Wallpaper looks great the day it goes up. Years later the seams lift, the corners curl, the pattern feels like it belongs to someone else’s house, and some papers turn yellow in a way no cleaning will fix. Taking it down sounds simple until you start. A tool, a spray bottle and an afternoon is how most people begin, and a weekend of picking at tiny strips is how many people end.

Alto Pro Painters removes wallpaper from rooms in homes, condos and small commercial spaces across the South Okanagan. We deal with the paper, the glue underneath and any damage to the wall, then leave a surface that is ready for primer and paint. If you would rather not do it yourself, this is the job to hand over.

What wallpaper removal includes

Identifying what is on the wall: vinyl-coated, fabric-backed, paper, or several layers of each
Scoring and wetting the paper so the solution gets behind it
Lifting the paper with a removal tool that does not gouge the drywall
Vacuuming up the scraps so the room is not covered in wet strips
Washing off leftover paste and residue from the wall
Patching small tears, gouges and nail holes
Skim coating and sanding where the surface needs to be smoothed
Covering floors and furniture before we start, and cleaning up after sign-off

How a wallpaper removal job goes

Free written quote. We look at the rooms, ask how old the house is and how many layers of paper you think are up there, and send a quote in writing that lists the surfaces, the prep, the timeline and what happens after the paper is gone.
Pre-job call. Before the start date we confirm details and what to clear from the walls and floor. If you want the walls painted afterwards, we settle the colours at the same time.
Protect the room. On the day we walk the rooms with you, cover floors, and move and cover furniture. Wet paper and paste land everywhere, so the room is protected first.
Strip and wash. We wet the paper, lift it off in sheets where we can, vacuum up the scraps and wash the paste off the walls. Stubborn layers get more time rather than more force.
Repair and hand over. Once the wall is bare we repair what turns up, smooth it and walk the room with you. Clean-up happens after you sign off.

What comes before the first strip

Stripping goes better when the room is ready and when we know what to expect behind the paper. A little time spent on this at the start saves a lot of cleaning and patching later.

Switching off power to outlets and switches in the room and taking the cover plates off
Taping plastic over outlets so water and paste stay out of them
Laying drop sheets and tape along the floor, since wet paper sticks to everything
Testing a small corner to see whether the paper pulls dry or needs wetting
Asking the age of the home, because old paint under the paper may need testing before any sanding
Clearing pictures, shelves, curtains and small items off the walls before we arrive

Types of wallpaper and how they come off

The method depends on the paper. Vinyl-coated paper has a plastic face that water will not pass through, so it is scored first so the solution can reach the glue. Fabric-backed paper often peels away in large pieces but can leave a stubborn backing behind. Plain paper tends to soften quickly but can tear into small strips. Some rooms have two or three layers, and each one has to be dealt with before you reach the wall.

What the wall looks like underneath is a bigger question than what the paper looks like on top. If the wall was never primed before the paper went up, the glue can bond to the drywall and the paper will pull away the surface of the board with it. That is why we cannot say how a wall will behave until we are into it, and why the quote spells out how we handle repairs. Once the wall is clean and smooth, we can prime and paint it, or leave it ready for new paper or your own painter.

What affects the price of wallpaper removal

No two walls strip alike, so we do not publish a fixed price. The written quote shows what is included, and these are the factors that move it.

The number of walls and the size of the room, including ceiling height
How many layers of paper are on the wall
Whether the paper is vinyl, fabric-backed or plain paper
How the wall was prepared before it was papered, which decides how stubborn the glue is
How much patching, skim coating and sanding the bare wall needs
Whether you also want the walls primed and painted in the same visit

Is your home older than 1990?

Health Canada says homes built before 1960 probably contain lead paint, and homes built from 1960 to 1990 may. Paint under old wallpaper can be part of that, so tell us the age of your home when you ask for a quote. We plan testing before any sanding or scraping happens.

Common mistakes with wallpaper removal

Pulling dry paper and tearing the face of the drywall. We wet and score first, and work slowly where the paper is bonded tightly.
Soaking the wall until the board goes soft. We wet in stages and give the solution time to work.
Leaving paste on the wall. It shows through new paint as ridges and patches, so we wash the walls until they feel clean and smooth.
Painting over paper that is only half stuck. Seams lift and the pattern shows through, so we take it all off first.
Skipping primer on a freshly stripped wall. Bare drywall drinks paint unevenly, so we prime before the topcoat.

Wallpaper Removal by town

We offer wallpaper removal in twelve Okanagan communities. Choose your town:

Wallpaper Removal questions

Can you paint over wallpaper instead of removing it?

We do not recommend it. Paint can lift the seams, bubble the paper and let the pattern show through. Taking the paper off first gives a better result and a surface you can repaint for years.

How long does it take to strip a room?

It depends on the paper, the number of layers and the condition of the wall. A single layer of ordinary paper goes much faster than three layers of vinyl. Your written quote includes a timeline for the job.

Will the walls be damaged underneath?

Sometimes the wall comes up clean, and sometimes there are tears or gouges. You will not know until the paper is off. We repair small damage as part of the job, and if the wall needs more than that we say so and update the quote in writing.

Do you also paint the room afterwards?

Yes. Many people book removal and painting together so the walls are not left bare. We can include the primer and paint in the same written quote and finish it in one visit.

Is there a mess?

We cover the floors and furniture, vacuum the scraps as we go, wash the walls and clean the room once you have signed off on the work.

Do you hang new wallpaper as well?

Yes, we can hang new paper once the walls are smooth and ready. Ask about it when you request your quote.

If old wallpaper is in your way, tell us about the room and we will put a plan in writing. Ask for your free written quote and we will take it from there.

Request your free written quote or call (778) 946-0386.

Guides for wallpaper removal

Curious how a job runs from the first call to the final walkthrough? Read how our painting process works.

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

Further reading: Wallpaper on Wikipedia and Primer on Wikipedia.

Watch: wallpaper removal in action

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

Wallpaper Removal in Penticton and the Okanagan