in home construction. There is literally no limit to what you can spend on some items. Have you seen a toilet curved out single piece of stone with price tag of $30 000. Yes it can get super expensive if you wanted to. Our tables with budgets on how much does it cost to build a house in Chicago are based on average costs we see implemented in construction.

Are Chicago costs Different from Rest of the Country?

Greater Chicago Area is home to almost 10 million people and it is constantly growing. Immigrants from all over the world want to live in this beautiful city. Thousands of people across America want to move to Chicago and seek better opportunities in career and overall lifestyle.

With population and demand for housing increasing, the cost to build a house in Chicago becomes more expensive every year. Luxury becomes new standard for houses in popular areas.

We estimate that prices for new home construction in Chicago are within 90 percentile of national statistics.

House construction on floating slab system that sits on concrete piles or posts is called pier and beam foundation. It is alternative to crawlspace foundation, but does not have enclosure and perimeter foundation wall with footings. Multiple concrete piers (like legs) hold main subfloor and weight of entire house.

For as long as we know houses were built on raised structures to avoid water floods and keep safe from animals. Eventually pier and beam foundation became a construction method on uneven or unstable grounds.

For example if house is being constructed on high slope land or on rocky surface. The cheapest and easiest foundation to hold home is drilling holes and pouring concrete for creating piers. It gives options for building on many surfaces that slab on grade or basement foundation would never work.

How Much does Pier and Beam Foundation Costs?

The average cost for pier and beam foundation is $10.5 per square foot of main floor space. In complicated areas where excavation for piers is deeper or much harder than regular soil the costs can get as high as $16-18 per square foot.

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Our calculation tells us that regular size concrete piers are poured 6-8 feet apart from each other to support beams and main subfloor level. In this example 1000 square foot house would require 30-32 concrete piers and 7-8 beams on top.

Expect to pay $300 for each pier to be excavated and poured with concrete. Rebar or is recommended for additional strength, but it does not cost a lot and should be included in the price. Regular beams cost $200 with installation and additional hangers.

Contractors use sonotubes for easy installation of pier and beam foundation as well as any other concrete posts. It is a cardboard that servers a as form for concrete pouring. They are sold by regular dimensions used in construction.

Construction Method for Piers and Beams

The process of building a pier and beam foundation is relatively easy when soil is not without large rocks or too much water. It works great on Type 1,2,3 Soil, and slightly more complicated on type 4.

For home owners or contractors that are interested in step by step process we listed these 5 easy procedures:

Step 1 – Planning Piers

Hopefully you are working with licensed engineer that plans out entire load of house with exact amount and sizes of concrete piers. Planning on site consists of marking spots where new piers will be built. We suggest using strings to make sure markings are set on straight line.

Step 2 – Excavating Holes

Next we start excavating for required depth and size of piers that are confirmed with engineer. The old method of using shovel is long gone and nowadays special machines used for specific size and depth excavation. Bobcat attachments are also available for such work.

Step 3 – Pouring Concrete

Fours for each pier stick out of the ground to avoid direct contact between beam and soil. The most popular forming method is sonotubes as we mentioned before. Cardboard round shaped tubes are installed in dug out holes and concrete is poured inside. For extra strength metal rebar is used.

Step 4 – Attaching Beams

Hopefully concrete piers that were poured all line up and have the same height. Its better to get them slightly higher and chip off than redoing a pier completely because it sits lower than the rest. Beams are attached to piers and form a strong floating foundation for the house. Bolts and heavy duty hangers are used to attach beams together. Welding may also be required.

Step 5 – Installation of Floor System

The last thing is to attach floor joist to beams and start construction of the house. The sizes of all joists with connection should be specified by qualified engineer. Often enough we see entire prebuilt houses set up on pier and beam foundation systems.

Pier and Beam Foundation Pros and Cons

Every method of construction has advantages and disadvantages. To understand what works for your home build we decided to provide entire list of pros and cons for building a pier and beam foundation with key factors.

Pros

Less Chance of Flooding – Elevated main floor supported on long concrete piers has almost no chance of water coming in. Distance from ground is usually 2-3 feet to subfloor joists.

Ability to Build on All Sorts of Terrains – Other foundation methods can be used on flat grounds with stable soil. Few single piers allow homes to be built on almost any type of spoil and elevation.

Cheap Construction on Average Soil – Building piers and beams foundation on soil without complication is one of the easiest. It is also not complicated, comparing to basement or even crawl space.

Flexible Maintenance of Mechanicals from Underneath – There is a lot of space to maintain or fix plumbing pipes and electrical from underneath. Spaced out piers allow crawling under the house for repairs.

Cons

Need Maintenance of Piers Every Few Years – All structural supports are exposed to nature and need regular fixes. Water and wind deteriorates everything within time and exposed posts have to be looked at constantly.

Broken Pier can Damage House – Heavy load is spread between each post and if one gets broken the load goes onto nearest pier. This can potentially damage or tilt the house.

Animals and Insects Get Inside from Below – Because the house does not go all the way to the ground it is exposed from underneath. Without proper insulation in all spots with tight protection tiny animals or ants can start a nest.

Lose Heat from Every Side – Every house needs tight enclosure for keeping temperature inside. Unfortunately pier and beam foundation creates extra side (below) that affects it. Even with proper insulation the floor may feel cold in north regions.

Construction Materials and Tools Used

Some of you may think of doing this work on your own and wondering what type of materials does pier and beam foundation construction require. The second question we try to answer is what are the tools needed for work.

Before anything starts we always encourage contractors to plan out future house position and stability. Therefore working with soil is sort of mandatory. Even if ground is flat with perfect type of soil you don’t want to build it and later have plants starting to grow underneath.

Small excavator or bobcat does the trick. Scrape up to 10 inches of soil if possible and level it as much as possible or necessary.

Same machinery can be used to drill the holes for piers. Bobcat extension is available for rent in major hardware stores. Of course you can always shovel it by hand.

Forming for concrete pouring is necessary. Otherwise it will just flow everywhere and you will not get adequate structural strength. We suggest sonotubes for that purpose.

Materials that are used in concrete piers is obviously concrete itself and rebar. Regular finishing towel is handy for making smooth tops. Remodel On Point team suggest using concrete vibrator before it sets to make sure it falls all the way to the bottom of the form.

Levels, lasers, measure tapes, strings and other similar tools needed for accurate height and spacing of piers.

Next come the beams that sit on top and connect to each other. Set up requires drills, bolts, hangers and welding in rare cases. These beams may be extremely heavy when lifting by hand is not possible. For that reasons contractors use heavy machinery and boom trucks.

The cost to build a house in New York for 2021 is $ 220 – $ 230 per square foot. This price range will allow you to use quality materials but without expensive elements. If the work is done by a general contractor, the price of an average 2,500 square foot home with a basement would be about $ 250 per square foot.

New York is considered the most expensive city for building houses in the United States. This is due to several factors at once, the main of which is the densely populated city. There is very little space in the city for new residential buildings, which makes the value of this land much higher than the average in the United States.

Another important factor affecting how much does it cost to build a house in New York is the zoning laws passed. The city authorities carefully monitor any construction activity and compliance with all regulations.

Also, due to the population of the city, the very process of building a house is complicated. For example, demolishing an old building or pouring a new foundation with concrete is much easier when there is a lot of free space around than between the busy streets of New York. This also brings complexity in the logistics of supplying materials for construction.

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Detailed Cost of Construction Stages

To better understand how much does it cost to build a house New York, Remodel on point collected detailed information about the cost of each and the stages of construction work. We recommend that you use this information as a guide and for a general understanding of prices.

For convenience, we have tried to divide the stages of work into two tables. In the table below you will find the cost of all external work and documents that will be needed during construction.

Exterior Finishes and Soft Costs Table

The following table will show in detail all types of interior work and their prices. They can be very different depending on the lead time, the materials used, and the experience of the workers. For detailed information, you should contact your local contractors and clarify all the details specifically for your home.

Interior Work Costs When Building Home in New York

Additional improvements can also increase the cost of building a house. For example, you would like to install a beautiful fireplace in your living room. This improvement can significantly increase the cost of the work performed. Installation of underfloor heating and smart systems or chic chandelier are also popular for homes. The cost of such improvements is individual for each house and it is better to find out detailed information on prices from the contractor who will perform the work.

How Much is It to Build a House in New York in Different Areas

As with most cities, how much does it cost to build a house in New York differs depending on the area of ​​the city. An important aspect of this is the value of the land. You can buy the same size lot in the vicinity of Manhattan for several million dollars or spend 300-500 thousand in Brooklyn or the Bronx.

The cost to build a house New York in districts from the city center will also be cheaper due to simpler logistics. Delivery of equipment and materials will be much easier and will not take much time. And the more difficult the working conditions, the higher the price for their implementation.

How House Size Affects Build Price per Square Fit?

Size always matters and this also applies to the cost to build a house New York. If you do not understand what it depends on, let’s take a closer look at the reasons why the larger the house, the lower the price per square foot.

Everything is quite simple, for example, let’s take two houses with the same amount of work required, only of different sizes. It turns out that you will need more material to build a house, as well as workers will need more time at each stage. But it should be understood that, for example, pouring the foundation for a 2,500 square foot home is not twice as long as for a 1,300 square foot home. This ratio to the time of work is applicable in other construction stages.

Also, these are far from all the costs that exist during construction. How much is it to build a house in New York depends on other processes as well. For example, let’s take the delivery of materials, which in most cases will cost the same for both an average home and a large one. Here you can also add the cost of all the necessary documents and calls of city inspectors to check the stages of work.

As for the general contractor, in most cases, the percentage that they charge for their work also depends on the size of the construction. Based on all of the above examples and many small details, the cost to build a house New York per square foot will be lower if the total area of ​​the house is larger.

How Much does It Cost to Build a House in New York Without a General Contractor

Many of us would be happy to save money on any purchase, whether it’s shopping in a store or building a house. Therefore, people often wonder how much is it to build a house in New York without a general contractor. And in reality, it will turn out to be not a small amount.

In the USA, a general contractor’s charge for his work is 10 – 20% of the cost of the entire project. And when the total amount of the entire project is a million dollars or more, it looks like a lot of money. But you should not immediately make a decision, refuse the services of professionals, and think that you can easily do everything yourself, without familiarizing yourself with their responsibilities.

The most important thing is that the general contractor takes all responsibility and risks. After signing the contract, all additional waste that may happen through the fault of oversight or oversight of the workers falls on the shoulders of the general contractor, not the client.

It is also worth understanding that you do not have to worry about buying materials, finding engineers and various workers, meeting with supervisors, and other construction matters. Remember that in addition to the fact that most of the responsibility is removed from you, you are also guaranteed the quality of the work performed without wasting your time.

Just calculate how much time you would have to spend on all these tasks, for example, in the year that it takes to build a house. Remember that your time also costs money and decide for yourself whether it is worth doing it yourself or still trust the professionals.

How does the Use of Different Materials Affect the Price?

The direct answer to the question is, of course, yes, but this will affect the result. The choice of materials used for the future home usually depends on several factors, and the main one is the construction budget. The cost to build a house New York using the cheapest materials will be in the region of $ 160 – $ 180 per square foot without a general contractor and buying land.

It should also be understood that such a low price is also because far from the best contractor will work with such materials. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that cheaper materials can last much less and the cost of house renovation will be much higher.

The Cost of Building a House New York at a Different Season of the Year

Modern technologies allow building a house at any time of the year. However, there is a more favorable season. This is often due to weather conditions, since building a house in a dry and warm season is much faster and easier.

The optimal construction season begins in spring and ends before the first frost. During this time of year, temperatures are favorable and builders do not have to do any additional work, which reduces construction costs.

If the beginning of building a house takes place in winter, then several problems will increase the cost of building a house. For example, snow fell on the selected territory for the construction of a house and the workers will need to remove it, and this is additional work. Also, some construction processes require a certain air temperature and it will be necessary to use heating or additional materials during construction. All these nuances can increase the cost of construction work by 10-15%.

Remodel on point advises planning to start construction work in the spring. Even if the house is not finally built before winter, it will most likely remain in the interior finishing stages of work, which will practically not be affected by weather conditions.

It costs $9 per square foot to remove popcorn ceiling in average residential house. Popcorn ceilings with asbestos cost as much as $15 per square foot to remediate by professional and licensed contractor.

During large or small remodeling projects, home owners tend to prefer modern look with smooth ceiling. Most common question clients ask is how much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling in their home

To answer that, first you need to establish if asbestos will be an issue or can it be simply removed by tapers. Our recommendation is to be on a safe side and always test for designated substances before doing work.

Here is table with average costs to remove popcorn ceiling:

Commercial popcorn asbestos remediation is more expensive. For specific quotes discuss full scope of work with licensed local contractors or ask our team for assistance.

Test for Asbestos Particles

Popcorn ceiling test for asbestos costs on average $100 – $150 per spot and $500 per 2000 square foot house. This size home needs 5 sample tests to be analyzed.

Regardless of which method or company you chose for popcorn removal, the first and mandatory thing to do is testing for asbestos. There is no other way no matter how convincing contractor sounds. Cutting corners can lead to fines and health issues.

To save money we suggest purchasing sample kits on Amazon and sending it directly to the lab. After laboratory results it will be more clear how much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling in your home.

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Working with sample kits on your own instead of hiring company saves 40%-50% of testing costs, but will not affect other expenses for popcorn ceiling removal.

DIY Project Cost – Materials and Tools

If you are reading this article, you either have doubts on overall costs for work or thinking of saving money and doing the work by yourself.

This type of work is very dirty but not technical at all and there is definitely money to be saved. Tools and materials determine how much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling in your home without hiring contractor.

To break down materials and tools we first want to describe process of work. Here we assume that lab test is completed for asbestos and none was found. Before work starts we are down $500 already.

Water is required to soften settled popcorn that was installed years or decades ago. Of course we assume there are no costs for water and everyone would have it in their house.

Joint Knife – to scrape already soft cement. Buy it for $20 and use it for taping the ceiling later. There is literally nothing else needed. There are expensive machines that contractors use. They go beyond several hundred dollars and not recommended for DIY one time use.

Mud/Tape – After scrubbing everything off its time to smooth out joints and make perfectly looking ceiling. Pros need only 2 boxes for 1000 sq ft, but average home owner makes many mistakes and requires 3 of them. The math tells us $0.05 per square foot of ceiling to be spent on mud and tape.

Paint and Brush – Do not forget to prime ceiling before painting. 2 gallons of paint and 1 of primer is used for 1000 square feet. Two relatively cheap brushes are better than one. Combined costs are close to $0.15 $0.20 per square foot.

Protection – Scrubbing ceiling and mudding is messy work. We suggest protecting area with plastic and masking tape. $100 would be more than enough for small house.

Time – Doing work on your own means trading money for time spent. There is no way to estimate cost of your time and most of home owners would do it on weekends anyways.

For example we calculate 1000 square feet of ceiling and give approximate cost of materials required. For under $400 you can remove popcorn ceiling on your own and make necessary touch ups with finishes.

Hire Contractors Cost for Popcorn Ceiling Removal

Of course most of us do not want to deal with any of this work and hire contractors. They know what to do and can get job done much faster than non-professional home owners would.

Although we can say that average cost to remove popcorn ceiling is $4-$5 per square foot, every contractor can increase or decrease their estimate based on how busy they are.

In high peaks we can see prices go up to $8 per square foot. When companies have less work and want to grab anything they see it can drop down to $3 per square foot and even lower in some cases.

On top of that always expect asbestos testing costs to be added on. This is of course if you did not have lab tests completed already.

Remediation of Asbestos

Completely different story when there is asbestos in popcorn ceiling. Remediation is quite expensive and hiring licensed company is necessary.

Small 10 x 15 rooms with asbestos popcorn ceiling can cost $1000-$2000 to remediate and dispose material. Larger projects that involve full house or office popcorn removal with asbestos average $7-$8 per square foot.

Do not attempt to perform popcorn with asbestos removal on your own. It requires experience and specific equipment.

Entire area of work is completely sealed and depressurized to create less dust particles in the air. Personal protective equipment looks like space suits and actually prevents workers from breathing in asbestos particles.

If you or contractors are caught by inspectors removing asbestos without proper procedures in place they can lay fines on both of you. There have been cases when fines were as high as tens of thousands dollars.

How Much to Remove Popcorn Ceiling vs New Drywall?

The other popular question we always get is if it would be cheaper to completely remove drywall instead of just scraping popcorn.

In a way it is easier to take down old pieces from ceiling and install new ones but in this topic we discuss the costs.

If we compare time and efforts spent for removing popcorn ceiling versus installing new drywall it could seem that new is easy but there are few things that can come across and ruin the budget.

First of all the biggest driving cost factor would be purchasing and delivering drywall. Cost of material would be more than entire job of removing popcorn.

Another big problem that can cost thousands of dollars can be hidden under old drywall or plaster. While performing demolition nails have been removed and framing is very easy to damage. Therefore relaying drywall is much higher than how much to remove popcorn ceiling at home.

Residential and Commercial costs

As we like to say, it all depends how much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling in residential and commercial spaces. We can’t simply say one is more expensive than the other. Overall factors make commercial jobs on average 1.4 times more expensive.

What really matters is access to property, size of the project and complexity level.

Access – Residential jobs are easy to understand and estimate. Time is arranged for regular working hours. Commercial projects are not like that. Although it can be even cheaper to do same job in unused office building, most of them more complicated.

Some offices require traveling through other spaces, elevators and retail stores. Time of work can be requested for nights and even weekends not to disturb work.

Size of the project – using basic logic we may think that more work should be estimated at lower cost per square foot, but its actually the opposite. Large commercial projects need professional crew with more equipment and overheads for company. Therefore big jobs can cost more per square foot of removing popcorn ceiling.

Complexity – Ever project is different and requires more or less effort to complete. There is no comparison between 20 year old residential house project with 8-9 foot ceiling and 60 year old warehouse/office with 20+ foot ceiling that requires scaffold system for work at heights.

How much does it cost to remove popcorn ceiling when it takes several hours to move scaffold from one spot to another not even counting actual work? Most of commercial projects are harder to take on than residential jobs.

To remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos in safely manner you need to:

• Seal the Area of Work
• Depressurize Rooms
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment
• Break Material in Large Pieces
• Dispose to Dedicated Facilities
• Clean Up At the End

On top of above listed points, most of the states require specialized training and certificates for asbestos remediation. Simply following the safety protocol does not cut it and you would get large fines for working with designated or banned substances without license.

Assuming lab test were completed and asbestos is present in ceiling that needs to be removed. We are not coming back to this question again in our topic.

Finding asbestos remediation professionals in specific regions is not always as simple as it may seem. Ask our team for help and suggestions for companies that can take on your project and complete it with all necessary safety precautions.

Seal the Area Out Completely

Before works starts it is extremely important to seal it all out. The idea is to prevent dust particles or larger pieces get in other areas and contaminate air there.

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Plastic or similar material works best in room separation. It does not allow dust to travel through and can be removed easily to move work area elsewhere. It is taped around to the walls with zipper as an entry point.

This is the first step on how to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos safely and you can purchase plastic with zipper already attached to it.

For even better dust control we suggest creating buffer zone as a second line of defense from asbestos flying in the air. In most states it is mandatory while dealing with asbestos. It’s almost like an entrance room before going into separated work area.

To do a buffer entry zone, separate an area with similar plastic and zipper before asbestos remediation area. This room does not need to be larger than 4×5 feet.

Depressurize Room – Create Negative Pressure

After years of studying how particles fly in the air, we can in a way control some of it. By creating negative pressure in the room or depressurizing it we make sure that everything stays inside the room and does not leak out.

Hospitals use the same strategy to control environment inside the rooms and prevent bacteria or viruses inside the rooms. It is the best known method to stop contamination and spread of airborne particles.

To start the room has to be completely sealed. Never miss a spot and know what should be covered. We are talking about little spots that can leak tiny bits of air. Instructions on how to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos include sealing window cracks, electrical outlet holes, air vents and even tiny spots around lights. Cover all of them with tape completely.

The blower or negative pressure machine is attached to the room with exhaust to the outside. You plug it in and leave it working for exact time on instructions for this specific machine.

Break in Large Pieces

Another technique to minimize asbestos in the air is to break material in large pieces. We understand that each demolition is different and it never goes exactly as planned, but our recommendation is to take more time into planning than just swinging with hammer.

Asbestos inside material is not dangerous at all, it only hurts people when gets inside the lungs through airways. Technically speaking if you can break plaster that contains asbestos without creating any dust at all, it would be safe.

For this to happen contractors should use the least possible mechanical tools. Breaking by hands and using just enough force to remove materials is obviously the best way to go.

Cutting with saw or a grinder on other hand is the worst possible thing that you can do with asbestos contaminated material. It will create so much dust and send asbestos in the air.

Package Safely and Tag Bags

Once material was removed from its original places in sealed room that has negative pressure it’s time to package it and carry out.

Just like in previous steps, we want to make sure that material is controlled inside. Specialized bags are used for such purpose. They are harder to puncture through and more airtight. To be on a safe side you can use double bag method.

To avoid mix ups along the way, the bags with asbestos material have to be tagged. Tag should involve the name of material or designated substance, date/ time of removal and remediation company that performed work.

These tags can be purchased online and attached to bags with asbestos material. They do not cost lot of money and serve great purpose in work with asbestos.

Disposal Yards that Take Asbestos

Material that was demolished cannot be handled same way as other rough construction debris. Designator and banned substances are always separated from everything else as they can be harmful to people if mishandled.

After labeling bags with asbestos they are delivered to specific disposal yards. They are equipped with proper machines and safety equipment for such dangerous materials.

It costs money to dispose asbestos contaminated waste and don’t be surprised with overall remediation estimate from contractors.

Not every city has dedicated asbestos disposal sites and traveling can be expensive. It’s not always clear how to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos and where to dump it by yourself. You can contact companies that specialize in disposal of dangerous substances for pick up from your home.

Clean Up Every Corner

After work is completed, contractor needs to do detailed cleaning of the rooms where asbestos material was removed. Every little piece has to be removed and carried out of the jobsite to avoid asbestos leftovers contaminating air.

Because the room was completely sealed prior to start of work, it should not be difficult to clean it up. Construction vacuum is mandatory to use for dust collection from corners and walls. Additional mop swaps can be necessary for insuring extra clean surfaces.

If you are hiring contractors for safe asbestos removal, make sure to agree on proper cleaning before they leave. It may cost a little extra, but it would guarantee removal of asbestos particles after demolition.

Safety is Always Priority when Dealing with Asbestos (PPE)

First defense from asbestos is proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Always assume there is lots of asbestos in the area where work is performed.

Full body suits are mandatory for such work. They do not leak any air or dust through material. To work in those suits you would require respiratory devices that provide supply of air for a long time.

Cover suits can be only for one time use and disposable with rest of contaminated materials. Some professional equipment can be cleaned and reused again for next jobs.

Do not purchase personal protective equipment from unknown stores or sources. Manufacturer tag needs to be visible with approved credential from local authorities.

License and training on How to Remove Popcorn Ceiling with Asbestos

Working with asbestos is no fun at all. Dust particles that get inside lungs and slowly destroy it. There is just too many details to know while handling asbestos and staying safe at the same time.

Therefore for specific work with asbestos, safety associations developed education and licensing programs. Companies and contractors that work with asbestos materials need to obtain licenses and update it every several years.

Before hiring contractor for removal of popcorn ceiling with asbestos, make sure they have all required documents. Also go with them through list of stages for remediation and how they assure safety.

Do not attempt to do it on your own and get professionals that know how to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos safely. This article is strictly for educational purposes and does not provide guide to do the work.

Popcorn ceiling is the most common place to find particles of asbestos in residential and commercial properties. Houses that were built or renovated between 1945 and 1975 have the highest chance of asbestos being present in popcorn ceiling.

We cannot say that every construction and renovation completed during those years automatically had designated substances like asbestos, but the likelihood is very high simply because this material was widely used.

Nowadays many home owners are aware of all dangers of designated and banned substances. Remodel On Point wanted to discuss more the topic of asbestos and teach our readers if all popcorn ceiling has asbestos in it.

Keep in mind our article is strictly educational and we do not encourage or suggest testing for asbestos and removing popcorn ceiling on your own. This work is highly dangerous and should be performed only by licensed professionals.

Does Popcorn Ceiling Have Asbestos? – Ways to Find

Always assume the worst when with asbestos. Even slightest amounts of it in construction are dangerous to humans and can cause serious lung disease. There is only one way to find out for sure existence of asbestos, but several more ways to predict it.

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Lab Testing – Truly reliable and suggested way to figure out if you have asbestos in popcorn ceiling. You can purchase a kit with instructions how to take samples. All samples must be labeled and sent to local lab for analysis. There local companies that can do that provide services in sampling for small charge. We suggest doing up 3-5 samples in different room for accurate analysis.

Approximate Year of Construction – Certain years of construction have more chance of having asbestos. It started in mid 1940s as a primary material and was banned in 1973. Does popcorn ceiling have asbestos if it was installed after 1980s? Probably not, but we still need to protect ourselves and test sample of it in laboratory.

Experience – Constantly working in asbestos abatement as a professional gives ability to spot it from a mile. Licensed contractors that do this for many years can tell you right away if there is likelihood of asbestos present, and should always work only with provided lab test results.

What Does Asbestos Look Like in Popcorn Ceiling

To non-professional all popcorn ceilings may look the same. There is no direct distinguishing from other micro fibers that are mixed into compound to finish drywall or plaster surface.

Popcorn ceiling was invented in early 20s century to differentiate from traditional smooth surfaces and to ease up the work. Also with popcorn ceiling you would never tell if ceiling surface was uneven. It literally hides all deficiencies.

It looks like bumpy ceiling with attached small pieces of rocks and painted on top. There is no actual popcorn look. Fibers are mixed with compound and paint for application. With special tools the mix is blasted on ceiling and left to dry up.

The asbestos particles cannot be spotted by naked eye. They are too tiny to differentiate from other particles like horse hair (used before asbestos era) or polystyrene.

Why Would You Need to Know if Asbestos is Present?

There are several reasons for which home owners need to find out does popcorn ceiling have asbestos? We urge all commercial building and residential house owners to test popcorn ceiling for designated substance. You need to know if there is an issue or it could cause one in future. Here are three major reasons for which you should take immediate action:

Renovation and Upgrades – Asbestos in all sorts of construction/demolition is serious business. It can hang there for many years without harming people, but when broken down in pieces airborne particles end get inhaled. Only professionals with appropriate licensing and experience allowed remediating asbestos and leaving rest of house for other renovation crews to continue work.

Affecting Health – Although everyone says popcorn ceiling with asbestos does not cause any harm if not disturb, it deteriorates after several decades from installation. Small or even large pieces may crack and fall down causing asbestos fibers get in the air and possibly in your lungs. Even tiny portion of asbestos exposure can lead to serious illness.

Reselling Value – Potential buyers need to know if there is asbestos in the house they are thinking of purchasing. It could scare them off. More and more people are aware of asbestos heath affects when disturbed. It’s definitely better to remove all popcorn ceiling before selling the house or be upfront with purchaser about its existence.

Why Was Asbestos Used In Popcorn Ceiling

During mid 20 century asbestos was very popular in construction. It was added and used in many materials and served different purposes. New ideas and methods were tested across the world and asbestos became one of those materials that was used almost everywhere.

Too bad no one could understand long-term health affects until it was too late and thousands of people died from it.

One of the main reasons why it was used in popcorn ceiling as a mix and finishing product is strength. Asbestos fibers are tiny but very strong in combination with other materials. Finish became as hard as concrete.

Somewhere water resistant and fire safety barrier material was also very popular as sound insulator. Main living area and second floor bedrooms were often required to be soundproofed.

This material was easy to obtain from minerals and it was extremely cheap. In peak years worldwide production of asbestos was almost 5 million metric tons per year. Construction in US was consuming and using 15% – 20% of that number.

Statistics and Chance of Having Asbestos in Popcorn Ceiling

To get better understanding of how often nowadays banned material was used and does popcorn ceiling have asbestos in your house we wanted to provide some statistics.

Homes built or renovated between 1940 and 1970 have 93% likelihood of having asbestos in their popcorn ceiling.

Popcorn ceiling that was finished between 1975 and 1995 has 12% chance of having asbestos.

Homes built after 2000 with popcorn ceiling feature have less than 1% chance of having asbestos present.

This material has been banned for many decades and the idea is to remediate it completely form all standing structures. Every year in US several hundred million dollars are spend for asbestos remediation from popcorn ceiling and other construction materials during demolition.

Kits and Labs that Contractors Use to Identify Asbestos

Hiring company to find does popcorn ceiling have asbestos is the most popular and easy way to go, but there are alternatives. These days every home owner can purchase a sample kit and mail or deliver it personally to the lab for testing.

There are several benefits to doing it by yourself rather than putting everything in hands of company that you don’t know.

Scheduling is one of the issues. You may not be available during their openings or clockwise. With samples kits there is not specific timing, just do it whenever you have time and send it by mail.

Trust is next on our list. We always want to put good faith in contractors and probably 99% of companies are fair, but there will be those who can excaudate with amount of asbestos to take on more expensive remediation project. With third party laboratory there will be no issues ever.

On top of everything you may save few hundred dollars with these sample kits.

Here are top 3 sample kits to find if popcorn ceiling has asbestos:

1

2

3

Our Suggestion if Your Popcorn Ceiling Has Asbestos

Designated or prohibited substances are regulated and banned for specific reasons. They are extremely dangerous to people.

Popcorn ceilings with asbestos are suggested to be removed from all homes and commercial buildings. Prior testing and professional remediation is mandatory.

It will take a small portion of money to remove asbestos, but increase property value and make the home owners worry less about health hazards.

For information on who can help with analysis and removal, you can contact our team by email. Remodel On Point has worked with and suggested popcorn asbestos removal companies to home owners who plan renovations.