Textured walls were once a design staple in residential construction. Today, many homeowners want clean, modern surfaces that are easier to paint, maintain, and stage for resale. Before you pick up a scraper, it pays to understand the full cost to remove textured walls—and why partnering with CountBricks can lock that cost in with confidence.
The national residential average runs between $1.15 and $2.75 per square foot for texture removal alone. Add finishing coats, priming, and repainting, and the figure often lands in the $3.25 – $4.75 per square foot range. A typical 1,500-square-foot home with 8-foot ceilings may spend $6,500 – $9,500 all-in. CountBricks clients usually come in on the lower half of that range because our AI platform optimizes labor hours and materials in real time.
• Labor for scraping or skim-coating: 40 – 50 % of total budget
• Surface prep and masking: 10 – 15 %
• Debris containment and disposal: 5 – 8 %
• Level-five finishing, sanding, and cleanup: 20 – 25 %
• Primer, paint, and sundries: 10 – 12 %
• Texture type: Knockdown is faster to skim than heavy swirls, saving 15 – 25 % in labor.
• Square footage and ceiling height: Higher walls mean scaffolding, extra drop cloths, and longer prep.
• Drywall condition: Previous water damage or uneven seams may require patching before smoothing.
• Asbestos and lead testing: Homes built before 1980 often need professional testing and mitigation.
• Geographic labor rates: Coastal metros can run 20 – 30 % higher than rural markets.
• Project timeline: Rush schedules add overtime premiums that smart planning can avoid.
CountBricks replaces guesswork with data-driven precision. Our platform listens to a real-time voice conversation with you or your field supervisor, captures square footage, ceiling height, and surface conditions, then cross-references local labor indexes and material prices.
1. Voice intake: You describe room dimensions, texture type, and desired finish.
2. Instant AI takeoff: The platform totals surface area and flags obstacles like built-ins or vaulted ceilings.
3. Task library match: Each step—masking, scraping, disposal, finishing—has live local cost data.
4. Risk modifiers: Asbestos flags, weekend work, or premium zero-VOC paints are added automatically.
5. One-click quote: You receive a branded PDF plus an editable scope section for homeowner approval.
• Bundle projects: Removing texture and repainting together often saves 10 % on mobilization fees.
• Test before you start: A $200 asbestos test can prevent a $3,000 hazardous-waste surprise.
• Schedule during off-peak seasons: Winter bookings may qualify for labor discounts in many regions.
• Use CountBricks preferred vendors: Our volume pricing on joint compound and primers lowers material costs.
AI Accuracy: Estimates adjust to the nearest cent as material prices update hourly.
Time Savings: Field teams spend minutes on voice intake instead of hours on spreadsheets.
Integrated Invoicing: Convert the approved quote into progress invoices with one tap.
Documented Quality: Photo checklists in the CountBricks app prove each stage meets ASTM finish levels.
Ready to ditch dated textures? Visit CountBricks.com/services to book a 15-minute demo or upload your blueprints for an instant AI takeoff. Our residential specialists will show you exactly how much you can save—and how smooth your walls will look—when CountBricks is on the job.
A young family purchased a 1990s home filled with heavy orange-peel texture. They wanted a clean, Scandinavian aesthetic before moving in, but only had a three-week window and a strict $12,000 finish budget.
• We conducted a five-minute voice intake while the realtor walked through the property. The AI takeoff captured 5,200 square feet of wall and ceiling area.
• CountBricks flagged the construction year and recommended an asbestos test, which came back clear—avoiding potential delays.
• The platform selected a hybrid approach: scrape ceilings, skim-coat walls, and apply a level-five finish. Costs auto-populated at $3.48 per square foot, including primer and two coats of washable paint.
• Because the homeowner also ordered kitchen cabinet painting through CountBricks.com/services, we applied a 7 % bundled-project discount, bringing the wall-smoothing total to $11,385.
1. Project completed in 14 calendar days—one day ahead of schedule.
2. Final invoice matched the original AI estimate within 0.6 %, giving the client total cost certainty.
3. Realtor reported a $22,000 increase in appraised value directly tied to the updated interior finish.
• Photograph surface conditions during the voice intake so the AI can auto-classify texture depth more accurately.
• Use low-sheen primer after skim-coating; it highlights imperfections for quick touch-ups before final paint.
• Schedule sanding and vacuuming on the same day to reduce airborne dust and homeowner complaints.
From first conversation to final walkthrough, CountBricks delivers cost clarity and finish quality that traditional estimating methods can’t match. Explore more success stories at CountBricks.com/portfolio or request a personalized demo today.
