Wallpaper work
- Multiple layers steamed off
- Vinyl and grasscloth papers removed
- Paste residue washed off
- Loose plaster reattached and cracks filled
- Skim coat where the surface is rough
- Sealing primer for painting
Paper over plaster
With 52.3 percent of homes over 60 years old, many San Gabriel rooms have wallpaper on original lime plaster. Plaster handles steam well, but it can hide cracks that show once the paper is off.
I repair plaster with compatible materials before priming.
Steps
Protect
Floors and trim are covered.
Steam
Each layer comes off in turn.
Clean
Paste is washed away.
Repair and prime
Cracks fixed, wall primed.
Paint
I prime and can paint a room. Whole-house painting goes to a painter.
On the same San Gabriel visit, people also tend to ask about plaster crack repair, baseboard and trim repair or rental turnover repairs.
What to send
Photos of the papered rooms, and whether there seem to be layers.
Wallpaper questions
Can wallpaper be removed from plaster walls?
Yes. Plaster usually holds up better than drywall.
What if there are several layers?
I steam each layer off separately.
Do you prime after removing wallpaper?
Yes, with a primer that seals any leftover paste.
What does wallpaper removal run?
It depends on rooms and layers. Send photos for a free estimate.
Guides
- Patching old plaster walls without making them worseWhy hard cement patches fail on the soft plaster walls of San Gabriel's older and adobe-style homes, how to tell what you have, and how we repair it.
- Getting new paint to stick to old glossy trimHow to tell if trim in an older San Gabriel home has oil-based paint, and how we prep it so new paint sticks instead of peeling.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our drywall, plaster and paint touch-ups group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.