Pulling wallpaper is a job people start with enthusiasm on Saturday morning and abandon by lunch. The top layer peels, the backing stays, and the glue underneath turns the wall into a sticky mess. We take on that job for Summerland owners who want the paper gone and a clean wall left behind.

Often the paper is only half of it. Once it is off, the wall may show gouges, bare patches or old paint that has lifted with the adhesive. We deal with all of that so the wall is ready for whatever comes next, usually paint.

What stripping a room involves

Identifying whether the paper is strippable, peelable or tightly bonded
Scoring the surface so water or solution can reach the glue
Soaking and scraping the backing without gouging the board
Washing off every trace of adhesive, which paint will not cover
Patching torn paper faces and gouges in the drywall
Priming the finished wall to seal it for paint or new paper

What older paper can hide

A house with layers of paper is often a house with a history, and Summerland has plenty of homes that have been redecorated several times. Each decade might have added another coat. Under it, the drywall paper can be fragile, so we test a small area first and adjust the method.

If your home predates 1990, mention it. Paint under old wallpaper can contain lead, and Health Canada says it is probable before 1960 and possible between 1960 and 1990. We plan around that before scraping hard at anything.

Plan on a day or two between stripping and painting. The wall has to dry fully after washing, and any patching needs time to cure before it is sanded and primed. Rushing that gap is how bubbles and ghosting from old glue end up showing through the new paint.

Taking paper off the right way

Test a patch. We lift a corner to see what type of paper and glue we face, then pick a method.
Strip the layers. The surface is scored and wetted, and the paper comes off in sections without digging into the wall.
Wash and repair. Residue is washed away and any damaged board is filled and sanded smooth.
Seal the wall. A coat of primer locks everything in, and the room is ready for paint.

The full process, prep and pricing factors are on our main wallpaper removal page.

Wallpaper Removal in Summerland: questions

Why not just paint over the wallpaper?

Seams show, moisture in paint can loosen the paper, and bubbles appear. A stripped wall gives a far better finish.

Will removal ruin my drywall?

Not if it is done carefully. Unprimed walls can tear, in which case we repair them as part of the job.

How messy is stripping a room?

Wet paper and water get everywhere, so floors, baseboards and outlets are covered, and the debris is bagged and cleared as we go.

Other painting services in Summerland

Wallpaper Removal in nearby towns

To get the paper off your Summerland walls, request a free written quote and we will list the stripping, repairs and priming. Tell us how many layers you can see at a corner and the year the home was built, and we will plan the stripping accordingly.

Request your free written quote or call (778) 760-0346.

More about wallpaper removal and Summerland

Have a question first? Read the FAQ, learn about Alto Pro Painters or contact us.

Further reading: Summerland on Wikipedia and Primer on Wikipedia.

Watch: wallpaper removal in action

How to strip wallpaper, by This Old House on YouTube.