What’s included
- Wallpaper and borders stripped
- Multiple layers removed
- Paste washed off
- Torn drywall sealed
- Plaster cracks filled
- Walls primed
What we don’t do
- Cracks from settling or structural movement.
- Framing changes or putting up new walls.
- Painting the full exterior of a house.
In Alhambra homes
About 77 percent of Alhambra’s homes were built before 1980, according to a city housing report. Older Alhambra houses often have wallpaper on plaster in dining rooms and bathrooms, sometimes in layers from different decades.
Get a quote in one text
Send photos of the papered walls. Our number for photos is (310) 628-9399, and the price comes back before any work is booked.
Test first
A test patch shows whether steam or soaking works best.
Painting
We can paint the room after; whole-house painting goes to a painter.
In older Alhambra houses this job often turns up next to drywall repair, paint touch-ups and rental turnover repairs, so mention those when you text and we can price them together.
Sources: City of Alhambra, housing needs report (age of housing stock).
Wallpaper removal questions from Alhambra homeowners
Is it better to remove wallpaper or paint over it?
Removing it. Paint over paper often bubbles and shows seams.
Can you remove wallpaper from plaster?
Yes. Plaster usually comes through steaming well.
Do you repair the wall after?
Yes. Torn spots are sealed and skimmed, then primed.
How much does wallpaper removal cost?
It depends on the area. Text a photo for a free estimate.
Will the walls need skim coating afterward?
Sometimes. Paper hung on unprimed drywall can tear the face paper. Those spots are sealed and skimmed smooth before paint.
Does leftover paste matter?
Yes. Old paste makes new paint crack and peel, so the walls are washed until they no longer feel slick.
Related guide: Wallpaper removal tips from our guide to painting touch ups.
Repair guides for this job
- Reading the cracks in a 1920s Alhambra plaster wallWhy plaster cracks in Alhambra's 1920s Spanish and Mediterranean homes, which cracks are cosmetic, how we patch them, and when to text us a photo.
- Touch-up painting that actually blends in on old wallsHow we touch up scuffs, patches and chipped trim in older Alhambra homes so they blend in with the color, sheen and texture around them.
- Five-minute checks before you call usFive-minute checks for dead outlets, a running toilet, a leak under the sink and a stuck door, so you know what you are dealing with before you call.
- Getting an older house ready for the first rainA fall checklist for older Alhambra houses: doors and windows, caulking, drains, outdoor outlets and the small leaks that turn into big repairs after the first storm.
Looking for a handyman in Alhambra for more than one job? Send the whole list and we’ll price it together.
We serve Alhambra first, plus Monterey Park, San Gabriel and other nearby cities. Have a question? See the handyman FAQ.
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