Wallpaper Removal in West Chester, PA

No. West Chester's Historical and Architectural Review Board works under Pennsylvania's Historic District Act, which limits review to exterior features that can be seen from a public street. Interior painting, wallpaper removal and cabinet refinishing are outside that review, even in the historic district. Exterior changes visible from the street go through the board and Borough Council before a permit is issued.

Yes. We remove wallpaper and prep walls for paint in homes throughout West Chester, PA, including downtown West Chester, the East End, the Marshall Square area and Marshallton. Same day estimates are available.

It can be. Older homes are more likely to have several layers of paper, or paper hung on plaster, which takes more time and more careful repair afterward. Newer homes have their own catch: paper hung on unprimed drywall can tear the drywall face when it comes off.

West Chester sees humid summers and cold winters, with average lows below freezing from November through March. Humidity can make old adhesive stubborn and hide mildew behind the paper in bathrooms, so walls are cleaned, dried and sealed before any paint goes on.

Most paper comes off with scoring, water or a removal solution, and patience. Steam helps with stubborn layers. The right method depends on the paper and on whether the wall is drywall or plaster.

It all has to go. Leftover adhesive can make new paint crack or peel, so walls are washed until they are clean, then primed with a product that seals any trace that remains.

Yes. Plaster usually handles water better than drywall, but older plaster can have cracks and loose spots that show up once the paper is gone. Those are repaired before paint.

Skim coating is a thin layer of joint compound spread over a wall to smooth it out. It's sometimes needed when removal leaves a rough or damaged surface, and we'll let you know if your walls need it.