Residential services: Wallpaper removal in Ottawa
Old wallpaper, borders and glue removed, the walls repaired and sealed, and a smooth surface ready for paint.
The paper is the easy part
Taking wallpaper down is rarely the hard bit. The work is in what's left behind: a layer of glue that has to come off completely, and drywall underneath that may tear as the paper comes away. Paint over leftover adhesive and it cracks and wrinkles as it dries. Paint over torn drywall paper and it bubbles. Most of a wallpaper job is getting the wall back to a surface that's fit to paint.
How we remove wallpaper
- Floors and trim are protected, and outlet and switch covers come off with the openings kept dry
- A test patch shows how the paper comes off and what is underneath
- Strippable papers are peeled dry; others are soaked or steamed until the adhesive lets go
- Paper is scraped off carefully to avoid gouging the wall
- All remaining adhesive is washed off, and the wall is checked for residue once it dries
- Damage is repaired before the walls are primed and painted
When the drywall tears
Wallpaper hung straight onto unprimed drywall bonds to the paper face of the drywall itself. When it comes off, the brown paper underneath can tear or fuzz, and water-based products make it worse by soaking in and making it bubble. Torn areas are sealed with a primer made to lock down damaged drywall paper, then skim-coated and sanded smooth before paint.
Plaster walls in older homes
Many older Ottawa homes, in neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Westboro and New Edinburgh, have plaster walls under several layers of paper and paint. Plaster stands up to soaking and steaming better than drywall, but old layers that have been painted over can be stubborn, and cracks and loose plaster often show up once the paper is off. Those are repaired as part of the job so the finished walls are sound.
Painted-over wallpaper
If someone painted over the wallpaper, removal takes longer because the paint stops water reaching the glue. The surface is scored lightly so the solution can get through, without cutting into the wall behind. Where the paper is still tightly bonded and the seams are sound, sealing it and skim-coating over it can be the better option, and we'll talk it through with you.
Borders, bathrooms and feature walls
Jobs range from a single border or powder-room feature wall to whole floors of paper in an older house. Bathrooms and kitchens get a primer suited to humid rooms, and the walls are painted in the finish you choose, so you end up with a finished room rather than a stripped wall waiting for someone else.
Wallpaper Removal FAQ
Questions we get about this work.
Anything else? Ask us or call and we'll answer straight away.
Can you paint over wallpaper?
Sometimes, if the paper is tightly bonded, but seams and edges often show through and lift later. Removing it is usually the better long-term option. Where it is not, the paper is sealed and skim-coated rather than painted directly.
Why does paint crack over old wallpaper glue?
Adhesive left on the wall softens when paint goes on and shrinks as it dries, which cracks and wrinkles the paint. That is why every trace of glue is washed off and the wall is primed before painting.
Will removing wallpaper damage my walls?
Some damage is common, especially on drywall that was not primed before it was papered. It is repaired as part of the job, so the wall is smooth before it is painted.
How long does wallpaper removal take?
A powder room or feature wall is often done in a day. Whole rooms take longer, depending on the number of layers, the type of paper and the repairs needed. We give you a timeline with the quote.
Do you remove wallpaper borders?
Yes. Borders come off the same way, and the strip of wall behind them is repaired and blended so no outline shows through the new paint.
Do you paint the room afterwards?
Yes. Removal, repairs, priming and painting are quoted together, so one crew takes the room from wallpaper to finished paint.
Get started
Tell us about the space.
We'll arrange a site visit and send a written quote with the scope, the products and the schedule.