Let's talk about old wallpaper. We all have it, or we have seen it. Maybe it is in a house you just bought in Yakima, or maybe it has been there for years. It might be screaming for an update. When you are ready to get rid of the patterns and go for a fresh coat of paint, you have a big decision to make. You need to decide if you will strip every last piece, or if you can just skim coat over it and call it a day.
As a painting contractor right here in Yakima, our team has seen both ways to do this. We have strong opinions on each one. There is a time and a place for everything, but you need to know the real facts before you start any painting project in Yakima.
Option 1: The Full Strip-Down
This is the traditional way to remove wallpaper, and it is usually the best way if you want a truly perfect and long-lasting finish. It means getting that old paper off the wall. Every single bit of it must come off. We are talking about using steamers as well as scraping as well as sometimes a lot of hard work. Our team at Yakima Painting Company knows how to do this the right way.
Cost
We will not sugarcoat it: full wallpaper removal can be more expensive up front. You are paying for labor as well as specialized tools as well as the time it takes. Professional wallpaper removal in Yakima can cost anywhere from $0.60 to $3.00 per square foot. That is before any wall repairs or painting. If the wallpaper has been painted over, or if it is really old and stubborn, that price can go up even higher. In addition, you might find some surprises underneath. These surprises can include damaged drywall that needs patching or even a full skim coat afterward to get it perfectly smooth.
Durability
This is where full wallpaper removal shines for your Yakima home. When you get all that old paper and adhesive off, you are back to the original wall surface. Once it is prepped right, your new paint job is going directly onto a stable foundation. This means less chance of bubbling as well as peeling as well as other issues later on. Our team makes sure the wall is cleaned as well as primed as well as any imperfections are fixed. You are setting yourself up for a finish that will last for years in your Yakima home.
Maintenance
Once the wallpaper is gone and the wall is properly prepped and painted, maintenance is easy. It is just like any other painted wall. It is easy to clean as well as easy to touch up. You will not have to worry about old wallpaper seams showing through or peeling.
Appearance
A fully stripped and prepped wall provides the smoothest and most uniform canvas for paint. You will not see any ghosting from old patterns or textures. There will certainly be no seams. For a truly flawless and modern look in your Yakima home, this is the way to go. It is the difference between a good job and a great job for your painting project.
Option 2: Skim Coating Over Wallpaper
This approach involves priming the existing wallpaper. Then, we apply thin layers of joint compound. That is the