A paint job is only as good as the wall under it. San Bernardino homes built from the 1950s to the 1980s often have popcorn ceilings, textured walls and some old wallpaper. Here is what to know about each before painting.
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, edges and any pattern texture show through the paint. Water in the paint can loosen the paste, so bubbles and lifted seams appear later. It also makes the paper much harder to remove in future.
It is a fair option only when the paper is tightly stuck, smooth and likely to tear the wall apart if removed. Then the seams are sealed, the paper is coated with an oil-based or other sealing primer, and it is painted.
How much does wallpaper removal cost?
Wallpaper removal has a published national cost of $0.80 to $3.00 per square foot, or $320 to $1,200 for an average room with 400 square feet of wall. Paper that has to be soaked and scraped is listed at $3 to $8 per square foot. By room, a bathroom is $160 to $900 and a bedroom $240 to $1,200.
The big unknown is how the paper was hung. Paper on a primed wall comes off cleanly. Paper pasted to bare drywall takes far longer and leaves more repair.
The walls are torn up after removing wallpaper. Can they be painted, and do they need skim coating?
Yes, they can be painted, after repair. Torn drywall paper must first be sealed with a primer made for it, or it will bubble when wet compound or paint touches it. Light damage is then patched and sanded. Walls with damage all over need a skim coat, which is a thin layer of joint compound across the whole surface.
By the national figures, skim coating walls costs $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot, and a 12 by 12 bedroom is listed at $580 to $800.
Can you paint a popcorn ceiling instead of removing it?
Yes, you can paint a popcorn ceiling if it is firmly attached. Spraying is the best way, since a roller can pull the texture off when it gets wet. Painting does not disturb the material much, but anything that scrapes, sands or knocks pieces loose does. One thing to know first: paint seals the texture, so later removal is slower and messier.
How much does popcorn ceiling removal cost?
Popcorn ceiling removal has a published national cost of $1 to $2 per square foot for removal alone, or $2 to $6 per square foot with new texture and paint. For 500 square feet the range is $1,000 to $3,000, and for 1,000 square feet it is $2,000 to $6,000.
Those figures assume no asbestos. If the ceiling tests positive, removal becomes an abatement job at a much higher price. HomeGuide lists asbestos removal at $4 to $20 per square foot on the same page.
Could my popcorn ceiling have asbestos?
Yes, it could if it was put up before the 1980s. Asbestos was a common ingredient in sprayed ceiling texture, and a lot of San Bernardino housing dates from those decades. You cannot tell by looking. A lab test of a small sample is the only way to know.
Have the test done before anyone scrapes, sands or drills the ceiling. HomeGuide lists lab testing at $20 to $80 per sample and a full asbestos inspection at $250 to $850. If the result is positive, removal is work for a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. The South Coast Air Quality Management District also regulates asbestos removal in this area. An untested ceiling in an older home should not be scraped.
Is skim coating cheaper than painting over textured walls?
No. Painting over textured walls is the cheaper option. Skim coating is an added step with its own cost, $1.00 to $1.30 per square foot by the national figures, and the wall still has to be primed and painted afterward. Painting over texture costs only the paint job.
Skim coat when you want smooth walls or when the texture is damaged and patchy. Most homes here have orange peel or knockdown texture, and most owners keep it. It hides small flaws well.
Why does paint show every drywall repair?
You see a repair through paint for one of three reasons. The patch was not primed, so it soaks up paint and looks dull, which painters call flashing. The patch is not flat, so side light catches its edge. Or the texture on the patch does not match the wall around it.
The cure is to feather the compound out wide, match the texture, prime the patch and then paint the whole wall from corner to corner, not just the spot.
Can a painter fix holes and dents in drywall?
Yes. Painters fix nail holes, dents, small cracks and holes up to about the size of a hand as part of the job, including matching the wall texture. Large holes, water-damaged sections and sagging ceilings are bigger repairs. By the national figures, a drywall contractor charges $300 to $500 for small holes and $500 to $800 or more for large ones, with texturing at $0.80 to $2.00 or more per square foot.
Drywall repair is one of our listed services. Tell us about damaged areas when you call, and we will price them with the painting.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (909) 487-2695.