Paint only looks as good as the wall under it. This page covers the three jobs that most often come before paint in Pittsburgh homes: removing wallpaper, removing popcorn ceilings and repairing drywall or plaster.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, the paint you choose and the condition of your own walls move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
Can you paint over wallpaper?
You can paint over wallpaper, but it is rarely the best choice. Seams, texture and loose edges show through, and moisture from the paint can lift the paper.
Removal is better whenever the paper will come off without wrecking the wall. Where paper is bonded to unprimed drywall or fragile plaster, sealing it with an oil-based primer, skimming the seams and painting can be the lesser evil. We test a corner first.
How much does wallpaper removal cost?
Nationally, wallpaper removal costs $0.80 to $3.00 per square foot, or $320 to $1,200 for an average room. Soaking and scraping stubborn paper is listed at $3 to $8 per square foot.
Older homes here often have several layers, sometimes painted over, on plaster. That is the slow kind. The price depends on how the first test patch comes off.
The walls are torn up after removing wallpaper. Can they be painted, and do they need skim coating?
They can be painted after repair, and badly torn walls do need a skim coat. Torn drywall paper is sealed with a primer made for it, then a thin layer of joint compound is spread over the wall and sanded smooth.
All old paste has to be washed off as well, or the paint will crackle. Nationally, skim coating costs $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot of wall.
Can you paint a popcorn ceiling instead of removing it?
Yes. You can paint a popcorn ceiling, and it is the cheaper option. It is sprayed or rolled gently with a thick-nap roller so the texture does not come loose.
Once painted, popcorn is much harder to remove later, because the paint seals it against water. Decide which way you want to go before the first coat.
How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost?
Nationally, popcorn ceiling removal costs $1 to $2 per square foot for removal alone, and $2 to $6 per square foot with new texture or smoothing and paint. A 500 square foot area is listed at $1,000 to $3,000.
The ceiling almost always needs skim work after scraping. Joints under popcorn were seldom finished to a paint-ready standard.
Could my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
Yes, it could, mainly if it was applied before the mid 1980s. Asbestos was used in some ceiling texture products. You cannot tell by looking.
Have a sample tested by a lab before anyone scrapes it. Nationally, lab testing costs $20 to $80 per sample. If the test is positive, removal is work for a qualified asbestos contractor, not a painter. A ceiling left intact, or painted, does not release fibers the way scraping does.
Is skim coating cheaper than painting over textured walls?
No. Painting over textured walls is cheaper. Skim coating to make them smooth is extra work on top of the paint.
Nationally, texture adds $0.80 to $2.00 per square foot to painting, because rough walls take more paint and time. A skim coat costs $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot, and the wall still has to be primed and painted after. Skim coating is worth it when you want smooth walls, not to save money.
Why does paint show every drywall repair?
Paint shows a repair when the patch has a different texture or was not primed. This is called flashing. Bare compound absorbs paint differently, and a sanded patch is smoother than the rolled wall around it.
The cure is to feather the patch wide, prime it, and repaint the whole wall from corner to corner, not just the spot. Flat paint hides repairs best. Light from a window along the wall shows the most.
Can a painter fix holes and dents in drywall?
Yes. Painters fix nail holes, dents, small holes, cracks and popped screws as part of normal prep. We also do larger drywall repairs and texture matching.
Nationally, drywall repair costs $300 to $500 for small holes and $500 to $800 or more for large holes. In plaster houses the repair is different: loose plaster is secured or cut out and patched. Tell us which you have when you call.
A free estimate and a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (412) 668-1875.