Say goodbye to outdated patterns and stubborn 1990s borders. We provide safe wallpaper stripping, enzymatic glue extraction, and flawless wall prep for a bright, modern interior.
Wallpaper was heavily favored in Pacific Northwest home construction for decades, but modern aesthetics strongly favor clean, bright, freshly painted walls. Unfortunately, getting from point A to point B is often the most frustrating home improvement project a homeowner can undertake.
Depending on the age of the house, the type of glue used, and whether the original builders properly primed the drywall before hanging the paper, removing it can result in a massive disaster. Tearing off the paper blindly often rips the protective layer off the drywall itself, leaving deep craters that require extensive mudding to fix.
We don't just hack away at your walls. We use a methodical, chemistry-based approach to dissolve the adhesive and protect your drywall.
Wallpaper removal is a wet and sticky process. Before we begin, we move furniture to the center of the room, completely cover your floors with waterproof tarps, and mask off baseboards and electrical outlets to prevent water damage.
Many wallpapers (especially vinyl) are waterproof. We use specialized scoring tools to create thousands of microscopic holes in the surface of the paper, allowing our stripping solutions to penetrate behind the paper and reach the glue.
We don't rely on harsh, toxic chemicals. We apply environmentally safe, enzyme-based stripping solutions combined with hot steam. This targeted heat and chemistry melts the sizing adhesive safely, allowing the paper to release its grip on the wall.
Once the glue is deactivated, we use broad, flexible putty knives to gently lift the paper without gouging the drywall. We then scrub the entire wall down with hot water and a sponge to completely remove any invisible residue. (Leaving residue guarantees new paint will fail).
Even the most careful removal will reveal minor wall imperfections. We apply a thin skim coat of drywall joint compound over rough patches, sand the wall perfectly smooth, and seal it with a high-adhesion primer, leaving you with a blank canvas ready for paint.
We often get calls from homeowners who tried to save time by simply painting over their existing wallpaper. This is a critical mistake. The water contained in latex interior paints will soak directly through the paper, reactivating the old glue underneath.
Within hours of painting, massive bubbles will form on the walls, and the seams will begin to peel backward. Once paint has been applied over wallpaper, removing it becomes ten times harder and significantly more expensive. Do it right the first time: let us extract it completely.
"We bought a house in Seattle that had three different layers of wallpaper in the dining room, including a terrible 1980s floral border. I tried to scrape it myself and just ended up putting a hole in the drywall. Coles Painting came in, steamed it all off perfectly in one day, patched my mistake, and primed the walls. It saved my sanity."
— Rebecca T., Seattle Resident
Stripping wallpaper is cheap in theory, but incredibly costly if you damage the walls. Here is the difference a professional makes.
| Project Element | Coles Professional | DIY / Generic Painter |
|---|---|---|
| Removal Method | Enzyme Steam (Melts glue) | Dry Scraping (Tears drywall paper) |
| Glue Management | Hot water scrub extraction | Leaves invisible glue on walls |
| Wall Repair | Full skim coat and sanding | Paints right over craters and gouges |
| Floor Protection | Heavy plastic and tape seals | Sticky glue water drips on baseboards |
| Prep for Paint | High-build blocking primer applied | Paints raw drywall (uneven flashing) |
It is highly discouraged. The moisture from the new latex paint will almost always soak through and reactivate the old wallpaper glue. This causes the paper to bubble, peel, and fall off the wall, ruining the new paint job entirely. Professional removal is the only way to guarantee a smooth, lasting finish.
If done incorrectly by dry-scraping with a sharp blade, yes, you can easily gouge the drywall or tear the brown paper backing of the sheetrock. We use specialized enzymatic steamers and gentle extraction techniques to lift the paper safely without destroying the underlying wall structure.
Removing the paper is only step one. We completely wash the walls to remove hidden sizing glue. Then, we apply a skim coat of joint compound to smooth out any craters or imperfections, sand it flat, and apply a high-build drywall primer so the wall is perfectly sealed and ready for fresh paint.
It depends heavily on the size of the room and how many layers of paper exist. Generally, a standard dining room takes 1 day for full removal and washing, and a 2nd day for drywall patching, sanding, and priming. We work efficiently to minimize disruption to your home.
Don't ruin your drywall trying to scrape it yourself. Let the pros handle it fast.
(253) 478-2745Fast, Free Virtual Quotes
We take immense pride in modernizing the interiors of the Puget Sound. Whether you are stripping out dated borders in a Tacoma dining room or restoring a fully papered historic home in Seattle, Coles Painting brings advanced steam technology, expert drywall skimming, and unmatched white-glove customer care to every single project.