Wallpaper Removal & Installation

Wallpaper removal and installation services are in high demand across New Brunswick, where thousands of homes built between the 1940s and 1990s still have dated wallpaper — often multiple layers — in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Many NB homeowners discover that what seemed like a simple DIY weekend project turns into a nightmare when they find three or four layers of wallpaper, wallpaper applied directly to unprimed drywall, or wallpaper paste that has fused with old plaster in heritage homes. Professional removal avoids the gouging, over-soaking, and surface damage that commonly results from inexperienced attempts. The process involves scoring the surface, applying liquid or steam wallpaper remover to soften adhesive, carefully stripping the paper without damaging the substrate, and then skimming or sanding the wall smooth for painting or new wallcovering. In older NB homes with plaster walls — common in Saint John, Fredericton, and Chatham-Miramichi — removal requires extra care because plaster is brittle and easily cracked by aggressive scraping or excessive moisture. After removal, many walls need skim coating with drywall compound to create a smooth surface, adding $1 to $2 per square foot to the project. Wallpaper removal in a standard NB room runs $400 to $1,200 depending on the number of layers, adhesive type, and wall condition. A full home strip-out can run $2,000 to $5,000. On the installation side, modern wallcoverings have evolved well beyond the floral patterns of previous decades. Peel-and-stick options, textured grasscloths, bold geometric patterns, and moisture-resistant vinyl wallcoverings are all popular in NB homes. Professional installation ensures pattern alignment, smooth seams, and proper adhesive selection — especially important in NB bathrooms and kitchens where Maritime humidity demands moisture-resistant adhesives and wallpaper types. Installation typically costs $4 to $10 per square foot depending on the material and pattern complexity. Feature walls using high-end wallcoverings are a growing trend in NB homes, adding visual interest to a single wall for $300 to $800 installed.

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