Is It Time to Take Down That Wallpaper?

There comes a time in many homeowners’ lives when a papered wall simply must go. Maybe you’re moving into a new home and can’t stand paisley, or perhaps your child is growing up and no longer wants cutesy animals cavorting across the walls. Whatever the reason, the paper has to come down. And we’re here to hold your hand while you do it.

Now let’s get on with it and get rid of that wallpaper this weekend!

Project: Wallpaper removal.

Who to hire: A reputable painting contractor. Richard D’Angelo of CraftPro Contracting recommends getting a list of contractors in your area. “Look through their projects and pictures — either on their website or their Houzz portfolio — to make sure they have extensive experience in wallpaper removal,” says D’Angelo.

Then ask for references and find out what their previous wallpaper removal customers have to say about their work.

“When you meet your contractors, ask them about their approach to wallpaper removal to get a sense of their expertise and knowledge,” D’Angelo says.


Cost range: Expect to pay between $5 and $15 per square foot, although Darian Karaja of KD Painting cautions that costs can deviate widely. “Wallpaper removal pricing does vary on square footage, ceiling height and definitely the type of paper you’re dealing with,” says Karaja. “Also, if the wall was not primed prior to hanging up the wallpaper, additional work is required to prep walls for painting.”

Typical project length: One day for removal only.

Permit: None required.


Project considerations: D’Angelo cautions that doing the job yourself isn’t as easy as simply grabbing a corner and pulling. Even when done properly, there’s a risk of damaging the drywall. “The surface paper on the drywall beneath the wallpaper is often torn off with the wallpaper, resulting in large areas needing spackling to smooth it out,” he says.

Additionally, improper blocking and removal of the wallpaper paste could mean that your paint or new wallpaper won’t adhere properly, so even if you remove the paper yourself, you may want to leave the rest to the pros.


DIY first steps:

1. Protect your finishes by covering the floor with drop cloths, removing any light switches and cutting the power to the room.

2. Use a wallpaper scorer (available at hardware stores and online) to make small holes in the paper so the solution can penetrate.

3. Karaja recommends plain, warm water. Load it into a spray bottle to prepare for removal.

4. Soak the walls. Use your spray bottle to wet only as much paper as you can remove in 15 minutes. Allow the solution to soak in for a few minutes.

5. Strip the paper by grabbing it from a lower corner and carefully peeling upward. Use a putty knife for those tricky pieces. Repeat the above steps until all the wallpaper is gone.


6. To prepare the walls for their new life as a painted or repapered surface, clean them with warm soapy water, TSP or a commercial product designed to remove wallpaper paste.

D’Angelo cautions not to take this step lightly. “Even with the use of products that are indicated for wallpaper paste removal, there will almost always inevitably be residual paste, no matter how thoroughly the walls have been scrubbed,” he says. “Wallpaper paste gets into the pores of almost every substrate: primer, paint, drywall, plaster etc.”

More: Considering Wallpaper? Here’s How to Get Started

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