16 Jun The Challenges of Wallpaper Removal

Posted at 14:08h in painting by Mike Katounas 0 Comments

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You’d be surprised what we sometimes find underneath wallpaper. It can hide a lot of problems that aren’t obvious until either the wallpaper is removed or the issue rises to the surface. Over the last two decades working with clients across Northern Virginia, we’ve seen a lot. If you would like to remove wallpaper to be able to paint instead, we suggest you use a professional. And, definitely, if you’re planning on painting, do not paint over wallpaper!

Here are three easy tips to try before you start pulling off wallpaper:

- - Before you decide to remove large swathes, remove a receptacle cover (electrical outlet) after you turn off the electricity. Then try to lift a small section of the wallpaper behind what would be the receptacle cover.
  - This gives you a peek at what lies underneath the paper if you’re curious about the material.
  - The next step would be to try to remove a small section behind a door or other inconspicuous place like in a closet.

What lives under the wallpaper?

There are a handful of problems that could complicate things for a homeowner. Here are a few:

- - Mold can be the most serious of issues living beneath your wallpaper. If any moisture has found its way between the wall material (likely sheetrock) and the paper, mold could grow and not be evident on the exterior.
    - - Mold can be a serious health risk and needs to be removed safely and as soon as possible.
        
        It’s really a job left to experienced professionals!
  - Glue residue often remains on the wallboard where the wallpaper once hung. It’s not always easy to remove.
    - - You can try to DIY its removal by using very hot water (carefully so you don’t burn yourself) and scrubbing pads to remove the glue.
        
        This is hard work that needs to be done very carefully so that you do not ruin the sheetrock under the wallpaper.
        
        If old-fashioned hot water doesn’t work, there are professional specialty products you can apply to stubborn glue residue that could help as well.
  - Stubborn wallpaper: There are two solutions to removing stubborn wallpaper that just won’t budge:

1. 1. 1. 1. Wet the wallpaper with warm water, apply with a professional wallpaper removal solution, and cover with plastic. The plastic will self adhere to the wall, hopefully causing the wallpaper to begin peeling away.
        
        You could always leave the wallpaper and add new sheetrock over the existing wallpaper with a 1/4″ thick wallboard. It might not be your cheapest solution, but it could save you a lot of time. Keep in mind that things such as switches and plugs will likely to be adjusted for the additional wall thickness.

- - Unprimed wallboard with wallpaper glued directly to it will likely mean that the top layer of that sheetrock will lift off when you remove the wallpaper. This is a less than ideal scenario because it’s not an easy fix. You can try skimming the wall areas with joint compound where sheetrock paper lifted off. But you’ll need to be close to perfect while skimming then sanding the walls or you’ll see right through the new paint where sheetrock paper is missing.

Wallpaper removal is typically one of those tasks most homeowners don’t want to tackle. They end up calling us. We understand because the more experienced the person removing the wallpaper, the better the results in the end. It’s also a domino effect. If you don’t do a good job removing wallpaper, the paint job isn’t going to look good.

If you would like to talk to us about wallpaper removal and painting, please give our office a call. We offer free, no-obligation quotes.

Mike Katounas

Mike Katounas is the owner of Home Works Painting, a painting business in Northern Virginia. He has over 15 years of experience in residential interior and exterior painting, drywall installation/repair, carpentry, wallpaper removal, power washing, commercial painting, color consultation, and staining/sealing. Their service areas include Chantilly, Fairfax, Herndon, Oakton, Reston. Mike takes pride in his work, and he always follows a strict code of conduct that includes the use of quality paint, a clean workspace, and an honest, respectful approach to his customers.

Tags:

Interior painting, local painters, NOVA Painters, Wallpaper Removal

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4.9

Home Works Painting

wdread60

15:48 14 May 23

If I could give this company a 4.5 I would. No company is perfect. However, the exception I found with Home Works Painting is they genuinely care about their customers and that the crew do really care about their craft. It was such a difference from other companies that we've worked with that were nonresponsive or provided excuses to our concerns or complaints or the issues we brought up. Every single issue that arose (and there weren't many) was addressed immediately by Mike and/or the crew. Their quality of work and service were well worth the money we paid. Their pricing was neither our highest nor lowest estimate. What drew me to Home Works was the attentiveness Mike provided during our review of work to be done, the clarification questions he asked, and the services they provided. We had a broken window that needed replacing and glazing that needed to be redone. Home Works addressed both of these as efficiently as they did the rest of the work. Most exterior painters won't touch these items. They are a company that stands by their work and their real commitment to good quality service. A very rare exception in today's world of contractors. When we need to have other painting done, or if anyone asks for a referral, I would go back to Home Works Painting in a moment.

Steve de Lazaro

00:27 14 May 23

Working with the Home Works professionals was an outstanding experience from beginning to end. Obtaining a quote, to include their visit to our house, was an easy process and they listened closely to what it was we wanted to achieve. Their quoted cost for our project easily beat all others and, at project completion, their quality and attention to detail was exceptional. Of special note was their continued flexibility -- in obtaining custom paint colors for us, in providing us options as the project developed, and in adjusting to changes in our color scheme. I whole heartedly recommend Home Works Painting to anyone with a large home painting project as we will certainly use them again for our next project.

Chris R

06:34 11 May 23

We had the exterior of our house painted by Home Works and we were happy with them from start to finish. The estimate was competitive, and we really appreciated the color consultation. When it came to the job itself, Juan and Luis were excellent. They were thorough and tidy - the end result looks great!

Cameron Lopez

18:41 21 Apr 23

We initially contacted Home Works about painting the walls and ceiling in our Living Room and foyer. However, their price estimate was so reasonable that we decided to have them paint the dining room area as well! They did a fantastic job, were extremely polite and professional, and we are extremely satisfied with the finished product! We will definitely be returning to Home Works in the future whenever we have painting needs for our home!

Faris Fadhil

01:56 04 Apr 23

The estimator was very helpful, punctual and knowledgeable. The painters were very professional and properly equipped. Their job is very neat and they cleaned the work area and took all the trash away. Paid a lot of attention to all the details that I have asked them to fix. Their operation manager worked on getting exactly the color I wanted. Finally, I am extremely satisfied with their work and will use them again into my future home repairs.

Linda Metheny

15:59 05 Oct 22

We were so pleased with this company. Painting is their specialty so they produce a beautiful outcome. They explained the complete process of repainting our kitchen cabinets and even provided a “color” design specialist to painlessly help in selecting the perfect color. Their responsiveness and professionalism was impressive. We loved our two workers, Luis and Juan. Their work ethics were very evident. I highly recommend this company for any painting job you might have.

Susan Gasser

19:32 15 Sep 22

Our experience with Home Works Painting was outstanding. This is the third time we have hired them and we would hire them again! The crew was very attentive to detail and worked very hard. The job was started and finished according to plan! The wainscotting they installed in our dining room looks beautiful. The color consultant was quite helpful. I would highly recommend Home Works Painting!

d adams

16:22 23 Aug 22

The team at Home Works Painting was extremely professional and their quality of work was 5 stars. They used high quality paint and they got the job done on time, no drama and no surprises. I would highly recommend them to my family and friends!

Michelle Malcom

20:08 28 Mar 22

We absolutely loved this company. The prices were great, they were super flexible, even when I kept adding more rooms on. The crew was really friendly and respectful. Would definitely do business with them in the future.

Bill Kelly

02:52 23 Mar 22

VERY satisfied with everything about this company. Price was fair, workers (Luis, Juan & Thomas) were professional, respectful, on time, quiet, clean, and overall pleasant to be around. They worked continuously for 4 days without a single complaint at all. I would absolutely recommend this company!

Matthew Bafford

22:15 21 Mar 22

Over the past 6 years, Home Works Painting has improved every room and almost every surface in our house across multiple jobs - from simple painting, drywall installation, interior door replacement, deck and other exterior painting, and other framing work. We've been extremely happy with the process every time - excellent bidding process, project management, change-order handling, and crews / work every time. Highly recommend!

Michaela Madsen

17:21 01 Mar 22

The crew that came to paint our house was very professional and courteous. They answered all our questions and even made some paint suggestions based on their experience. They did a very good job, and everything was done in a timely manner. They kept our house very clean, and moved everything back and forth with no problems. Even the office staff and scheduling staff and the person who did our estimate were all very good and efficient. We really like this company!

Dianne Falk

22:51 23 Feb 22

GREAT experience with Home Works! We had some extensive damage to drywall after new stairs on two levels were installed by another contractor. The drywall repairs done by Home Works were beautifully done and the paint job - in a two story foyer - looks great too. Highly recommend.

Daniela Draugelis

23:20 12 Nov 21

The workers were very polite, knowledgeable, professional and meticulous in their work. I was very happy with their work and their overall performance.

Rodolfo Martín

16:41 25 Oct 21

We had our cedar shingled home repainted, plus foundation, and some wood and shingle repair done by Home Works Painting. The experience from start to finish was great. The estimate by Connor came in very reasonable, with a very detailed quote that included pictures, and options that we had discussed. The main crew, Carlos and Angel, were total professionals and did a great job in all areas. When 2 unexpected repairs cropped up, I worked with Jimmy and the crew to capture the change request scope and the pricing for the changes were completely reasonable. Highly recommend and looking forward to working with Home Works in the future.

Rachelle and Babak

14:55 16 Oct 21

We hired Home Works to complete an interior painting project and a geometric design/paint for an accent wall. Juan took my vision and made it happen perfectly. He was incredibly patient, designing and measuring so the lines would be perfect and then taped out the design on the wall so that we could make adjustments. Juan is a true professional, very through, and made suggestions that I did not even think about. The accent wall is absolutely a beautiful piece of art!! Luis is very detailed and takes pride in his craftsmanship - another true professional. Luis suggested a great idea for painting the handrails - since all of the walls were being painted and it turned out amazing! Luis is able to see your vision and make it a reality. The prep work is KEY - Luis and Juan are detail oriented from covering the floors, sanding and filling imperfections on the walls/baseboards, and really taking their time to do a professional project. Luis & Juan made sure ALL areas were prepped professionally for a really beautiful outcome. We really appreciated they both took the time to do a very detailed walk through at every stage of the project to ensure we would be completely satisfied. We made small adjustments throughout the project - which Luis and Juan were both happy to accommodate. They both had great recommendations and provided great customer service. We would absolutely hire this DREAM TEAM again. We really enjoyed working with them both. We are so, so happy with our project!

David D

03:16 30 Sep 21

After receiving estimates from many paint companies for the repair of wood rot around the window sills/painting around the entire exterior of our house, we chose Home Works Painting based upon the professionalism, estimate detail, and fair value received during the estimate visit. The project was started a week early and completed exactly on target with the original estimated project completion date. The project crew was friendly, hard-working, and the quality of the final product was excellent. Received excellent customer service as well from the office staff throughout. Highly recommend Home Works Painting.

Joe Clarke

18:18 10 Aug 21

Home Works Painting provides professional quality services from start to finish. I had the whole interior and some exterior work done. The quote was detailed and easy to understand and the pricing was very competitive. The crew showed up exactly on time and completed the work just as stated. The workmanship is top notch and the crew were friendly and professional. If you're looking to have any painting work done, you can't go wrong with Home Works Painting.

St. Andrew Preschool Director

20:40 08 Aug 21

I highly recommend Home Works Painting. They were very professional and knowledgeable. Franklin was kind and personable. They did a fantastic job on our classroom walls. The rooms look bright, cheery, and ready to welcome children to the start of another school year.

Vince Antonacci

00:01 07 Aug 21

I hired Home Works Painting to repair/replace several pieces of rotted wood around our deck and house. They also repaired some damaged drywall and several wood pieces at the base of our basement doors. HWP was responsive in setting up an interview and provided an estimate in one business day. There was a few weeks delay in setting up a time for the repair work, but, once on the calendar, they were timely. The 3-person crew that performed the work (led by Guillermo) was very polite, worked hard and completed the work in a day and a half. The work was very professional and the repairs look like brand new with a perfect color match to other existing exterior parts of the house. We have used HWP before for general painting jobs, and they are the best. A bit pricey, but worth every penny based on their quality and professionalism.

Pam Sarlouis

21:58 24 Jun 21

Very pleased with Home Works Painting for living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, and 2-story foyer painting. They did a great job and were efficient and easy to work with while having very competitive prices. I will use them again if the need arises.

Jessie Gillette

18:05 31 Mar 21

The work is very professional and the Team was very courteous. We are completely satisfied with the end results. Highly recommended!

Caitlin Nichols

23:26 03 Mar 21

We had a wonderful experience with HomeWorks. Guillermo and his crew were professional, punctual every morning, and extremely clean. Our project lasted approximately one week and they did an impeccable job cleaning up each day. The price was competitive and the owner, Jason, was extremely easy to work with when we had last minute changes. We had our 30 year old kitchen cabinets painted. They look incredible. The crew took their time, fixed some mechanical issues they found with the cabinets that we hadn’t even noticed, and left our kitchen looking brand new. We had them do interior painting on our 20 foot living room ceiling which they did a very professional job on. They even cleaned our ceiling fans while they were up on their ladder just as a courtesy. They also cleaned out foyer entrance light just because. They also painted our dining room and one bedroom which look great. I would hire them again in a heartbeat. We look forward to having Guillermo and his crew work on a few more projects in the coming months.

Megan Perez

18:30 03 Mar 21

The service was amazing. Thomas and Roger did such a great job with painting our master bedroom and hallway. They were both on time as well very professional. I couldn't be happier with their service. Thanks Home Works Painting! I'd highly recommend them.

Jamie Lookabaugh

23:50 26 Feb 21

Great experience overall! We had crown moulding installed in one bedroom and panel moulding installed and the room painted in another. Thomas and Juan were a wonderful crew, and their craftsmanship was excellent! Incredibly polite, professional, and kept us up to date on the project each day. They made sure we were happy with each phase of the work and kept the work areas tidy throughout the job. Honestly can’t say enough good about these two, and we’d highly recommend asking for them in particular! Mike and Jason were great to work with as well. Mike made the estimation process very simple and came prepared to discuss the details during the estimate. Jason kept in close contact with us and was very flexible when we had to adjust the original installation date. The color consult was very helpful as well (ended up choosing one of the suggested colors). We would absolutely recommend this crew and this company, and we plan on using them again for our future projects!

Jeem Lain

22:15 12 Jan 21

Thomas was incredible, leading the team of workers. He was meticulous, very detailed oriented, and ensured everything was completed to the highest standards. We highly recommend using Homeworks. As they worked, it was obvious this was a tremendous value to the amount of work they completed. All nail pops, drywall work, etc was completed to exacting standards. The paint and trim work were phenomenal. Upon completion, it was obviously an excellent value for the work completed. Walls look better than new. Again, Thomas as the lead was a pleasure to work with, and definitely got it done.

Ronnie Russel

15:37 08 Dec 20

Home Works Painting did an outstanding job. Great company! From step one they were responsive, communicative and professional. Very efficient website which made for an easy in-person estimate. The crew were very respectful in my home and finished the job in 3 days. I'll certainly hire them again. Highly Recommended!

Peter Richardson

15:24 18 Mar 20

Great service. Very professional. Quality people. Very comfortable with their team in our home. Did a good job and was very meticulous. Would hire again.

Stephen Migliore

12:52 16 Oct 19

The job that Home Works did for me involved exterior wood trim painting and wood rot repair. The estimate was reasonable, the workers arrived on the day that was scheduled and they finished their work ahead of schedule. The wood repair that was required was done well and the whole job has vastly improved the appearance of my house. Excellent job and I would recommend Home Works Painting for any painting project.

Jean Watterson

12:26 10 Oct 19

After a shaky start with one crew, Jason quickly swapped them out for David's crew. They were fantastic! I highly recommend he and his crew. Easy to work with, on time, followed through on everything with professionalism and great craftsmanship. Jason K. is fabulous to work with as well. He's got his finger on the pulse of it all. I highly recommend Home Works Painting and will definitely use them again! Thank you guys!

Karen Marr

18:33 08 Aug 19

Very positive professional experience with Mike,Jason, and the crew that did the work(David, Raul & Felipe). Good communication and friendly staff. After Day One was completed (stripping wallpaper and prep), I had a complete kitchen to use for the evening. Day Two completed all painting with great clean-up.Highly recommend Home Works Painting.

Taaron Meikle

21:22 25 Jul 19

David and his crew were fabulous. They paid attention to detail and were very thorough. The pricing was reasonable and the communication between the crew and myself was good. They are experts in their field and they are very professional. I look forward to referring my friends!! Thanks guys!!

Leslie Butz

14:46 19 Jul 19

Excellent job painting my bathroom cabinets! Great prep & clean-up. Terrific communication. A little more expensive (not much) but soooo worth it!

Donna Jones

00:47 28 Jun 19

We heard about Home Works from a very satisfied neighbor so decided to have them do the job for us for a very big project. From the estimate to the finished project, we are so pleased with the results. It turned out beautifully and was done in a timely matter with consideration for the rest of the home that wasn't involved. Home Works has many neat gadgets to help with protecting the rest of the home. We will definitely have Home Works do our next project.

Steve keaton

10:59 27 Jun 19

Very thorough. They stood behind their work. They were very responsive through our whole project.

Adrienne Elwell

17:04 20 Apr 19

This was our first time using Home Works Painting and they did an excellent job painting our entryway foyer and upper hallway which included crown molding and wainscotting. Josymark and crew were very professional, arrived on time, cleaned up at the end of each day and were respectful of our home in every way while they completed the project. Their meticulous attention to detail was very much appreciated. They also took great care when moving furniture including an antique grandfather clock that is a family heirloom. From start to finish with the estimator to the scheduler to the painting crew we are extremely satisfied with their work and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for any interior painting project!

Minhee LePark

12:55 02 Apr 19

I used Home Works Painting in February to paint 2 bathrooms, 1 door and 2 bedrooms. The entire process was easy and efficient. Mike came over to provide a free quote and he was very professional and helpful. I really liked the interactive quote online where you can see the price depending on what parts of the project you want to do at one time. I took a few months to decide and I never felt pressured. They also provide free color consultation, which was very helpful. The consultant came to the house to help pick out colors. The crew worked for 3 days and they were great. They worked hard, kept the work area neat and were professional. They walked through the day’s work and if I noticed anything I wanted fixed they were great about touching up. They even went above and beyond and layed out a new rug I had bought for 1 of the rooms. I am using Home Works for front door and shutter painting soon and I would highly recommend their services.

Andrew Rucker

17:38 31 Mar 19

Extraordinarily professional, both in attitude and competence, from estimate to job completion. I used Home Works for pairing and drywall repair and was very pleased with the clear communication throughout. Excellent job quality, and would enthusiastically recommend and use them again.

Gregg

17:09 22 Mar 19

In a world where you mostly hear complaints, I wanted to reach out to you and express how absolutely satisfied I am with your service, your company and especially your crew that painted my house. Not only were they professional, but the quality of their work is amazing. My homes looks better now than what it did when it was new! Miguel is a true asset and was just a pleasure to work with. His crew members were likewise very professional, courteous and their workmanship was second to none.

John Garrett

01:25 10 Mar 19

We won a silent auction that included a certificate from Home Works. Charlotte was great to work with as we set up the project and Thomas did an excellent job... and was really nice as well. They came when they said they would, took as long as they projected, and acted professional from beginning to end. We will be having them come back out to do more work.

Gayle Abbott

22:10 01 Mar 19

The crew, led by David, did a phenomenal job. They were here when they said they would be, did really high quality work, finished on time. We can't say enough good things about our experience with Home Works Painting. We have used them several times over the years. This time with a new crew lead and the quality of results were the same. They did patching, dry wall repair, wall paper removal, and painting among the projects.

Nathan Burchfiel

18:52 25 Feb 19

We had a great experience with Home Works Painting to do some ceiling repairs and painting in a powder room and sun room. Everyone, from the estimator to scheduler to the team that worked in our house over the course of two days, was friendly, communicative and professional. The painters, led by Luis, did great work, taking time to talk through some unique requests and doing all around great work. We'll definitely be calling them again when we have painting needs.

Tracy and Samantha Bell

22:20 12 Feb 19

Home Works Painting did a terrific job on our living room, staircases, and foyer. We definitely recommend them!

joe p

14:20 08 Feb 19

A great experience. The crew led by David was professional and expert. They completed the job in half the time estimated and it was perfect. I will use Home Works Painting again!

Lisa Sampson

20:05 02 Feb 19

If you're looking for the best customer service and quality work then look no further than Home Works Painting. I've used them for years and I'm never disappointed. Mike and his crew are always professional, punctual, courteous, and detail oriented. David, the crew leader, went above and beyond at their last visit and I could not be more pleased.

Chuck Jamison

08:11 31 Jan 19

Very good company that provides very good results. Would hire again.

Stuart Bell

13:14 27 Nov 18

Assem and the crew did a fantastic job for us! We had water damage in our basement which required drywall work and the previous owner's un-handy work needed to be properly repaired and painted. Assem and the crew made our basement look fantastic and you can't even tell there was damage to any part of the area. The walls and ceilings are uniformly smooth and show no deformities in any light. They left the area spotless and cleaned every single surface impacted by the dust. The guys were respectful and professional from top to bottom - from the owner, Mike, coming out to provide an estimate, Jason, the COO, visiting our property during the job to check in on the crew and speak with me to see how things are going, to Assem and the crew communicating with my wife and I throughout the duration of the project. We received texts before they showed up letting us know they were coming, let us know when they were coming and going during the day, let us know when they were leaving, and confirmed next steps before they left. They were always on time and did a fantastic job. This might honestly be the best painting job we've ever had in any of our homes coupled with quality customer service. Highly recommend this company and Assem as a crew leader.

Danielle Wudson

14:18 19 Nov 18

I have used Home Works Painting for all my home projects, with the most recent job being to repaint my bay window; repair/repaint the door frame; and replace/paint a lost shutter. It was a job well done, as usual. I truly appreciate the variety of services Home Works Painting provides, they’re the equivalent to a “one stop shop”. I look forward to working with them, in spring 2019; I have a newly repaired fence that needs a coat of paint. ?. Thanks Again Home Works Painting!

Mike McGarry

18:59 15 Nov 18

Great experience. The crew was professional, courteous, tidy and efficient. The team even went above and beyond contract details to do an extra coat on one wall due to some kids artwork coming through. Thanks!

Mona Neff

15:17 27 Aug 18

From interior painting--with really detailed crown molding--to repairing and staining our deck, Home Works has provided superior work and beyond-the-norm customer service. The work is top notch; the people are even better. Honest, dependable, helpful. Highly recommend them to you.

Megan McNair

20:50 06 Jul 18

Excellent work - we've done most of our own painting over the years, but decided it was time to let someone else take it on. In our case, we had the entire house interior painted. The entire job took about 8 days, which was right on the original estimate. The crew leader - David - was excellent - he and his team arrived on schedule every day and worked full days until the job was completed. They were very organized and left the house in good shape each day having consolidated their "stuff" to a single small area. My husband and I appreciate a quality job and Home Works Painting delivered. Good lines on trim, solid prep work everywhere, limited touch-up required. Excellent overall experience and result!!!

Shana Davis

19:15 05 Apr 17

Luis O. and his crew did an outstanding job painting my two story foyer and replacing the old light fixtures. They were precise, punctual, and professional and finished the job as promised in two days. This is my third time using Home Works and they always do a great job. However, Luis and his crew were the absolute best!

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