These are the jobs that come before paint. Most valley homes have textured drywall, many from the 1960s to 1980s have popcorn ceilings, and older city homes have plaster and wallpaper.
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 the better job. Paint can lift the seams, and the pattern or texture can show through.
Painting over it is reasonable when the paper is tight, has few seams and would tear the wall apart coming off. In that case the seams are filled, the paper is sealed with an oil-based or sealing primer so water in the paint does not loosen it, and then it is painted.
How much does wallpaper removal cost?
Wallpaper removal costs $0.80 to $3.00 per square foot nationally, or $320 to $1,200 for an average room. Paper that must be soaked and scraped is listed at $3 to $8 per square foot.
By room, HomeGuide lists a bathroom at $160 to $900, a bedroom at $240 to $1,200 and a living room at $400 to $2,100. The spread is about how the paper was hung. Paper over a primed wall comes off fast. Paper pasted to bare drywall does not.
My walls are torn up after removing wallpaper. Can they be painted, and do they need skim coating?
They can be painted after repair. Torn drywall paper must be sealed first with a primer made for it, or it bubbles when filler or paint touches it.
Light damage is filled and sanded. Walls with torn facing over large areas need a skim coat, which is a thin layer of joint compound over the whole wall. Nationally, skim coating walls costs $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot.
Can you paint a popcorn ceiling instead of removing it?
Yes. A popcorn ceiling that is sound can be painted, and it is cheaper and cleaner than removing it. It is sprayed, or rolled gently with a thick roller, since the texture softens when wet.
HomeGuide lists painting a textured or popcorn ceiling at $1.00 to $3.50 per square foot. One thing to know: once painted, popcorn is much harder to scrape off later.
How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost?
Popcorn ceiling removal costs $1 to $2 per square foot for removal alone, and $2 to $6 per square foot with new texture and paint, by the national figures. For 500 square feet that is $1,000 to $3,000, and for 1,000 square feet $2,000 to $6,000.
The finishing is where the work is. The drywall under popcorn was never finished to be seen, so it needs skimming, sanding, priming and paint.
Could my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
Yes, it could. Some popcorn texture made in past decades contained asbestos, and you cannot tell by looking. Test it before it is scraped, sanded or drilled.
Nationally, an asbestos inspection with testing costs $250 to $850, and lab testing alone is $20 to $80 per sample. If the test is positive, removal is work for a licensed asbestos contractor, not a painter. Intact, undisturbed texture can be left alone or painted. Utah has its own asbestos rules, so ask the Utah Division of Air Quality what applies to your home.
Is skim coating cheaper than painting over textured walls?
No. Painting over textured walls is cheaper. Skim coating adds $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot nationally before any paint goes on.
Skim coating is for people who want smooth walls in place of orange peel or knockdown, or whose walls are too damaged to paint. HomeGuide lists a 12 by 12 bedroom at $580 to $800 to skim. Heavy textures take more than one pass.
Why does paint show every drywall repair?
You see the repair because the patch differs from the wall in texture, in how much paint it absorbs, or both. Bare joint compound soaks up paint and dries duller. That dull patch is called flashing.
A patch that is smooth on a textured wall also stands out. The cure is to match the texture, prime the patch and paint the whole wall corner to corner. Low side light from a window makes any flaw show more.
Can a painter fix holes and dents in drywall?
Yes. Nail holes, dents, small holes and minor cracks are normal prep for a painter. Larger holes are cut out and patched with new drywall, taped, coated, textured and primed.
Nationally, drywall repair on its own costs $300 to $1,500 or more, with small holes at $300 to $500, partly because of minimum job fees. Done as part of a paint job, small repairs cost much less. Whole sheets, water damaged ceilings and plaster that has come loose from its lath are bigger repairs.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (801) 618-4881.