Old New York apartments often have wallpaper hung straight onto plaster, sometimes in several layers and sometimes under paint. Taking it off without wrecking the wall takes patience. We strip the paper, wash off the glue, repair and skim coat the surface and prime it, so the wall is ready for paint.
Wallpaper has a long past in New York apartments. We find grasscloth in classic sixes, vinyl in kitchens from the seventies, foil in powder rooms and, quite often, old paper that someone simply painted over. Each one comes off in its own way. The first step is a test in a corner to learn how many layers there are, what the wall behind is and whether the wall was sealed before the paper went up. That test tells us the time needed for the room.
On plaster, paper usually releases well once it is wet through. We score lightly where needed, soak with warm water or a removal solution, and lift it with wide blades held flat. Steam helps on stubborn layers. On unprimed drywall the paper face of the board can tear away with it, so we go slower and seal any torn areas afterward. Then comes the step that is often skipped: washing off all the paste. Paint over leftover paste crackles and peels, so the walls are rinsed until clean.
Stripped walls are seldom ready for paint. Old plaster shows cracks and patches the paper was hiding, so we repair, skim coat where needed, sand and prime with a sealer that locks down any trace of adhesive. Where painted-over paper sits on a pre-1978 wall, we treat the paint as possibly lead-based and keep dust contained. Floors and furniture are covered, and wet debris is bagged and carried out by the route your building prefers. We can then paint or leave the walls primed for you.
Wallpaper removal in New York: common questions
Someone painted over the wallpaper in my apartment. Can it still come off?
Usually, though it takes longer. The paint blocks water, so we score through it to let moisture reach the paste. When removal would destroy the wall behind, sealing and skim coating over well-bonded paper can be the sounder choice.
Will removing wallpaper ruin my plaster walls?
Sound plaster stands up well to careful removal. What you may see afterward are old cracks and patches that were there all along. We include that repair in the quote, so the price covers a paint-ready wall and not only stripping.
How messy is this in a furnished apartment?
It is wet work, not dusty work, until the sanding stage. We move furniture to the center, cover it and the floors, and bag the paper as it comes down. Sanding dust is controlled with vacuum-attached tools.
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.