Paint only looks as good as the wall under it. This page covers the wall and ceiling work that often comes before painting: taking off wallpaper, dealing with popcorn ceilings, skim coating and drywall repair.
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 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 and texture show through, moisture in the paint can loosen the paper, and it is far harder to remove later.
If the paper is bonded tight and removal would wreck the wall, it can be sealed with an oil-based primer, the seams filled and then painted. We tell you which way your walls should go after testing a corner.
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 is published at $3 to $8 per square foot.
The price depends on how the paper was hung. Paper put straight onto unprimed drywall is the slowest to remove, because it pulls the face of the drywall off with it.
The walls are torn up after removing wallpaper. Can they be painted, and do they need skim coating?
Yes, they can be painted, but not as they are. Torn drywall paper must be sealed first with a primer made for it, or it bubbles when wet. After that, most walls need a skim coat to make them smooth.
A skim coat is a thin layer of joint compound spread over the whole wall. Nationally, it is published at $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot of wall, 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 if it is firmly attached and not water damaged. It is sprayed or rolled gently with a thick roller. Painting textured or popcorn ceilings is published nationally at $1.00 to $3.50 per square foot.
Know that paint seals the texture, which makes it much harder to scrape off later. If you may remove it one day, decide before painting.
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 and paint. The national average job is $5,500.
| 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 |
Could my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
Yes, it could, mainly in older homes. Asbestos was used in some spray-on ceiling textures for decades. You cannot tell by looking. A lab test of a small sample is the only way to know.
Do not scrape, sand or drill the ceiling until you have a result. Many Modesto homes from the 1960s and 1970s have popcorn ceilings. Nationally, asbestos inspection and testing costs $250 to $850, with lab fees of $20 to $80 per sample. If the test is positive, removal is work for a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
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 before any paint goes on, by the national figures.
Skim coating is for people who want smooth walls. Most Modesto homes have orange peel or knockdown texture, and it paints well as it is. Smooth walls also show every dent, so they suit some houses better than others.
Why does paint show every drywall repair?
Paint shows a repair when the patch has a different texture or a different porosity from the wall around it. You see it as a flat, dull or shiny spot, most of all when light rakes across the wall.
The cure is to match the texture, prime the patch and repaint the whole wall from corner to corner. Touching up just the patch nearly always shows.
Can a painter fix holes and dents in drywall?
Yes. Painters fix nail holes, dents, small holes and cracks as part of normal prep. Larger holes are cut out and patched with new drywall, taped, filled and textured to match.
Nationally, drywall repair is published at $300 to $1,500 or more, with small holes under 4 inches at $300 to $500 when done as a job on their own. Done as part of a painting job, small repairs are normally in the price.
Can you match the texture on my walls?
In most cases, yes. Orange peel and knockdown are the common textures here, and both can be blended into a patch. Heavy hand-troweled textures are harder to copy exactly.
Where a perfect match is unlikely, we say so first. Retexturing the whole wall is the fallback.
A free walkthrough and a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (209) 231-7078.