Old Detroit houses collect layers: wallpaper under paint, texture over plaster, patches over patches. This page covers what can be painted as it is and what should come off first.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
Can you paint over wallpaper?
You can paint over wallpaper, but removing it is nearly always better. Paint over wallpaper shows every seam, and the water in the paint can loosen the paste so the paper bubbles and lifts.
Painting over it is a fallback when the paper is bonded so hard that removal would wreck the wall. In that case the seams are sealed, the paper is primed with an oil-based primer so it does not get wet, the seams are skimmed and then the wall is painted.
How much does wallpaper removal cost?
Wallpaper removal costs $0.80 to $3.00 per square foot by the national figures, or $320 to $1,200 for an average room. Paper that has to be soaked and scraped costs $3 to $8 per square foot.
| Room | National range for removal |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | $160 to $900 |
| Kitchen | $200 to $1,050 |
| Bedroom | $240 to $1,200 |
| Living room | $400 to $2,100 |
Several layers, painted-over paper and paper stuck to unprimed drywall are what push a job to the top of the range. On plaster, paper usually comes off more cleanly.
The walls are torn up after removing wallpaper. Can they be painted, and do they need skim coating?
Torn walls can be painted, but they need sealing and usually a skim coat first. Where the paper face of drywall has ripped, the brown layer underneath will bubble if paint or joint compound touches it.
The fix is to remove loose paper, seal the damage with a primer made for torn drywall, skim coat the wall with joint compound, sand, prime again and paint. By the national figures, skim coating walls costs $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot, or $580 to $800 for a 12 by 12 bedroom.
Can you paint a popcorn ceiling instead of removing it?
Yes, you can paint a popcorn ceiling. It is cheaper than removal and freshens a stained or yellowed ceiling. It is sprayed or rolled with a thick-nap roller, gently, because the texture softens when it gets wet.
By the national figures, painting a textured or popcorn ceiling costs $1.00 to $3.50 per square foot. Be aware that paint makes later removal harder, because it seals the texture so water cannot soak in.
How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost?
Popcorn ceiling removal costs $1 to $2 per square foot for removal alone, by the national figures, and $2 to $6 per square foot with new texture or smoothing and paint.
| Ceiling area | National range |
|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $1,000 to $3,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $2,000 to $6,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $12,000 |
The price depends on whether the texture was painted and on how much repair the ceiling needs once it is scraped.
Could my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
Yes, it could. Popcorn and other sprayed ceiling textures put up before the mid 1980s can contain asbestos. You cannot tell by looking.
Have a sample tested by a lab before the ceiling is scraped, sanded or drilled. By the national figures, asbestos inspection and testing costs $250 to $850, and lab testing alone is $20 to $80 per sample. No separate price is published for a popcorn ceiling test. If the test is positive, removal is work for a licensed asbestos abatement contractor, not a painter. Leaving it in place and painting it is a common alternative.
Is skim coating cheaper than painting over textured walls?
No. Painting over textured walls is cheaper than skim coating them smooth. Skim coating is the extra step you pay for when you want the texture gone.
By the national figures, skim coating costs $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot for walls and $1.00 to $1.50 for ceilings, on top of the painting. A whole 1,500 square foot house is listed at $5,500 to $9,400. Texture takes more paint than a smooth wall, but that extra is small by comparison.
Why does paint show every drywall repair?
You can see a repair through paint because the patch differs from the wall around it in texture or in how much paint it absorbs. Painters call this flashing.
Three things prevent it. Feather the joint compound out wide so there is no ridge. Prime the patch so it does not soak up the finish coat. Then paint the whole wall, not only the patch. Low sheens hide repairs best. On old plaster with a slight sand texture, the patch may also need a matching texture.
Can a painter fix holes and dents in drywall?
Yes. Fixing holes, dents, cracks and popped nails is a normal part of our work, and we offer drywall repair as a service of its own.
By the national figures, drywall repair costs $300 to $500 for small holes and $500 to $800 or more for large ones, with a usual minimum job fee of $350 to $650. Water-damaged ceilings, large areas of loose plaster and whole new walls are bigger jobs, which we look at and price separately.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (313) 251-3869.