Planning guide
Remove old wallpaper, or paper over it?
It is tempting to skip removal. Usually, it is worth doing properly.
Why papering over is usually avoided
New paste can reactivate old paste, causing both layers to bubble or lift. Old seams and texture show through. Any failure in the old layer becomes a failure in the new one. Most wallpaper manufacturers advise against hanging over existing wallcovering.
When it is occasionally considered
If the existing paper is very firmly bonded, smooth, and removal would seriously damage the wall, some specialists will seal it and hang a liner first. That is a judgement made after inspection, not a default.
A simple test
- Pick a hidden corner and lift an edge with a putty knife.
- If the face peels away dry, it may be strippable or peelable; a backing may remain.
- If it tears in small pieces, expect scoring, soaking and more time.
- Look at what is underneath: primed wall, bare drywall paper, plaster, or another layer.
What removal can reveal
Damaged drywall facing, old repairs, paint that lifts with the paper, or residual paste. Residue must be cleaned off before painting or re-papering; paint over paste can crack and peel. Repair and priming are often the real second half of a removal job.
See our removal service.
Other guides
Next step
Tell us about the walls.
Rooms, measurements, the material you are considering and whether anything has to come off first. We will confirm availability for your location and talk through scope.