Wallpaper Removal Service in Chicago, IL
Old paper stripped, walls skimmed smooth, and painted if you want. We steam, scrape, patch, and clean up every piece of debris. Licensed and insured, with the price in writing before we touch your wall.
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Quick Answer
Wallpaper removal in Chicago starts at $399 for a single room, including steam stripping, scraping, and skimming the walls flat. An average two-bedroom house with paper in several rooms runs about $1,800 to $2,400. That price comes from Vanguard Painting, a licensed and insured company based in Melrose Park. Every job includes steam removal, paste residue cleanup, wall patching, floor protection, and full debris haul-away. We handle vinyl, foil, fabric, and old paper that's been on the wall since the 70s across Chicago and all of Cook County.
What You Get When We Remove Your Wallpaper
Book wallpaper removal in Chicago and this is the full package. No extra charges for tough paper or multiple layers.
Professional wall steamers soften the adhesive, so paper comes off in full sheets instead of tiny pieces.
Old glue scraped and washed off so the wall surface is clean and ready for primer.
Imperfections and gouges from scraping are skim-coated smooth with joint compound.
Nail holes, minor cracks and damaged sections patched and sanded flat.
Dropsheet cover on floors, and anything near the walls moved or covered.
We prime after stripping so bare drywall and skim coat take paint properly.
Every piece of stripped paper, old paste and scrapings hauled off your property.
We can either leave the walls ready for your painter or paint them ourselves.
Wallpaper Removal Prices in Chicago
Here's where our pricing starts on the wallpaper jobs Chicago homeowners ask about most. The type of paper, how many layers, and the condition of the wall underneath move the final number. You get that number in writing first.
Not sure which of these you need? Call (708) 815-7720. Most Chicago wallpaper jobs get priced over the phone in about five minutes.
Chicago Homes Have Their Own Wallpaper Challenges
Chicago is a city of century-old greystones, brick two-flats, and vintage bungalows. Old paper was often glued directly to plaster or drywall, and removing it without damaging the wall takes patience.
Multiple layers are common
Chicago homes often have three or four layers of paper. Each new owner put theirs on top. We steam in stages so we don't tear the drywall.
Vinyl and foil papers
70s and 80s paper often had plastic or foil faces. The adhesive doesn't absorb water easily. We use scoring tools and high-heat steam.
Plaster underneath
Older Chicago homes have real plaster. The paper sometimes pulls the plaster's surface off. We skim coat after stripping to make the wall flat again. We also handle drywall repair when needed.
Paper from before 1980 may be over old paint that could contain lead. Our crews follow safe stripping practices. We have the experience Chicago's older homes require.
How We Strip Wallpaper From a Chicago Home
Eight steps, same order every time, whether it's a single room in a Lincoln Park condo or a full house in Beverly.
Walk and assess
We check each wall, test the paper type, and write the price down before we leave.
Protect the space
Furniture covered, floors sheeted, outlets taped off, switch plates removed.
Score the paper
Paper tiger or hand scoring tool breaks the surface so steam can penetrate.
Steam strip
Professional steamer loosens the adhesive so paper comes off in whole sheets.
Scrape residue
Any remaining paste and tiny paper bits scraped off the wall surface.
Wash and rinse
Walls washed with trisodium phosphate or similar to remove every trace of glue.
Patch and skim
Holes, gouges and torn paper patched. Walls skimmed flat if needed.
Walkthrough
We walk it with you. Every wall is smooth, clean, and ready for whatever comes next.
The Wallpaper Removal Jobs Chicago Calls Us For
Most calls come from three types of spaces. Same process and same prep standard on all of them.
Full room stripping
Living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. Paper comes off, walls get skimmed, and the room is paint-ready or painted. We often pair it with house painting.
Kitchen and bath
Kitchens and bathrooms often have moisture-resistant paper. That's harder to strip. We handle it and leave the walls degreased for kitchen painting.
Rentals and two-flats
Landlords need paper gone between tenants. Quick turnaround, neutral walls, and invoice-ready. We also handle drywall repair after stripping.
Chicago Wallpaper Pros, Not Weekend Warriors
Our base is at 541 Winston Dr in Melrose Park. We drive into Chicago every day, and we know what the old neighborhoods have behind their walls. The person who prices your job is the person who strips it. Same crew from estimate to cleanup.
Wallpaper removal is messy. The steam, the paste, the debris. We do not move furniture to the center and call it good. We cover everything, we lay down heavy paper on the floors, and we haul every scrap out when we leave.
A lot of Chicago homeowners get the whole package: strip the paper, repair the walls, then paint. Add exterior painting or cabinet refinishing while we're already in the house.
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What Goes Wrong With Wallpaper, and What You End Up With
Almost every Chicago wallpaper removal call starts with one of these headaches. Here's the cause on the left, and here's the result when we pack up.
The problem
Vinyl or foil paper resists water. People try water and soap, strip half a foot at a time, and quit.
Scraping too hard or with the wrong tool rips the drywall face paper. Now you have gouges and fluffy spots.
People scrape the paper but leave the glue. Paint won't stick to leftover paste. You get peeling within months.
What you get
Steam loosens the adhesive so paper comes off in sections, not tiny pieces. No gouges.
We skim coat any damage left from old paper. The wall feels like new drywall.
Every bit of glue washed off. You can paint right away and it holds.
True on every Chicago wallpaper removal we take:
What the Walls Look Like When We Leave
Smooth, clean, no paste residue, no torn drywall. Ready to paint or already painted.
What Chicago Customers Say After the Last Strip
Most of our Chicago wallpaper work comes from people who tried stripping it themselves. Read what they said about the steam, the cleanup and the walls after we finished.
Other Painting Work We Do Around Chicago
Wallpaper removal is a big part of our schedule, but the same crew handles everything a house needs after the paper comes off.
Ceiling painting
Ceilings stripped or painted. See ceiling painting.
Interior painting
After the paper is gone, walls painted. See interior painting in Chicago.
Basement painting
Paper stripped in lower levels. See basement painting.
Drywall repair
Torn paper patched. See drywall repair.
Need work across the county? We cover the whole Cook County service area, and everything we do in the city sits on the Chicago painting page.
Wallpaper Removal in Chicago, IL: Common Questions
How much does wallpaper removal cost in Chicago, IL?
How long does it take to remove wallpaper in Chicago?
Do you remove vinyl or foil wallpaper?
Can you remove wallpaper from old Chicago plaster walls?
Do you paint after removing wallpaper?
Do you remove wallpaper in commercial spaces?
Do you have to move furniture before you arrive?
Is Vanguard Painting licensed and insured?
Get Your Chicago Wallpaper Removed Properly
Free estimate, a real written price, licensed and insured, and a crew that knows Chicago's old homes. Book online and take $50 off.