Wallpaper removal in San Diego. Off the wall, walls back to smooth.
Wallpaper removal is a three-step job, not a one-step job. Strip the paper, repair whatever the paper was hiding (torn drywall paper, bad seams, adhesive residue), then prime and paint. We steam when we have to, use a chemical stripper when steam won't lift it, and skim-coat any damaged drywall so the finished wall looks new — not rough from where the paper tore off.
What's included in this service?
- Score wallpaper surface to let steam or stripper penetrate
- Steam stripping for vinyl-backed and older papers
- Chemical gel stripper for papers steam can't lift
- Scrape adhesive residue without gouging the drywall face paper
- Skim-coat torn drywall paper and any damaged sections
- Prime with Gardz or oil-based primer to lock down residual adhesive
- Sand prime-coat smooth before paint
- Two coats premium latex on the newly-smooth walls
When do you need this service?
- Inherited wallpaper from the 80s or 90s and ready for a neutral repaint
- Previous owner left a feature wall of busy wallpaper in the bedroom
- Wallpaper is peeling at the seams and catching on things
- You tried DIY removal and the walls are worse than when you started
- Kitchen or bathroom wallpaper is mildewing at the seams
- Selling and the wallpaper is dating the whole listing
What do homeowners ask about Wallpaper Removal?
Why can't I just paint over the wallpaper?
You can, but it's almost always worse. Paint reactivates the seams, which then telegraph through. The paper edges curl at the perimeter. Moisture in a kitchen or bathroom lifts the whole sheet. Short-term savings, long-term redo. We quote paint-over only when removal would destroy the drywall.
What if removal tears up the drywall?
That's common on old papers installed directly over unprimed drywall. We skim-coat the torn drywall paper with joint compound, sand it smooth, prime with Gardz, and paint. Adds half a day and some cost but the wall comes out cleaner than before.
Do you handle multiple layers?
Yes — some older homes have two or three layers of paper. We work through them one at a time. Layered paper usually means longer steam time and more patience but the process is the same.
Is there a smell?
Steam is odor-free. Chemical strippers have a mild citrus smell. The primer (if oil-based Zinsser Cover Stain) has a solvent odor for about 4 hours after application. We ventilate and mask off rooms not being worked on.
Can wallpaper come off easily if it was put up over primer?
Yes — that's the ideal case and sometimes it peels off in full sheets. If you're putting up new wallpaper today, prime the drywall first. Your future self will thank you.
Where do we offer Wallpaper Removal in San Diego County?
We provide wallpaper removal in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.
See wallpaper removal in all 47 cities
Homeowners who hired us for this
Whole interior of a 3-bedroom in four days. Crew arrived at 8, worked clean, moved furniture themselves, and the cut lines around our textured ceiling are the sharpest I've ever seen on a paint job. Color turned out exactly like the sample.
Got three quotes. Paint Pros was the only one who walked me through the stucco prep in detail — which cracks needed elastomeric, which didn't. They spec'd a premium paint, not the cheapest. Nine months in, zero issues. Fair price for the work that went in.
Transformed our 90s oak kitchen. Doors off-site in a spray booth, sharp lines, handles upgraded. A week from drop-off to reinstall. Our kitchen looks like a $40,000 remodel but it cost us $5,400. Best ROI of anything we've done to this house.
Need wallpaper removal in San Diego County?
Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.