The short answer
We remove wallpaper in West Miami by testing the paper type, scoring and soaking or steaming as needed, scraping gently, and washing away adhesive. We then repair and prime the walls so they are ready for paint or new wallpaper.
In a neighborhood of established homes like West Miami, it is common to find wallpaper that has been on the walls for a very long time: kitchen borders, bathroom florals, textured vinyls in hallways, and sometimes paper that a previous owner simply painted over. Getting it off cleanly, without gouging plaster or tearing drywall, is a job we do regularly. Our crew comes from Hialeah, roughly eight miles to the north, and leaves your walls stripped, washed and repaired.
What decades-old wallpaper is usually like
Older papers were often hung with strong pastes and without a primer underneath. Over time, the adhesive can bond tightly to plaster or to the face of drywall. Multiple layers may be stacked, and paint over the top seals them in. Vinyl papers from past decades may peel easily at the face but leave a stubborn backing behind.
Knowing this, we always start with a small test area. How the paper reacts tells us which tools and how much soak time each wall needs.
Our step-by-step method
Every removal is a little different, but the core process looks like this:
- Protecting floors, trim and furniture, and shutting off power to outlets in work areas
- Peeling any strippable or vinyl top layers by hand
- Scoring water-resistant or painted surfaces so solution can penetrate
- Applying warm water with a stripping agent, or steam for stubborn layers
- Scraping with wide, flexible blades held at a shallow angle
- Washing the walls to remove all remaining adhesive
- Repairing gouges, torn drywall face paper and cracks, then priming
Plaster versus drywall
Plaster walls over concrete block, common in older West Miami homes, are durable and tolerate soaking and scraping well. They can, however, reveal cracks, old patches and uneven areas once the paper comes off, and these need filling before paint or new paper.
Drywall needs more care. If it was never primed before papering, the glue may have bonded to its paper face. Too much soaking can soften the board and create bubbles. When we see that happening, we let the wall dry, seal the area with a shellac or oil-based primer, and skim it smooth. This preserves the wall rather than requiring sections to be replaced.
Moisture and drying time
Removal uses a lot of water, and the South Florida climate does not help walls dry quickly, particularly during the humid wet season from May through October. We use fans and keep the AC running to speed things up, and we wait until walls are fully dry before priming. Painting or papering too soon can trap moisture and cause problems later, such as blistering paint or peeling paper.
While the paper is off, we also look for signs of past water intrusion, such as staining near windows or along exterior walls. If we see anything that suggests an ongoing leak, we point it out so it can be addressed before new finishes go on.
Next steps after removal
Once the walls are clean, repaired and primed, you can paint, hire a painter, or have us install new wallpaper. If you plan to wallpaper again, we use a wallpaper-specific primer, which makes the next removal far easier and protects the wall surface.
Some clients ask whether they can simply skim coat over stubborn old paper instead of removing it. In a few cases, when paper is firmly bonded and removal would destroy the wall, sealing it and skimming over the top is a reasonable option. We only recommend that after testing, because loose paper underneath a skim coat tends to fail in a humid climate, and the problem resurfaces as cracks or bubbles months later.
Before we begin, it helps if you clear the walls of frames, mirrors and shelves, and move small furniture and breakables out of the room. Let us know if any outlets or switches are on circuits you are unsure about, since we turn power off before working with water near them. Pets and children are best kept away from the work area while scrapers, ladders and wet floors are in use.
West Miami and nearby communities
We remove wallpaper throughout West Miami and in Miami Springs, Doral, Miami, Sweetwater and Medley. Send a few photos of the room and a close-up of a seam or corner, and we can give you an idea of what the removal will involve.
More services in West Miami
- Wallpaper Installation in West Miami
- Accent Wall Installation in West Miami
- Mural Installation in West Miami
- Grasscloth Wallpaper Installation in West Miami
