Kitchen borders from the 1990s, vinyl in bathrooms and old paper under paint all turn up in Salinas homes. We test a patch, remove the paper and every trace of paste, repair the wall and prime it, so the room is ready for a smooth coat of paint.
Wallpaper turns up in Salinas homes of every age: floral paper and borders in kitchens and bathrooms from the 1980s and 1990s, grasscloth and vinyl in dining rooms, and older paper under paint in houses near Oldtown and Maple Park. How hard it is to remove depends on what is under it. Paper hung over a primed or painted wall comes off cleanly. Paper glued straight to bare drywall takes the face of the drywall with it unless great care is used.
We test a corner first to see how the paper behaves. Strippable papers are peeled dry. Others are scored lightly, wetted with a removal solution or steam and scraped off with wide blades. The backing and the paste underneath come off in a second pass. That second pass matters. Paste left on the wall makes new paint crack and craze. Once the wall is clean and dry, torn spots are sealed, dents are filled and the surface is sanded.
After removal the wall is primed, and it may need a skim coat if the surface is rough. We cannot be sure of that until some paper is off, so the quote explains what happens in each case. Floors and baseboards are covered, since the work is wet. In houses built before 1978, old paint under the paper may contain lead, and we handle scraping and sanding with that in mind. Most single rooms are stripped and ready for paint within a day or two.
Wallpaper removal in Salinas: common questions
Can you just paint over my wallpaper?
We can if the paper is firmly stuck and removal would ruin the wall, but it is the second choice. Seams and texture show through, and damp air can lift painted paper later. We will tell you which way makes sense after a test patch.
There is paper under the paint in my older home. What then?
It is common in older Salinas houses. If it is flat and sound it can often stay. If seams or bubbles show, the painted paper has to come off, which is slower because the paint stops water from reaching the paste.
How long until the room can be painted?
The wall has to dry fully after the paste is washed off, usually overnight. Repairs and primer follow, and painting can begin after that. Foggy weather adds a little drying time.
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.