Wallcoverings & Finishes Naperville, IL
Wallpaper removal and wall repair in Naperville
Old paper and borders steamed off, the paste washed away, torn drywall face sealed and skimmed, and the walls left ready for paint or new paper.
- Calls answered 24/7
- Steamed, not gouged
- Skim coat after removal
Quick answer
Wallpaper removal in Naperville is mostly careful steaming and cleanup: the paper is scored or peeled, steamed until the paste releases, and scraped without gouging the drywall, then every trace of paste is washed off. Torn drywall paper is sealed and skimmed before painting. A typical bathroom or dining room takes one to two days. Call to book.
What the job involves
The paper is the easy part; the paste and the drywall are the job
Wallpaper from the 1980s and 1990s was often hung directly on unprimed drywall, which means the paste bonded to the paper face of the drywall itself. Pull too hard and the drywall paper comes off with it, leaving a fuzzy brown surface that will bubble under paint. So removal is slow and gentle, and repair is part of the job.
Once the paper is off, paste residue is washed until the wall is clean, because paint over paste cracks and peels. Any torn areas are sealed with an oil or shellac primer, skimmed and sanded before the wall is primed for paint.
Updated September 2026
Types of work on this page
The 3 versions of this job we get asked for
Steam removal
Most paper comes off best with steam. Vinyl-faced papers peel away from their backing dry, leaving a paper layer that is then steamed. Non-strippable papers are scored lightly and steamed until the paste softens, then lifted with a wide scraper held low so it does not dig into the wall. Borders along the top of 1990s kitchens and bathrooms are usually the stubbornest, because they were often hung over another paper. We protect floors, outlets and trim from water, and keep the room ventilated as we work.
Wall skim after removal
Almost every wall shows some damage after paper comes off: torn drywall face, gouges, and patches where the paste would not let go. Torn areas are sealed with a shellac or oil-based primer so they do not bubble when water-based compound or paint touches them, then skimmed with joint compound and sanded smooth. On badly damaged walls the whole surface is skimmed. This step is what separates a wall that looks newly painted from one that shows the ghost of every old seam under the paint.
Painting over removed paper
Once the walls are clean and repaired, they are primed with a sealing primer and painted in two coats, or prepared for new wallpaper with a wallcovering primer. Painting over wallpaper that is still on the wall is sometimes asked for; it is possible on well-bonded paper with a sealing primer, but the seams tend to show and it makes future removal much harder, so we recommend it only when the paper is tight and removal would badly damage fragile plaster. We will tell you which applies at the walkthrough.
What moves the price
What decides the cost of this job
Pricing comes from a walkthrough of the actual surfaces.
- Wall area. Square footage of papered walls.
- Paper type. Strippable vinyl comes off faster than non-strippable paper.
- Layers. Paper over paper, or over painted paper, takes longer.
- Wall surface. Unprimed drywall tears more and needs more repair.
- Borders. Borders over other paper are slow to remove.
- Painting after. Priming and painting are quoted as a follow-on line.
Local conditions
Wallpaper Removal around Naperville
The bulk of Naperville's housing went up between 1980 and 2000, exactly the era when bathroom and kitchen borders and full rooms of vinyl paper were standard, so much of our removal work is in original baths, kitchens and dining rooms of those homes. In the pre-1978 houses closer to downtown, paper often sits over old paint layers or plaster, so we follow lead-safe practices when scraping disturbs painted surfaces.
Step by step
How the job runs from the first call to the last coat
Test a corner
Paper type and how the paste releases.
Protect
Floors, outlets and trim covered against water.
Strip or score
Vinyl face peeled or paper scored lightly.
Steam and scrape
Paste softened and paper lifted without gouging.
Wash off paste
Walls cleaned until no residue remains.
Seal and skim
Torn areas sealed, skimmed and sanded.
Prime
Walls sealed and ready for paint or new paper.
Timeline
How long wallpaper removal takes
A powder room or bathroom is typically one day to remove and one to repair. A full dining room or kitchen is two to three days total. Layered paper, borders over paper and heavily damaged drywall add time, which we flag at the walkthrough.
FAQ
Questions about wallpaper removal in Naperville
Sometimes, if it is well bonded, but seams often show. Removal gives a better, longer-lasting result.
The drywall's paper face tore. It must be sealed with a shellac or oil primer before any water-based product.
Usually one day to remove and one day to repair and prime.
Yes. Borders are a common small job, often followed by painting the walls.
Yes, and plaster usually releases paper more cleanly than drywall.
We can. See the wallpaper installation page.
Book wallpaper removal in Naperville
One number, both offices, answered around the clock. The estimate is a walkthrough, not a guess.
Call (630) 389-8505Calls answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.