Quick Summary: Titleist Painting removes wallpaper of any age or type — including older, heavily glued paper — and preps the wall for a fresh coat of paint afterward. Most residential jobs take one to three hours per room, depending on the wallpaper type and how many layers are involved. Because every wall is different, pricing is based on the actual scope of the project rather than a flat rate.
Quick Answer: Yes, professional wallpaper removal is available in Lawrence, KS, and is generally worth it for larger rooms, older glued wallpaper, or homes built before 1978. A professional crew removes the paper, handles glue residue, repairs any drywall damage, and leaves the wall primed and ready to paint — all in a fraction of the time a DIY attempt usually takes.
Some wallpaper comes off in one satisfying pull. Some fights you for every square inch, leaving behind a sticky mess and a wall that needs more repair than you expected. If you’re staring down a room full of the second kind, it might be time to call in help instead of losing a weekend to it.
Titleist Painting handles wallpaper removal throughout Lawrence, KS — from a single accent wall to a whole-home refresh before repainting.
Is Professional Wallpaper Removal Worth It?
For small, newer, strippable wallpaper, DIY is often reasonable. For everything else, professional removal usually saves more time and money than it costs. Multiple layers, decades-old adhesive, and plaster or older drywall all turn a simple job into a multi-day project — and mistakes made during removal (torn drywall, gouged plaster) mean extra repair work before the room is even ready for primer, let alone paint.
A professional crew also knows how to spot problems before they become bigger ones — like checking for lead paint underneath layers of wallpaper in older homes, which is a real consideration in a lot of Lawrence’s older housing stock.
How Do You Remove 30-Year-Old Wallpaper?
Wallpaper that’s been up for 30 years or more typically needs scoring, a longer soak time, and sometimes multiple rounds of solution before it lets go — older adhesives were often applied more heavily than modern wallpaper paste. Once the paper’s off, there’s usually a layer of dried glue residue left behind that has to be washed off before the wall is paintable.
Homes with wallpaper this old were frequently built or wallpapered before 1978, which means there’s a real chance of lead-based paint underneath. The EPA’s Lead-Safe guidelines outline what to check for in older homes before any sanding or aggressive scraping begins — worth a look before starting a DIY attempt on an older Lawrence home.
Who Removes Wallpaper — Painters, Handymen, or Wallpaper Specialists?
Wallpaper removal is most commonly handled by painting contractors, since the work naturally leads into wall repair and repainting — the same crew that removes the paper can prep and paint the wall afterward without bringing in a second company. Handymen can sometimes handle small, simple jobs, but larger rooms or older wallpaper with heavy glue are usually a better fit for a painting company that removes wallpaper as part of a full interior refresh.
Titleist Painting handles the whole process — removal, drywall repair, priming, and painting — so homeowners aren’t coordinating between multiple contractors for one project.
What Does Wallpaper Removal Service Include?
A full-service wallpaper removal job typically includes protecting floors and furniture, scoring and soaking the wallpaper, removing the paper and adhesive residue, patching any drywall or plaster damage, and priming the wall so it’s ready for paint. Some homeowners have the removal done on its own; many combine it with a full repaint, since the wall is already prepped and ready to go once the wallpaper’s gone.
This is also a natural point to double-check what’s underneath — older walls sometimes reveal cracks, water stains, or uneven texture that wasn’t visible with wallpaper covering it.
What Affects the Cost of Wallpaper Removal?
Several factors change the scope of a wallpaper removal job: the size of the room, how many layers of wallpaper are involved, the age and type of adhesive, how much drywall or plaster repair is needed afterward, and whether the job includes priming and painting or removal alone. Older, heavily-glued wallpaper takes longer to remove than newer strippable styles, and rooms with extensive water damage or cracked plaster underneath need more repair work before the wall is paint-ready.
Because these factors vary so much from one project to the next, Titleist Painting prices the actual scope of work rather than publishing a generic cost range. If you want a number specific to your project, request an estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a wallpaper removal service typically take?
Most single rooms take one to three hours for removal alone, though older or heavily-glued wallpaper can take longer. Add drywall repair, priming, and painting, and a full room refresh often spans one to two days.
Do you need to move furniture before wallpaper removal?
Furniture and breakables should be moved out of the room if possible, or pulled to the center and covered. The process involves water, scraping, and some mess, so clearing the space ahead of time makes the job faster and protects your belongings.
Wallpaper removal is often the first step toward a bigger refresh. It pairs naturally with the wall repair and refinishing work covered in our Decorative Faux and Wallpaper Finishes services, and if you’re leaning toward tackling a smaller job yourself first, our guide on how to remove wallpaper walks through the DIY process step by step.
[IMAGE: Professional crew removing wallpaper from a living room wall | ALT: Titleist Painting crew removing wallpaper in a Lawrence, KS home]
Skipping professional help on a large or old wallpaper job usually means more time spent and more repair work afterward than expected. A crew that handles removal, repair, and painting together keeps the whole project moving without extra coordination on your end.
Ready to get your walls back to a clean, paintable surface? Request an estimate and Titleist Painting will take a look at your specific walls and wallpaper before giving you a plan.
[IMAGE: Before and after of a Lawrence home’s wall after professional wallpaper removal | ALT: Wall before and after professional wallpaper removal service]
Titleist Painting has been serving Lawrence, KS homeowners with painting, wall repair, and finishing work for over 25 years. Whether it’s one accent wall or a whole home, request an estimate and we’ll walk you through what your project needs.
[IMAGE: Freshly primed wall ready for paint after wallpaper removal | ALT: Freshly primed wall in a Lawrence home after wallpaper removal service]
For homeowners weighing a hiring decision, the Better Business Bureau is a useful resource for checking a contractor’s track record before booking any home service. And if your home falls into Lawrence’s older housing stock, the Lawrence Preservation Alliance has helpful background on what’s typically hiding under layers of wallpaper in the city’s historic homes.
Have questions about your specific walls? Request an estimate and we’ll talk through what your project actually needs.
