Removing old wallpaper is not always as easy as it seems. It’s a delicate process that you might end up damaging surfaces if you’re not being careful. The adhesive may have stuck to the surface for a long time, making removing it a lot tougher. That’s why you will need help with wallpaper removal from commercial painters in your area who have the experience and tools to get the surface ready again for painting.
If you have been to a doctor’s office, restaurant, boutique, hotel suite, or nursery, you may have seen commercial wallpaper. Most commercial wallpapers are meant to last for 15 to 25 years. But many businesses and facilities want to get rid of their current wallpapers due to several reasons:
- Businesses need to update the style of the interiors.
- Wallpaper can be expensive and difficult to maintain.
- Wallpaper can hide mold and mildew. If you smell a musty or funky odor, it can be an indication.
- You want to improve indoor air quality.
Whatever reason you may have, one thing’s for sure: you want the old wallpaper out of sight. There are a couple of ways how to get rid of it.
“Can I paint over the wallpaper?”
The answer is: maybe. In the case of wallpapers used for homes, if they are smooth and won’t come off the wall quickly, the answer is yes.
But we’re talking about commercial-grade wallpaper, typically thick, heavy-duty, and designed to be left on the wall permanently unless the wall is removed, etc. Commercial-grade wallpaper is made of vinyl and other specific materials and is usually textured, so it is not intended to be painted over. Those are some significant differences between wallpaper used for homes and commercial spaces.
It doesn’t mean to say that you cannot paint over commercial wallpaper. By all means, you can, especially if you don’t want the arduous (and sometimes costly) process of stripping it. But to be sure, it’s best to seek advice from a professional on whether it’s possible to paint over the wallpaper in your commercial space.
“Can I remove commercial wallpaper?”
The answer is: you can certainly do it. While you can DIY it, it’s better to hire a contractor to tackle the job for several reasons:
- Commercial wall coverings are usually heavy.
- Commercial wallpaper is usually wider than residential, so it’s pretty cumbersome to handle.
- You may need to install lighting fixtures, switches, fire alarms, CCTV, or other items over the wallpaper, so you must remove them first.
- Adhesive removal is not only tons of work, but it can also be incredibly messy.
You may be wondering how much a professional wallpaper removal will cost. It depends on the contractor, but most contractors offering this service charge less than a dollar per square foot. Professional wallpaper removal may consist of the following:
- Cleaning and preparation of walls
- The actual removal of the wallpaper from the walls
- Removing the entire adhesive from the walls
- Removing wallpaper glue residue from the walls by washing
- Necessary wall repairs.
- Disposal of the detached wallpaper.
Expect some other issues that may affect the cost of the job. For example, if the walls are severely damaged from the wallpaper removal, the contractor will assess the damage and provide you with the repair cost. Or your wallpaper may have mold or have retained some moisture beneath.
If you need help with wallpaper removal in your commercial buildings, you can call Custom Painting Inc. at 510-795-0903 or send us a request for an appointment for a free estimate.