Older Detroit houses often have several layers of wallpaper, sometimes painted over, on plaster walls. We remove the paper and the paste, repair the surface underneath and prime it. In a home built before 1978, the paint under old paper may contain lead, so we avoid dry sanding it.
Peel back a corner in an old Detroit dining room and there may be a second pattern under the first, and a third under that. Earlier owners papered over paper, and later ones often painted across the lot. All of it sits on plaster in most of these houses. Plaster is a good base for stripping, since it does not tear the way the paper face of drywall can. The job is still slow, and how slow depends on the layers and the paste.
We start with a test patch to learn how the paper is held. The surface is scored lightly, soaked with warm water or a removal solution, and lifted with broad scrapers. Painted paper needs more soaking because the paint keeps water out. Floors and trim are covered and power to wall outlets is switched off while the walls are wet. When the paper is gone the paste is washed off too. Paste left behind will make new paint crackle.
Bare walls rarely look perfect once the paper is off. Old cracks and patches that the paper was hiding come into view, and we fill and sand them. The wall is then sealed with a primer that locks down any trace of paste. In a house built before 1978 there may be lead paint beneath the oldest layer, so we work wet and avoid dry scraping. After priming, the room can be painted, or left ready for the new paper you have chosen.
Wallpaper removal in Detroit: common questions
Can you paint over wallpaper to save the cost of removing it?
It can be done when the paper is tight and smooth, but we rarely suggest it. Seams and texture show through, moisture in the paint can lift the edges, and removal is harder later. Taking the paper off gives a better and longer lasting wall.
How long does it take to strip one room?
It depends on the number of layers, the paste and whether the paper was painted. A single layer on plaster may come off in a day. Several painted layers take longer. The test patch at the estimate tells us a lot.
What if the wall under the paper is in poor shape?
Then we repair it. Cracks are filled, loose plaster is secured and rough areas are skim coated smooth. We tell you what we find as soon as the paper is off, and any extra repair is agreed with you before it is done.
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.