Wallpaper Removal in St. Louis

Most wallpaper does not come off easy. The stuff from the 1970s through the 1990s was glued down with adhesives that were built to last forever. That is great for keeping wallpaper on the wall, but terrible when you want it gone.

We start every wallpaper removal job the same way. We protect your floors, furniture, and trim with plastic sheeting and painter's tape. Then we figure out what kind of wallpaper we are dealing with. Vinyl-coated paper comes off differently than fabric-backed or foil wallpaper. The method depends on the material.

For most jobs we use a combination of scoring, steaming, and chemical strippers. First we score the surface with a perforating tool. This creates tiny holes that let moisture get behind the paper. Then we apply steam or a liquid remover that softens the adhesive underneath. The paper loosens up and we peel it away in sections using broad knives and scrapers.

Some wallpaper has been painted over. That makes it harder. We have to score through the paint layer first, then work the steam underneath. It takes longer, but rushing it means gouging the drywall. We do not rush it.

Once the paper is off, the real work starts. There is almost always adhesive residue left on the wall. If you paint over that residue, the paint will bubble and peel within a year. We wash the walls with a stripping solution to remove every trace of old glue. We go over the surface by hand to make sure it is clean.

Then we inspect the wall underneath. Older homes often have drywall or plaster damage hidden behind the wallpaper. We see torn paper facing, small gouges, nail pops, and sometimes water stains. We repair all of that before moving forward. We skim coat any rough areas with joint compound, sand them smooth, and apply a bonding primer.

The wall is now ready for paint or new wallcovering. We prime with a product designed to seal the surface and give the new finish something to grip. If you are going straight to paint, we can handle that too — same crew, same visit.

A typical room takes one to two days depending on how many layers of wallpaper are on the wall and how much repair the surface needs. We have seen homes with three or four layers stacked on top of each other. Each layer adds time, but the process stays the same.

The biggest concern homeowners have is damage to the wall. That is a fair concern. DIY wallpaper removal often ends with torn drywall facing and uneven surfaces. We have the tools and the patience to get the paper off without destroying what is behind it. And when we do find damage, we fix it on the spot.

You get a clean, smooth, paint-ready wall. No leftover paste. No rough patches. No guessing whether the next coat of paint will stick.