Wallpaper removal costs $0.80 to $3.00 per square foot with dry stripping and steaming methods. Soaking in solvents and scraping costs $3 to $8 per square foot for more difficult jobs with multiple layers of antique wallpaper. Discounts are available on projects including wallpaper removal as part of interior repainting.

After removing wallpaper, you typically also need to pay for:

• The cost to skim coat walls is $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot for adding drywall mud or joint compound to cover small scratches or gouges.
• Drywall repair costs $50 to $100 per square foot for minor work.
• The cost of plastering walls is $10 to $100 per square foot for repairs.
• Interior painting costs $1 to $3 per square foot.

You'll need to get wallpaper removal during times like these:

• You're selling a home that has very outdated wallpaper.
• The existing wallpaper is peeling off and has fading colors.
• You want to redecorate and personalize your new home to suit your lifestyle.
• Contractors must repair water damage and/or mold in the walls.
• You've planned a renovation to upgrade the home with wall modifications.

While it's tempting to put new wallpaper over the old, existing wallpaper, that type of installation won't last as long. Plus, removing it is much more difficult later when you need to make big home repairs or paint the walls.

While many people do remove wallpaper themselves because it's not hard, the process is time consuming and can lead to accidental wall damages. The easiest wallpaper removals are on a wall with a fully primed and sealed surface underneath because it peels off easily with a putty knife.

However, asbestos-filled wallpaper in a home more than 20 years old with layers of lead paint on the walls will require a professional team to remove safely.

The length of time it takes for wallpaper removal depends on the method:

• Dry stripping with a putty blade takes 2 to 3 hours for each room.
• Using an electric steaming machine takes 6 to 8 hours per room.
• Soaking the wallpaper in chemical solvents and scraping can take 2 to 3 days per room if there are multiple layers of wallpaper.

The best way to remove wallpaper is by using the fastest method that won't damage the walls. Test one smaller area first to see which type of wallpaper method will work best for you.

Here are the pros and cons of each wallpaper removal method:

• Dry stripping with a putty knife is quick, easy, and leaves less of a mess to clean up. However, this approach isn't always strong enough to remove older wallpaper efficiently, especially if the wallpaper keeps ripping apart.
• Applying a wallpaper steaming machine loosens up the glue enough to peel off the wallpaper easily most of the time. Still, this approach won't always dissolve adhesive on multiple layers of wallpaper.
• Using a chemical solvent to dissolve the adhesive and then scrape off the wallpaper works well on the most difficult jobs. However, extra equipment and precautions are necessary with asbestos wallpaper and any lead paint it.

You can paint over wallpaper, but most of the time, you'll get more durable results by painting the wall directly. Painting wallpaper has negative consequences like causing the paper to peel off or reacting with the paint to disrupt the finish.

Nevertheless, some people choose to paint over wallpaper if they don't mind a temporary redecoration, the wallpaper lays completely flat, and all paper edges have caulk over them to keep them down.

Before hiring a wallpaper remover near you, be sure to:

• Compare 3+ estimates from licensed, insured, and bonded contractors.
• Hire a wallpaper removal service that has been in business at least 5 years.
• Check out their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
• Collect a detailed contract and warranty before the work begins.
• Don't pay in full until the job is complete.
• Avoid hiring the lowest bidder who may have lower-quality standards.

Gauge the experience of contractors by first asking them:

• Can I see testimonials from previous clients and old project photos?
• How long have you been doing professional wallpaper removals?
• Which methods do you use, and what's your process to remove wallpaper?
• Can you avoid strong chemicals if I'm allergic to them?
• What happens if you find mold or asbestos?
• How many people will work with you on this job?
• What's the price of removing wallpaper as part of a repainting project?
• How long will this project take?
• What's your payment schedule?
• How much extra do site preparation and cleanup cost?
• What can you do to protect the rest of my home from dust and accidents?
• How much is wall repair work if the wallpaper removal leaves damages?
• Are all fees listed in this wallpaper removal estimate?