Wallpaper removal
Strip one wall or full room — score, steam and peel. Price per wall.
From $95/wall
Wallpaper · Calgary
Old wallpaper stripped. New wallpaper hung right.
Removal, wall prep and installation for any wallpaper type. Peel-and-stick, paste-the-wall or traditional — clean result every time.
- ✓ No drywall damage
- ✓ Pattern matching
- ✓ Wall prep included
- ✓ Peel-and-stick specialists
- ✓ Same-visit removal + install
Wallpaper pricing
Prices cover labour and standard supplies. You supply the wallpaper — or ask us to recommend styles for your space. All prices are in Canadian dollars.
Wall prep after stripping
Skim, sand and prime bare drywall or plaster before new finish
From $65/wall
Wallpaper installation
Hang customer-supplied wallpaper — traditional paste or peel-and-stick
From $120/wall
Full room package
Strip, prep and hang new wallpaper — one room, one visit
Custom quote
- Painted-over wallpaper takes 2–3× longer to remove and is quoted separately — send a photo to confirm.
- Multi-layer wallpaper (one layer pasted over another) is priced per layer.
- Wall prep after removal is always recommended before painting or re-papering — skim, sand and prime.
- Full rooms and multi-wall projects receive a bundled price — cheaper per wall than individual walls booked separately.
Why wallpaper removal goes wrong
Rushing the soak tears the drywall face
Pulling dry wallpaper peels the paper facing off drywall underneath, leaving a rough, absorbent surface that shows through paint forever. The fix for gouged drywall takes far longer than the removal would have. We soak thoroughly and peel slowly — the only way to preserve a clean wall underneath.
Painted-over wallpaper needs a steamer
When someone painted directly over wallpaper, the paint seals moisture out and makes chemical removers nearly useless. A steamer penetrates the paint layer and re-activates the adhesive underneath. Without the right tools this job takes two days; with them it takes a few hours per room.
Unprimed bare drywall absorbs paint unevenly
After stripping, bare drywall and mudded patches have different porosity levels. Painting without priming shows as sheen variations — shiny patches over bare drywall, flat patches over skim coat. A proper primer coat seals everything to the same absorbency before the paint goes on.
What is included
- Score and soak wallpaper with appropriate solution or steam
- Strip in large sections, minimising wall surface damage
- Remove all adhesive residue from the wall surface
- Inspect and note any drywall damage for repair
- Skim-coat and sand any torn drywall facing (wall prep package)
- Prime bare wall before new finish (wall prep package)
- Pattern-match and measure wallpaper before cutting
- Hang wallpaper plumb using a spirit level on every strip
- Smooth out bubbles and align seams as each strip is applied
- Trim at ceiling, baseboard and door frames cleanly
- Wipe excess paste from the wall surface as we go
- Remove all paper waste and packaging before leaving
Wallpaper types we handle
Every wallpaper type has different installation requirements. We have worked with all of them.
Paste-the-wall
The most common modern format. Paste is applied to the wall, not the paper — easier to hang and reposition. Works on primed drywall and plaster.
Paste-the-paper (traditional)
Classic method where each strip is pasted and allowed to book before hanging. Requires more time but produces excellent results on textured or older walls.
Peel-and-stick
Self-adhesive panels or rolls — no paste required. Ideal for temporary use or smooth surfaces. Requires careful alignment to avoid bubbles and crooked seams.
Vinyl & washable
Durable and moisture-resistant — ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. Thicker vinyl is more forgiving to hang but heavier, requiring more adhesive and drying time.
Grasscloth & natural fibre
Textured natural materials that cannot be overlapped at seams — butt joints only. Seams are visible by design; we align the texture so they read as minimal.
Prepasted
Paper with dry paste pre-applied. Activated by water or paste roller. Common in older residential wallpaper stock — still widely available and easy to hang.
How it works
Send photos
Photo of the wall (or the room) plus the wallpaper you want installed — if applicable. We quote removal, prep and installation separately so you can choose the scope.
Confirm and book
Accept the quote and pick a time. Most wallpaper jobs are booked within 1–2 days. We confirm how many rolls to have ready if you have not purchased yet.
Clean result
We remove, prep and install in sequence on the same visit where possible. You are left with clean walls — no paste residue, no paper strips and no mess.
Wallpaper questions
How do you remove wallpaper without damaging the drywall?
We score the surface lightly with a scoring tool, apply a water and fabric softener solution or steam to loosen the adhesive, then peel carefully in large sections. Pulling too fast or without adequate moisture is what damages drywall. If the paper tears the drywall face, we skim-coat and sand before any new finish — that is included in our wall prep pricing.
Can you remove wallpaper that has been painted over?
Yes, but painted-over wallpaper is significantly harder to remove. The paint seals the surface so moisture cannot penetrate to loosen the adhesive. We score aggressively and may need to use a steamer for longer — removal takes two to three times as long as unpainted wallpaper. We confirm this upfront so the quote reflects actual scope.
Do you supply the wallpaper?
We install customer-supplied wallpaper — traditional paste-the-wall, paste-the-paper or peel-and-stick formats. You choose the pattern, order enough rolls for the room (we can advise on quantity) and we handle all measuring, cutting and hanging. We do not carry wallpaper inventory as the range of patterns and brands is too wide to stock.
Can you match patterns when hanging wallpaper?
Pattern matching is standard for any wallpaper with a repeat. We identify the repeat length, align each strip before cutting and check the seam from a distance before committing. Wallpapers with a large repeat (30 cm+) waste more material during matching — account for this when ordering extra rolls.
What is the difference between paste-the-wall and paste-the-paper?
Paste-the-wall wallpaper is applied directly to the primed wall surface. It is easier to handle and reposition and is less likely to stretch. Paste-the-paper (traditional) requires pasting the back of each strip, allowing it to book (soak) for the correct time, then hanging it. Both produce excellent results — paste-the-wall is generally preferred for DIY and professional installation alike today.
How long does wallpaper installation take?
A single accent wall with a straightforward pattern takes two to three hours including setup and cleanup. A full room (four walls) typically takes a full day. Rooms with many windows, doors or difficult angles take longer. We confirm timing when we see your layout and wallpaper pattern.
Ready to transform your walls?
Not satisfied with the work? I will come back and make it right.
Get a wallpaper quote or call (403) 973-5123