Quick answer
Wallpaper Installer Seattle is a licensed and insured wallpaper installer serving Edmonds, WA, with 10+ years of residential and commercial experience. We hang traditional, grasscloth, mural and ceiling wallpaper, remove old paper and prepare walls, and we come to your Edmonds home to give a free on-site written estimate. Call or text (425) 500-6842.
Key facts
- Serving all of Edmonds, from the downtown Bowl to Westgate, Perrinville and Five Corners
- Free on-site written estimates; we reply within 24 hours
- Experienced with plaster, early drywall and textured walls in older homes
- Lead paint testing before sanding in homes built before 1978
- Licensed and insured, 10+ years of experience
What makes wallpaper work in Edmonds homes different?
The biggest difference in Edmonds is the range of houses on a single street. Near the downtown area people call the Bowl, you find early-1900s homes and Craftsman bungalows next to mid-century ramblers, newer townhomes and condos close to the waterfront and the ferry dock.
Up the hillsides toward Westgate, Perrinville and Five Corners, many homes are 1950s to 1970s ramblers, split-levels and daylight-basement houses built to face the Sound and the Olympics. Each of those eras has its own wall surfaces, and the surface decides how a wallpaper job should be prepped long before the first strip goes up.
That is why we treat every Edmonds estimate as an inspection first. We look at the walls, ask what has been done to them over the years, and only then talk about paper, seams and schedule.
How does the age of an Edmonds house change the prep?
Older walls usually need more preparation, and the type of preparation depends on when the house was built and how it has been remodeled. Here is how we typically approach the main eras you see around Edmonds:
| Era / home type | Common wall surface | What we check before hanging |
|---|---|---|
| Early 1900s and Craftsman | Plaster over lath, sometimes patched with drywall | Cracks, loose plaster, hollow spots, layers of old paint or paper |
| 1950s to 1970s ramblers and split-levels | Early drywall, often with older wallpaper still on it | Unsealed drywall under old paper, lead paint risk, dated texture |
| 1980s to 2000s remodels | Drywall with orange-peel or knockdown texture | Texture depth, sheen of the paint, need for a skim coat or liner |
| Newer townhomes and condos | Smooth or lightly textured drywall in flat paint | Paint adhesion, correct wallcovering primer, building work rules |
Smooth, sound, primed walls are what make seams disappear. When a wall is not there yet, our wall preparation for wallpaper service covers patching, skim coating and priming so the paper has a stable base. Heavier texture is common in remodeled rooms and usually calls for a skim coat or liner before hanging.
Safety in older Edmonds homes
If your home was built before 1978, the walls may have lead paint under later coats, so we test before any sanding. Older popcorn ceilings may contain asbestos and should be tested before they are disturbed. When we work around outlets with water or wet removal solutions, the power is turned off at the breaker first.
Should you remove the old wallpaper first?
In most cases, yes: new wallpaper should go over clean, primed walls rather than an older layer. Old paper can release when new paste wets it, and its seams and edges tend to show through the new pattern.
Edmonds homes from the 1960s and 1970s often have paper that was hung straight onto unprimed drywall. Removing it carelessly can tear the drywall face, which then has to be sealed and repaired. Our wallpaper removal process is slow and controlled for exactly that reason. If you are on the fence, read can you wallpaper over wallpaper for the cases where it might be acceptable. Plaster walls behave differently again and are usually more forgiving of steam and water, though old repairs can loosen.
Which rooms do Edmonds homeowners usually wallpaper?
The most common Edmonds requests are dining rooms, powder rooms, entries and home offices, with ceilings becoming more popular. Those rooms suit the character of older houses and give view homes a focal point that does not compete with the windows.
- Dining rooms in Craftsman and older homes: traditional patterns above wainscoting or a picture rail, where careful trimming at the woodwork matters.
- Studies and libraries: natural textures like grasscloth wallpaper, which needs a skilled hand because the seams are visible by nature.
- Powder rooms: bold florals, chinoiserie or dark prints in a small space that can take a strong statement.
- Ceilings: a papered "fifth wall" in a dining room or bedroom which takes extra planning for pattern direction and seam layout.
Does living near Puget Sound affect wallpaper?
It can. Edmonds has the mild, damp marine climate of the Puget Sound shoreline, and moisture is the main enemy of a long-lasting wallpaper job.
Daylight basements, bathrooms without strong exhaust fans and rooms on exterior walls can run cooler and more humid than the rest of the house. In those spaces we look at ventilation, recommend papers with a suitable backing, and use a primer that tolerates moisture. Paper should also sit in the room it will be hung in so it adjusts to the indoor conditions. For bathroom projects, see our guide to wallpaper in Pacific Northwest bathrooms.
Bright view rooms raise a different issue. Large west-facing windows over the water bring in strong afternoon light, which can fade some papers over time. Ask about lightfastness when you choose a pattern for those walls.
What happens during an Edmonds wallpaper installation?
A typical project follows the same clear steps, whether it is a single accent wall or a whole floor:
- We visit your home, measure, look at the walls and leave a free written estimate.
- You buy your wallpaper; we confirm the roll count from our measurements before you order.
- On install day we protect floors and furniture, then remove, repair and prime as needed.
- We plan the layout so the pattern is centered and seams fall in the least visible places.
- We hang, trim and clean up, then walk the room with you.
Most single rooms take one to two days, depending on prep and the type of paper.
Do you also work in cities near Edmonds?
Yes. We regularly travel up and down the I-5 corridor and along the Sound, including Shoreline, Lynnwood and Mukilteo. The same free on-site estimate applies in every city we serve.
Get a free on-site wallpaper estimate in Edmonds
We do not have a showroom; we come to you. Call or text (425) 500-6842 or email seattlewallpaper@gmail.com with a few photos of the room, or use our estimate request form. We reply within 24 hours and will schedule a time to visit your Edmonds home, measure and give you a written estimate at no cost.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Can you hang wallpaper on plaster walls in an older Edmonds house?
Yes. Plaster can be an excellent base once cracks and loose areas are repaired and the surface is primed. We check for hollow spots and old paint layers during the estimate and include any repair work in the written quote.
My 1960s home has old wallpaper that seems glued to the drywall. Can it come off?
Usually, yes, but it takes patience. Paper from that era was often hung on unprimed drywall, so we remove it slowly, repair any torn drywall face and seal the wall before new paper goes up.
Will wallpaper fade in a room with big windows facing the Sound?
Strong afternoon light can fade some papers over time. We suggest checking the manufacturer's lightfastness information before you buy, and for very sunny walls choosing a paper rated for good light resistance.
Do you work in Edmonds condos and townhomes near downtown?
Yes. We follow building rules for work hours, parking and protecting common areas, and we can coordinate with your manager or HOA if they need advance notice.
How far ahead should I book an Edmonds wallpaper project?
Contact us as soon as you have a room in mind, even before you pick a paper. We can measure, confirm the roll count and advise on prep so your order and install date line up.
