Question 1

Can you remove wallpaper that's been painted over?

Accepted Answer

Usually, yes. It's more work than removing unpainted wallpaper because the paint layer prevents steam from penetrating easily, but we've handled this many times. We'll evaluate it during the quote and tell you honestly how the project will go.

Question 2

Will my walls be damaged underneath?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. Older drywall under old wallpaper occasionally has paper-layer damage or unfinished surfaces. We repair anything we find before priming and painting, so the final result is smooth and clean regardless of what we started with.

Question 3

How long does wallpaper removal take?

Accepted Answer

A small accent wall: usually 1–2 days. A full room: 3–5 days. A whole house: 1–2 weeks. The variation depends on the wallpaper type, the condition, and whether the walls need significant repair before painting.

Question 4

Can I just paint over my wallpaper?

Accepted Answer

We don't recommend it. Painting over wallpaper traps the adhesive, often shows the seams through the paint, and creates a much harder problem when you eventually do want to remove it. The honest answer is: just remove it now and paint properly.

Question 5

Does wallpaper removal smell bad?

Accepted Answer

Not really. The steam is just hot water, and the cleaning solutions we use are low-odor. The biggest smell during the project is honestly the steamer itself, which smells like a humidifier.

Question 6

Can you remove wallpaper borders?

Accepted Answer

Yes — old wallpaper borders along the ceiling or at chair-rail height are common. The process is the same: steam, scrape, clean adhesive, repair, prime, paint.

Question 7

Do you remove wallpaper from ceilings?

Accepted Answer

Yes, including textured wallpaper sometimes found on older ceilings. If your ceiling has popcorn texture instead of wallpaper, see our popcorn ceiling removal page .

Wallpaper Removal