That floral border in the kitchen. The textured wallpaper in the dining room that screams 1985. The bathroom paper that is peeling at the seams from years of steam. Wallpaper dates a home faster than almost anything — and removing it is one of the messiest, most frustrating DIY jobs there is. We do it for you, start to finish, and leave you with smooth walls ready for fresh paint.
We remove wallpaper across Waldorf and Charles County: single accent walls, full rooms, borders, and whole houses. We handle the stripping, the wall repair underneath, and the repainting — one crew, one project, no handoffs.
What Wallpaper Removal Includes
- Testing the wallpaper type and adhesion to choose the right removal method
- Protecting floors, trim, and fixtures from water and debris
- Stripping the face layer, then steaming or soaking the backing
- Washing walls to remove every trace of paste residue
- Repairing torn drywall paper, gouges, and damaged areas
- Skim coating where needed for a smooth, uniform surface
- Priming with a sealer made for stripped walls, then painting
Once the paper is gone, most homeowners repaint — our interior painting service finishes the transformation, and our drywall repair team handles any serious wall damage found underneath.
How It Works, Step by Step
Step 1: Assessment
We test a small hidden section to see what we are dealing with: strippable paper that peels off in sheets, traditional paper that needs steaming, multiple layers from different decades, or paper applied directly to unprimed drywall (the hardest case). This test tells us the method and the honest price.
Step 2: Protection
Wallpaper removal is wet work. We lay waterproof protection over floors, cover trim and outlets, and set up to catch the soggy strips as they come down. Your home stays dry and clean.
Step 3: Stripping
We peel the face layer first, then attack the backing with steam or a removal solution that loosens the paste. We work in sections, keeping the wall damp enough to release the paper but not so wet that we damage the drywall underneath. Patience here prevents wall damage later.
Step 4: Paste removal
This is the step DIY jobs skip — and why their new paint fails. Leftover paste residue will bleed through paint and cause peeling. We wash every inch of wall, sometimes twice, until the surface is completely clean and smooth to the touch.
Step 5: Repair and skim
Stripping almost always damages walls to some degree: torn drywall paper, gouges from scrapers, uneven areas where paste soaked in. We repair the damage and skim coat the walls so the surface is uniform. Our interior paint prep guide explains why this step matters so much.
Step 6: Prime and paint
Stripped walls get a special sealing primer that locks down any remaining residue and gives the topcoat a uniform base. Then we paint your new color — usually two coats for a rich, even finish.
What We Often Find Under Old Wallpaper
Waldorf homes hold surprises behind their wallpaper. Paper hung directly on unprimed drywall tears the drywall face when removed, requiring skim coating. Multiple layers — we have found three or four in older homes — each take separate removal passes. Sometimes we find unpainted drywall, old repairs, or even writing on the walls from decades ago. We handle all of it, and we will show you what we find before proceeding so there are no surprises on the bill.
What Affects the Price
Every project differs — these are starting points, not firm quotes. A single wall often runs $200 to $500. A full room with removal, repair, and repainting often runs $800 to $2,000. Whole-house wallpaper removal is quoted per project. What moves the price:
- Wallpaper type: strippable paper comes off fast; traditional glued paper takes much longer
- Number of layers: each layer is a separate removal job
- Wall condition underneath: torn drywall that needs skim coating adds significant labor
- Room size and height: more wall area and tall walls mean more time
- Repainting: most projects include fresh paint, which is priced with the room
How Long It Takes
A single wall usually takes one day. A full room typically takes two to three days: removal and washing on day one, repairs and skim coating on day two, priming and painting on day three. Whole-house projects take one to two weeks depending on how many rooms have paper. Drying time between steps cannot be rushed — wet walls painted too soon will fail.
How to Maintain Newly Painted Walls
Once your walls are stripped, repaired, and painted, care is simple: dust occasionally, wipe marks gently with a damp cloth, and keep bathroom fans running to control moisture. The sealing primer we use prevents any ghost of the old paste from bleeding through. Save leftover paint labeled by room for easy touch-ups down the road.
Wallpaper in Bathrooms and Kitchens
Bathrooms and kitchens are the hardest wallpaper removals. Years of steam and cooking grease soak into the paper and paste, making them stubborn to strip and leaving residue that fights new paint. We use stronger removal methods in these rooms and wash extra thoroughly.
These rooms also hide the most wall damage — soft drywall around showers, grease-stained areas behind stoves, and mildew under peeling seams. We repair all of it and use moisture-resistant primers and paints made for humid rooms, so the new finish stands up to daily steam and splatter.
If your bathroom wallpaper is peeling but the walls underneath seem fine, do not wait. Peeling lets moisture behind the paper, which damages the drywall and can grow mildew. The sooner it comes down, the simpler the repair. After removal, we recommend satin or semi-gloss paint in bathrooms and kitchens — finishes that wipe clean and resist moisture far better than flat paint.
Get Your Free Estimate
Ready to say goodbye to the wallpaper? Tell us how many rooms have paper and roughly how old it is — or just send photos. Send the form for a free estimate and we will test it and give you an honest price for the full job.