Hire a Professional Wallpaper Removal Service

Hire a professional painter or wallpaper removal specialist to handle the entire process, including surface preparation for painting.

How It Works

Professional wallpaper removal contractors have commercial-grade steamers, professional scrapers, and the experience to remove wallpaper efficiently without damaging walls. They handle scoring, soaking or steaming, scraping, adhesive residue removal, wall repair, and priming — delivering walls ready for paint or new wallpaper.

When to Hire a Professional

1. Multiple layers of old wallpaper, especially if painted over
2. Wallpaper applied directly to unprimed drywall (high risk of drywall damage during removal)
3. Large areas (multiple rooms or an entire house)
4. Plaster walls with existing damage that requires careful handling
5. Lead paint may be present under old wallpaper in pre-1978 homes
6. You lack the time, patience, or physical ability for what is genuinely hard manual labor

What to Expect

• Cost ranges from $1 to $4 per square foot, or roughly $200-800 per average room depending on difficulty, number of layers, and local labor rates
• A professional can typically complete a room in 4-6 hours that might take a homeowner 1-2 full days
• Most professionals will also repair any wall damage (skim coat, patch, sand) and prime the walls as part of the service
• Request a written estimate that specifies what is included (removal only vs. removal plus wall prep)

Tips

• Get at least 3 quotes and ask each contractor how many layers they expect and how they plan to handle it
• Ask if wall repair and priming are included in the quote or charged separately
• Check online reviews and ask for references — wallpaper removal is a skill-dependent task where experience matters greatly
• Some painting contractors include wallpaper removal as part of a repainting job, which can be more cost-effective than hiring separately
• Confirm whether they carry liability insurance in case of wall damage

Common Mistakes

• Choosing the cheapest quote without confirming what is included — some quotes cover removal only and charge extra for adhesive residue removal and wall prep
• Not asking about the contractor's approach for wallpaper glued to unprimed drywall, which requires specialized techniques
• Starting the job yourself and then hiring a professional for the rest — half-removed wallpaper is actually harder to work with than untouched wallpaper