Before: 3 layers of 1970s wallpaper in a dining room, backed with damaged drywall. After: smooth skim-coated walls, freshly painted. Bethlehem, PA.
The Challenge
This Bethlehem dining room had three layers of wallpaper — each decade's owner had papered over the previous layer rather than removing it. The deepest layer was a foil-backed 1970s paper adhered directly to unprimed drywall. Standard removal technique would have destroyed the drywall facing.
Our Process
We scored the outer layers, applied DIF solution, and removed the top two layers cleanly. The third layer required steam and patience — we worked slowly to avoid tearing the drywall face paper. Where damage occurred (approximately 30% of the surface), we skimmed over the torn paper with joint compound rather than trying to patch. After drying and sanding, we applied a full skim coat to the entire room for a uniform surface.
The Result
After prime coat and two finish coats, the walls were perfectly smooth. The homeowners couldn't believe the same walls that were buried under 1970s foil could look this clean. Total: $1,400 for removal, skim coat, prime, and paint in this 160 sq ft dining room. 3 days total.
Services Used on This Project
- Wallpaper Removal and Drywall Restoration — Bethlehem, PA
- Cost Guide — Bethlehem
- All Painting Services in Bethlehem
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