Wallpaper Removal/ Skim Coating

Old wallpaper and rough or damaged walls are two of the most common reasons people call us before a repaint. Skim coating solves both problems at once — it strips away the guesswork of matching old texture and gives you a clean, smooth surface that's ready for whatever comes next.

Wallpaper removal

Wallpaper glue and backing paper don't always come off clean, and what's left behind — torn paper, dried adhesive, gouges in the drywall from a previous attempt — usually needs more than a scraper to fix. We remove the wallpaper, strip the old adhesive down to bare drywall, and repair any damage underneath before moving on to finish work. Trying to paint directly over stripped wallpaper walls without addressing what's left behind is one of the most common DIY mistakes we get called to fix.

Skim coating

A skim coat is a thin, smooth layer of joint compound applied over an entire wall or ceiling. We use it to smooth out rough texture, cover repair patches so they blend into the surrounding surface, or completely change a wall's finish — for example, taking a heavily textured 1980s wall down to a clean, modern smooth finish. It's also often the right call after wallpaper removal, since stripped walls rarely come out perfectly smooth on their own.

What it costs and how long it takes

Pricing depends on square footage, how much prep work the wallpaper removal needs, and how many coats it takes to get a wall fully smooth. A single room is usually a two- to three-day job between application, drying, and sanding between coats. We give free, in-person estimates since wallpaper condition and wall texture vary enough that a phone quote isn't accurate.

Estimates

We serve Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Redlands, and the surrounding Inland Empire and Orange County, and we're licensed, insured, and bonded (LIC #857840).

A before photo a a wall that needs a 4'x8'drywall repair and wallpaper removal.
After photo of a 4'x8' drywall repair where wallpaper was removed and the wall was skim coated to a level 5 drywall finish in Moreno Valley, CA.

FAQ

  • Both. We strip the paper and the old adhesive down to bare drywall, then repair any damage before finishing.

  • A skim coat is a thin layer of joint compound applied over a whole wall or ceiling to smooth out rough texture or blend in repairs, giving you an even, paint-ready surface.

  • No — any leftover adhesive needs to come off first, or it can cause the new compound to crack or peel later. We always strip walls down to bare drywall before skim coating.

  • Typically 24 hours per coat depending on humidity and thickness, so most jobs take two to three days total including drying and sanding time.

  • Yes, every estimate is free and done in person, since wallpaper condition and wall texture vary from house to house.