Wallpaper Removal
Wallpaper removal in Huntley, IL
Removal is priced by square footage of wall and by how many layers are up there. Our published rate starts at $1.25 per square foot. One layer of strippable vinyl is the easy end, three layers glued to raw drywall is a different job, and the estimator shows you the difference.
From $1.25 per sq ft of wall
Steamed, scraped, paste washed off, walls left paint ready
Extra layers, painted-over paper and a skim coat after add to it. All projects carry a $450 minimum.
Wallpaper removal estimate
$468to$582
Real range from our rate card. No form, no sales visit needed to see it.
- Removal260 sq ft at $1.25
- $325
- Skim and sand after260 sq ft at $0.75
- $195
What drives the number
Why one house costs more than the next
Nothing here is a mystery. These are the six things that move your price, up or down.
How many layers there are
One layer of strippable vinyl comes off in sheets. Three layers from three decades is a completely different job, and every layer is another pass of steam and scraping.
What is under the paper
Paper hung on primed drywall releases cleanly. Paper glued to raw drywall takes the face paper with it, and that means real repair work.
Paper type
Peelable and strippable papers are the easy end. Painted-over paper, foil and non-perforated vinyl have to be scored and steamed inch by inch.
Adhesive residue
Old paste has to be washed off completely. Paint over leftover paste and it reactivates, bubbles and you can see it from across the room.
Skim and sand after
This is the difference between bare walls and smooth walls. If your drywall got chewed up, skimming is what makes the repaint look new.
Furniture and access
Steam, drop cloths and water need room. A cleared room strips faster and costs less, so tell us if you can empty it.
What does not change it
Whether you seem like you can afford it. Our rate card is the same for every house in Huntley. We also do not charge extra because the last person did a bad job.
Video neededVIDEO NEEDED: Anthony stripping a real papered dining room, showing scoring, steaming, paste washdown and skim coat, approx 6 min
Watch before you book
See exactly how the job runs before we knock on your door
You should know what a day with our crew looks like, what gets covered, what gets moved, when we show up and when we leave. Watch it first, then decide.
How it goes
Four steps, start to finish
- 01
Test and price
Peel a corner and see whether it releases. Then measure the wall area, run the estimator, and know your range before calling anyone.
- 02
Layer check
We confirm layer count and what is behind the paper on site, so the price you signed does not change halfway through.
- 03
Score, steam, scrape
Floors and trim protected, paper scored where needed, steamed and scraped without gouging the drywall. Then the paste gets washed off.
- 04
Patch, skim, prime
We patch damage, skim where the surface needs it, sand smooth and prime, so the walls are ready for paint or new paper.
Straight talk
When we would tell you not to hire us
We would rather lose the job than take money for work that will not hold up or that you do not need yet. Here are three times we tell people to wait or spend their money somewhere else.
The paper is strippable and you have a free weekend
If a corner peels cleanly and it is one small room, this is honestly a DIY job. Score it, steam it, take your time. We will tell you which steamer to rent.
You are gutting the room anyway
If those walls are coming down in the remodel, do not pay us to make them pretty first. Remove nothing and let the demo crew handle it.
You want a guaranteed price sight unseen
Removal is the one service where what is behind the paper genuinely changes the work. If you need a locked number before anyone looks, we are not your best option.
Comparison
D'Franco versus a typical low bid
Both columns are honest. Read the last row carefully.
| What you are comparing | D'Franco | Typical low bid |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall condition after | Steamed and scraped carefully, damage patched and skimmed. | Dry-scraped fast, and you are left with gouges to fix. |
| Adhesive residue | Washed off completely and checked before priming. | Left on. It bubbles the moment paint touches it. |
| Layer surprises | Layers confirmed and priced before we start the room. | Change order once the second layer shows up. |
| Cleanup | Wet paper, paste water and dust contained daily. | Paste water on your hardwood floors. |
| Ready for paint | Patched, skimmed, sanded and primed as part of the plan. | Bare walls handed back to you as done. |
| Price on the day you sign | Higher. Careful removal takes longer than fast removal. | Usually cheaper, and the drywall repair bill comes later. |
Last row included on purpose. If price on the day is the only thing that matters, we are not going to win, and that is fine.
Questions
Answers, including the awkward ones
How much does wallpaper removal cost?
From $1.25 per square foot of wall, which is our published rate, with our $450 project minimum applying to small rooms. Extra layers, painted-over paper and a skim coat after add to it, and the estimator shows you exactly how much.
Will removing wallpaper damage my drywall?
Some damage is normal, especially where paper was hung on unprimed drywall. Our price includes patching, and skim and sand is an option when the surface needs more than spot repair.
Can you just paint over the wallpaper instead?
Sometimes, and it is cheaper, but the seams and edges usually telegraph and any moisture lifts it. We will look at your paper and tell you honestly whether painting over it is defensible.
How long does a room take?
A single layer in a small room is often one day. Multiple layers, painted-over paper, or a large dining room can take two to three days including skim and prime.
Do you paint after removal?
Yes, and most people bundle the two. That saves a mobilization and means one crew owns the whole result, so there is nobody to blame but us.
Learning Center
Keep reading before you buy
Wallpaper removal cost guide
Layer counts, skim coats and what makes a removal job expensive.
Problems after wallpaper removal
Bubbling, paste ghosting and torn drywall face, and how each gets fixed.
Remove it or paint over it
The honest case for each, including when painting over is fine.
Find out what stripping that room really costs.
Measure the wall, pick your layer count, and see the number. If it is a job you should do yourself, we will say so.