The family does the work
Paul Mead and his two sons carry out every job. No subcontractors, no strangers.
Painters & Decorators · Basingstoke & Hampshire
Wallpaper Removal & Wall Preparationin Basingstoke & Hampshire
Old paper stripped, walls repaired, filled and sanded smooth, giving your paint or new wallpaper the surface it needs to look right.
24 years in the trade · 1-year guarantee on every job
- 24 years in the trade
- Fully insured with £5m public liability cover
- 1-year guarantee on all work as standard
- Free, no-obligation quotes, always
- Family-run: Paul and his sons on every job
- Open 7 days a week, 7am-9pm
- Domestic and commercial decorating
Service overview
Wallpaper Removal & Wall Preparation: What You Need to Know
What the service covers
Stripping old wallpaper, woodchip and lining paper, removing paste residue, filling cracks and holes, skimming out minor imperfections with filler, sanding, and sealing walls ready for decorating.
Who it is for
Anyone moving into a home with dated or damaged paper, people switching from wallpaper to paint, and anyone planning new wallpaper who needs a sound, flat surface first.
When it is needed
Peeling seams, bubbling, several layers of old paper, woodchip hiding a rough wall, or plaster that has been damaged by a previous DIY strip.
Why it is worth doing properly
Painting or papering over old wallpaper almost always ends badly: seams show through, the paper bubbles, and the job has to be redone. A properly prepared wall is the base of every good finish.
The cost of waiting
What Happens If You Leave It
Wall preparation is the part nobody sees, but it decides how good the finished room looks.
Paper painted over
Moisture from paint can lift old paper, causing bubbles and visible seams.
Damaged plaster
Heavy-handed scraping gouges the plaster underneath, leaving a rough wall.
Paste residue
Leftover paste can stop paint drying properly and cause cracking.
Hidden cracks
Old paper often hides cracks and holes that need filling before decorating.
Common mistakes we see
- Painting straight over wallpaper to save time.
- Scraping too hard and gouging the plaster.
- Leaving paste residue on the wall before painting.
- Not sealing repaired or bare plaster before the finish coats.
Our process
Five Steps From Quote to Finished Job
- 01
Free visit and quote
Paul looks at the job, talks it through with you and gives a clear, no-obligation price.
- 02
Protection
Floors, furniture, fixtures and surrounding surfaces are covered and masked before anything else happens.
- 03
Preparation
Paper scored and soaked or steamed, stripped carefully to protect the plaster, and paste residue washed off.
- 04
The work
Walls filled, sanded smooth and sealed, ready for paint or new wallpaper, which we can also carry out.
- 05
Inspection and tidy-up
Everything checked in good light, touched up where needed and left clean, backed by our 1-year guarantee.
What you get
Why Choose Centurion for Wallpaper Removal & Wall Preparation
£5m insured, 1-year guarantee
Full public liability cover while we work, and a 1-year guarantee once we finish.
7 days, 7am to 9pm
Evenings and weekends are normal for us, which makes booking far easier.
Plaster protected
Careful stripping methods to avoid damaging the wall beneath.
Ready for anything
Walls left ready for paint, lining paper or new wallpaper.
One team start to finish
We can strip, prepare and decorate in one job.
Gallery
Wallpaper Removal & Wall Preparation: Our Work
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[Project photo coming soon]
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In detail
Wallpaper Removal & Wall Preparation: Materials, Methods & Situations
Every wall is different underneath, so we assess it before choosing a method.
Stripping methods
Most papers come away with scoring and soaking; stubborn or multiple layers may need steaming. We choose the gentlest method that works.
Woodchip and textured papers
Woodchip often hides a poor wall. Once it is off, we tell you honestly what the wall needs to get a good finish.
Filling and sanding
Cracks, holes and dents are filled, sanded flush and spot-primed so they disappear under the new finish.
Sealing
Bare and repaired plaster is sealed so the finish coats go on evenly and dry at the same rate.
Local to you
Wallpaper Removal & Wall Preparation Across Basingstoke & Beyond
We are based in Basingstoke and carry out wallpaper removal & wall preparation for homes and businesses across Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and Wiltshire. Being local means we can visit to quote quickly, plan work around the weather and your diary, and keep the job moving without long gaps between visits.
From terraced houses and new-build estates to period properties, offices and commercial units, the properties in this part of the South vary a lot. Older homes often need more preparation and filling, while newer homes tend to need careful work on fresh plaster and modern materials. We assess each job on its own terms and tell you plainly what it needs before we start.
Because we work 7 days a week, from 7am to 9pm, it is easier to book work in at a time that suits you, including evenings and weekends when you are at home, or outside trading hours for businesses.
Who does the work
The Same Family Team, Start to Finish
Centurion Decorating is run by Paul Mead, who was trained in the trade by his dad and has now been decorating for 24 years. Both of Paul's sons work alongside him full-time, so the people who quote for your job are the people who turn up and do it.
That matters when you are letting someone into your home or business. There are no strangers or subcontractors you have never met, the standard of preparation and finish stays consistent from the first day to the last, and if you have a question you can ask Paul directly.
Every job is fully insured with £5 million public liability cover and comes with a 1-year guarantee as standard. Quotes are always free, with no obligation, so the only thing it costs you to find out is a phone call to 07717 774411. You can also see everything we do on our homepage or send us the details of your job.
FAQ
Wallpaper Removal & Wall Preparation Questions
Can you paint over my existing wallpaper?
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We don't recommend it. Paint can make old paper bubble and seams usually show through. Stripping and preparing the wall gives a far better result.
What if the plaster is damaged underneath?
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Minor damage is filled and sanded as part of the preparation. If the wall needs more than that, we will tell you before going any further.
Is the quote for wallpaper removal free?
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Yes. Every quote is free with no obligation. You get a clear price before any work starts.
Are you insured?
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Yes. Centurion Decorating carries £5 million public liability insurance on every job.
Is the work guaranteed?
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All work comes with a 1-year guarantee. If something we did is not right, we come back and put it right.
When can you work?
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We work 7 days a week, 7am to 9pm, so we can fit around your home life or business hours. Call 07717 774411.
Free quote
Get a Clear Price for Your Job
No cost, no obligation. Paul will look at the job and tell you exactly what it needs, and every job is fully insured and guaranteed for a year.
07717 774411- £5m public liability · 1-year guarantee
- 7 days a week, 7am – 9pm