Wallpaper Removal in Calgary

How wallpaper removal works

Wallpaper removal looks simple until you are standing in a half-stripped room. Paper that went up decades ago — sometimes in several layers, sometimes painted over — leaves adhesive residue, torn drywall paper and damaged plaster behind, and rushing it gouges walls and leaves glue that sabotages every coat of paint applied afterward. Our crews remove wallpaper the careful way, in a proven sequence:

1. Protection first. Floors, fixtures and adjacent surfaces are covered; electrical plates are removed and outlets protected from moisture.
2. Test section. We open a small area to see how the paper was installed and how many layers are present, so the removal method matches the wall.
3. Scoring and soaking. The paper is scored and treated with hot water or steam to soften the adhesive without flooding the wall.
4. Stripping and washing. The paper and backing come off, the adhesive residue is washed off completely and the wall is rinsed — the step that decides whether the new finish adheres and looks clean.
5. Repairs and skim coating. Dents, cracks and torn areas are repaired, and skim coating levels out rough or damaged sections.
6. Sanding and priming. The wall is sanded smooth and primed, with stain-blocking primer where old adhesive or water marks would otherwise bleed through — and the finished wall is inspected with you before any paint or paper goes on.

One service, or part of a painting project

MV Painting Inc. removes wallpaper as a standalone service or as part of a painting project — and no two removals are the same. What your walls need depends on the paper itself: its type, how it was installed and how old it is. That is why your free estimate walks through every possibility for your specific walls before we start, with the full process and both prices spelled out in writing. The work itself begins with stripping the paper and applying a glue remover to clear the residue. Some walls are then ready for paint; others need a skim coat to level the surface, followed by primer, before painting. If the skim coat turns out to be necessary, its price is already in your estimate — and if it isn't, you don't pay for it.

What makes every removal different

Your written estimate reflects the things that actually drive the work:

Layers. Multiple layers — or paper that was painted over — take significantly longer to remove.

Paper type. Strippable modern papers come off faster than traditional pasted papers and vinyls.

Adhesive condition. Hardened or previously painted-over glue needs more washing and repair.

Wall condition underneath. Torn drywall paper and damage discovered on removal add repair scope.

Rooms and height. The number and size of rooms — and ceiling height in stairwells and two-storey entries.

What follows. Repainting the room, installing new wallpaper, or both.

After the paper: paint, or new paper?

Removal and installation can be combined in one project: old paper out, walls restored, new paper or paint on, all under one written estimate. We also install wallpaper — feature walls, full rooms and commercial spaces — with the pattern matched and seams rolled flat, starting from a repaired, primed wall with proper sizing, so the paper hangs well today and can be removed cleanly years from now.

If paint is the plan, the room flows straight into our interior painting work, and any damage the removal reveals is handled under our drywall repair scope.

Common questions

Plan your project

Additional Services — The full list of extra services, including wallpaper installation.

Are Drywall Repairs Included in a Painting Quote? — Which repairs are included in prep and which are quoted separately.

Interior Painting — Walls, ceilings and trim repainted once the paper is off.

Before the Painters Arrive: Checklist — How to get your rooms ready before the crew arrives.