If your home has outdated wallpaper, it’s time to consider a new look. But stripping wallpaper before painting is essential to achieve smooth walls and a quality finish.
A specialist can help you determine whether the walls are drywall or plaster, and which method of removal is best. The three main ways to remove wallpaper are stripping, scoring and soaking, and steaming.
Cost
The cost of stripping wallpaper depends on the type and condition of the room, as well as how many walls need to be stripped. Most professionals charge by the hour, and will assess the job before offering a quote. I recommend this website for more wallpaper singapore.
Dry stripping is typically the most economical way to remove wallpaper, but it’s also time-consuming and labor intensive. Professionals use a scoring tool or PaperTiger to perforate the surface of the wall and then apply a treatment that dissolves wallpaper glue. This is then allowed to soak into the wall for a while and then scraped off. This method costs around $3 per square foot.
If the wall damage that’s caused during the wallpaper removal process is serious, it will require additional repairs that include filling holes and sanding down the walls. It may also be necessary to replace sections of drywall and plaster. Rooms with vaulted ceilings, stairwells, or tight spaces will also add to the overall project cost.
Time
The time it takes to strip wallpaper and paint a room can vary depending on the size of the space, the type of wallpaper, how firmly it is attached to the wall, and the method of removal. Contractors usually charge a per-square-foot rate for this work.
The cheapest way to remove wallpaper is dry stripping, which involves peeling it away from the walls. However, some types of wallpaper, including vinyl-coated or nonporous varieties, cannot be stripped and require soaking and scraping instead. This involves making small holes in the wallpaper with a perforator, spraying it with an agent, and then allowing it to soak before scraping off.
It’s worth spending the extra time and money to prepare the walls before painting or applying new wallpaper. Trying to paint over wallpaper doesn’t always give a smooth finish and can make future maintenance more difficult. Ideally, the walls should be stripped before hanging woodchip or other traditional styles of wallpaper.
Materials
Removing wallpaper can cost up to $1 or $3 per square foot, depending on the type and condition of the paper. It also depends on the method of removal: stripping is one of the least expensive methods, while steaming and soaking can cost more.
A contractor or handyman may charge more to cover the costs of equipment like scrapers and a wallpaper stripper, as well as any cleanup. It’s important to cover carpeting, furniture, and any other items in the room where water, solvents, or gummy bits of wallpaper might land to prevent damage.
Nonporous or vinyl-coated wallpaper is harder and more costly to remove than traditional porous types that can absorb liquid quickly. It may also need to be perforated and soaked in a wallpaper stripper solution or steaming before being scraped off. The type of adhesive used can influence how easily the paper comes off, and layers of paint may make it more challenging to get to the underlying drywall.
Experience
If you’re hiring a contractor to strip wallpaper, look for one with plenty of experience. They should be able to answer questions about the type of wallpaper and the best way to remove it from your walls. For example, some wallpapers are “strippable” while others require soaking, scoring or steaming. Porous wallpapers are easier to strip than non-porous ones.
It’s also important to understand the work that goes into a full room redecoration. This includes preparing the walls and making sure all surfaces are smooth, free of residue paste, flecks of paint and damage to drywall or woodchip. This is especially important because painting over existing wallpaper doesn’t always give a smooth finish and can be difficult to remove later.
Additionally, if you have a room with tight or curved spaces and corners that are hard to reach, this will add to the costs of your project. Similarly, vaulted ceilings and stairs can require tall ladders or scaffolding to safely access the paper and scrape it away.
