Expert Wallpaper Removal Without Wall Damage
Removing old wallpaper is often the essential first step toward a fresh, updated interior. Whether you are preparing walls for new wallpaper installation or transitioning to paint, Revere Wallpaper Installations provides professional removal services that protect your underlying wall surfaces while thoroughly eliminating old adhesive and paper residue.
Many homeowners attempt DIY wallpaper removal only to discover gouged drywall, stubborn adhesive residue, and hours of frustrating labor. Our professional approach uses the right tools, solutions, and techniques for each specific wallpaper type, delivering clean walls ready for their next treatment.
Our Removal Process
Every removal project begins with identifying the wallpaper type and wall substrate. This determines our approach:
- Strippable wallpapers — these can often be dry-stripped in full sheets with minimal residue
- Peelable wallpapers — the vinyl face peels away, leaving a paper backing that requires soaking
- Traditional pasted papers — require thorough soaking with warm water and removal solution
- Painted-over wallpaper — the most challenging scenario, often requiring scoring and extended steaming
- Multiple layers — older homes frequently have 3-5 layers of wallpaper that must be removed sequentially
Tools & Techniques
We use professional-grade equipment including commercial wallpaper steamers for efficient paper softening, enzymatic removal solutions that break down old adhesive without harsh chemicals, scoring tools for painted-over or vinyl-coated papers, and wide scrapers designed to remove paper without gouging drywall or plaster.
For historic homes with plaster walls, we take extra care to avoid saturating surfaces that could damage the underlying lath-and-plaster system. In these cases, we use controlled steaming and gentle scraping techniques that preserve the wall's structural integrity.
After Removal: Wall Preparation
Once all wallpaper and adhesive residue is removed, we assess the wall condition and perform necessary repairs — filling nail holes, smoothing rough patches, and priming surfaces appropriately. If you are having new wallpaper installed, this preparation phase is included in our installation service. If you are transitioning to paint, we leave walls smooth, clean, and ready for your painter.