Older Brooklyn homes often have several layers of wallpaper, sometimes painted over, on plaster walls. We remove the paper and the paste, repair any plaster or drywall that comes away with it, and prime the wall so the new paint goes on smooth.
Wallpaper in an old Brooklyn home is rarely one layer. Parlors, halls and bedrooms were papered again and again, and later owners often painted over the last layer in place of stripping it. Underneath is plaster, which stands up to removal better than drywall does. In apartments renovated more recently, paper may be stuck straight onto unprimed drywall, and that is the difficult case, because the paper face of the board lifts with it. We test a small area first to see which you have.
Removal is slow, wet work. Furniture is moved and floors and outlets are covered. Painted or vinyl-faced paper is scored so water can reach the paste. The paper is soaked with warm water or a remover, or steamed, and then lifted with a wide scraper. After the paper comes the paste. All of it has to be washed off, since paint over leftover paste cracks and peels. The bare wall is then repaired where it was nicked, sealed with a suitable primer and made ready for paint.
What we find under the paper sets the rest of the job. Old plaster may be cracked or patched, and paper sometimes hides it. A skim coat brings such walls back to a smooth face. Coats of paint under or over the paper in an older home can contain lead, so we avoid dry sanding them and keep the debris contained. Tell us if there is a historic paper you want to keep. Allow more time than for painting alone. We confirm the price after the test patch.
Wallpaper removal in Brooklyn: common questions
Someone painted over the wallpaper. Can it still come off?
Usually, yes. The paint has to be scored so water can get behind it, and the work takes longer. If the paper is tight and the seams are flat, sealing and skim coating over it is sometimes a fair second choice. We will tell you which we advise.
How long does it take to strip a room?
It depends on the number of layers and the wall behind them. One layer on sound plaster can come off in a day. Several painted layers, or paper glued to bare drywall, take longer. The test patch tells us.
Can you hang new wallpaper afterwards?
This page covers removal and getting walls ready for paint. If you plan new paper, tell us and we will leave the wall primed for it. Ask us whether hanging is something we can take on for your job.
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.