Older Ann Arbor homes often carry several layers of wallpaper over plaster, sometimes with paint on top. We remove the paper and wash off the paste, then repair and prime the walls so they are ready for paint. Where paper was glued to bare drywall, we test a corner first and tell you the best route.
Wallpaper was everywhere in Ann Arbor houses for most of the last century, and a lot of it is still on the walls. In prewar homes it usually sits on plaster, often in two or three layers, and sometimes under a coat of paint. In houses from the 1970s to the 1990s it was often pasted straight onto unprimed drywall. The two cases come off very differently, so we test a corner before we quote.
Paper on plaster is scored, wetted or steamed and scraped off, layer by layer. Then the old paste is washed away. Paste left on a wall makes new paint crackle, so this step cannot be skipped. Paper on bare drywall can pull the face of the drywall off with it. Where that happens, the torn areas are sealed and the wall is skim coated. Sometimes the better route is to seal sound paper and skim over it.
After removal, the walls are repaired, sanded and primed with a sealing primer so they are ready for paint. In homes built before 1978 there may be lead paint under the paper, so sanding and scraping are done with dust control. Most rooms can be painted right after the walls are primed and dry. We give you one written quote that covers removal, wall repair and painting. Bathrooms and kitchens get the same steps.
Wallpaper removal in Ann Arbor: common questions
How long does wallpaper removal take?
It depends on the layers and what is under them. One layer on primed plaster in a single room can come off in a day. Several layers, painted paper or paper on bare drywall take longer, and wall repair adds time.
Can you paint right after the wallpaper comes off?
Not straight away. The paste has to be washed off, the walls repaired and a sealing primer applied. Once the primer is dry, the room can be painted.
Is it better to remove wallpaper or paint over it?
Removal gives the better result in most rooms. Painting over paper is a fallback for paper that is bonded so tightly to bare drywall that pulling it would wreck the wall.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.