Wallpaper Removal in Red Deer
Old wall covering and the glue behind it removed properly, with the wall repaired and primed rather than painted straight over.
Wallpaper removal has a reputation for being a weekend job, and sometimes it is. The rest of the time it is two layers of vinyl over unprimed drywall, hung in 1987, bonded to the paper facing of the board rather than to a sealed surface.
That distinction decides everything about how the job goes, and you cannot tell which one you have until a corner comes up.
Getting It Off
We mask the room and protect the floors first, because removal is a wet job. Then the covering comes off, scored and soaked where it needs to be, steamed where soaking is not enough.
Some papers release cleanly in full sheets. Others come away in pieces, leaving a paper backing stuck to the wall that has to be removed separately.
The Glue Is the Real Job
Adhesive residue left on the wall is the most common reason a repaint over old wallpaper fails. It stops paint bonding, and even where the paint holds, the residue shows through as blotching or an uneven sheen once the light hits it.
So the walls get washed down properly and given time to dry before anything else happens.
Repairing What Is Underneath
Where the covering has taken the drywall facing with it, those areas need sealing before any filler goes on, or the exposed gypsum keeps absorbing moisture and the repair fails. Then the walls get skimmed, sanded, and primed.
By the time we are done the wall should be indistinguishable from one that never had paper on it. Any larger damage is handled as drywall repair, and the room is then ready for interior painting.
We take wallpaper off walls throughout Red Deer and out to Lacombe.
Find Out What You Are Dealing With
Send us a photo of a corner or a seam, or have us come by. We can usually tell from looking whether it is a straightforward job.
What's Included
- Paper, vinyl, and backing removed
- Adhesive residue washed off, not painted over
- Torn drywall paper repaired and sealed
- Walls skimmed, sanded, and primed
- Room masked and floors protected throughout
Other Services We Offer in Red Deer
Wallpaper Removal Questions
Can you just paint over wallpaper?
Sometimes, and it is usually a bad idea. Paint soaks the paper and the seams lift, the pattern telegraphs through, and you have doubled the work for whoever removes it later. We only recommend it where removal would destroy the wall underneath.
Why does removal damage the wall?
Because wallpaper is often hung straight onto unprimed drywall. The glue bonds to the paper facing of the board rather than to a sealed surface, so when the covering comes off it can bring that facing with it. Those areas need sealing and skimming before painting.
How long does a room take?
A day for straightforward paper, longer where there are several layers, a stubborn adhesive, or torn board underneath to repair.
What about the glue left behind?
It has to come off. Adhesive residue stops paint bonding and shows through the finish as blotches or a slight sheen difference. We wash the walls down properly before priming.
Can you remove wallpaper from a textured wall?
Yes, though it is slower and the texture underneath usually needs repair afterwards. We will tell you what to expect before starting.
Get a Free Wallpaper Removal Quote
Get a free written quote. We will come and look at the job and give you a straight answer on what it needs.