The short answer
We remove old wallpaper and borders from Miramar homes, then wash away the adhesive and repair the wall so it is ready for paint or new paper. The method depends on the paper type and whether the wall is drywall or plaster.
Moving into a Miramar home often means inheriting someone else's taste on the walls. Dated borders in the kitchen, faded florals in a bathroom, a heavy vinyl in the primary bedroom that has started curling at the seams. Taking it down yourself sounds simple until the first strip tears into tiny pieces and leaves a gummy backing behind. We remove wallpaper in houses, townhomes and condos across 33023, 33025, 33027 and 33029, driving about 7 miles north from our Hialeah base. The job ends with clean, repaired walls that are ready for paint or new paper, not just bare ones.
Signs it is time for removal
Some papers simply look tired. Others are actively failing. In a humid climate, seams that lift, bubbles in the middle of a strip, or brown stains along the top edge can point to moisture problems or simply old adhesive giving up. Painting over failing wallpaper only hides the issue for a while, and the paint usually cracks along the seams.
Borders are a special case. Many were hung directly over painted walls with a strong paste, and they leave a distinct band of residue once removed. That band needs to be cleaned and sometimes skimmed before the wall can be painted evenly.
- Seams curling or opening along the length
- Bubbles or soft spots in the paper
- Water stains at the ceiling line
- Borders that no longer suit the room
- Paper painted over and now cracking
Matching the method to the wall
Most Miramar homes have drywall interiors. Drywall has a paper face, and if the original installer skipped primer, the wallpaper paste is bonded straight to that face. Soaking too aggressively can soften it and cause tears. In those cases we work in small sections, use gel removers that cling instead of running, and keep moisture controlled.
Plaster walls, more common in some older homes, handle water and steam well. There we can use steam to release multiple layers efficiently. Peelable vinyl papers often lift dry and leave a backing that we then soak and scrape off.
Our removal sequence
We start by protecting the room. Floors get drop cloths with plastic beneath, baseboards are taped, and outlets on the work wall are covered or switched off at the panel. Then we test a hidden area to see how the paper responds.
Depending on the result, we dry-peel the top layer, score lightly where needed, and apply removal solution. After the paste softens, we scrape with wide blades at a shallow angle. Once all paper is gone, we wash the walls repeatedly until no adhesive remains. Leftover paste is the main reason paint fails after removal, so we do not skip this step.
Repairs and wall prep
After removal and washing, we let walls dry with the AC running and confirm dryness with a meter. Torn drywall facing is sealed with an oil-based or shellac primer to prevent bubbling, then patched and sanded. Nail holes, cracks and gouges are filled. If the wall shows a band where a border used to be, we skim it to blend with the surrounding surface.
The final coat depends on what comes next. Paint gets a paint primer. New wallpaper gets a wallpaper primer that also makes the next removal easier someday.
Scheduling in Broward County
Drying time is the variable that controls the schedule. In the humid months from May through October, walls take longer to dry overnight, so some removals stretch into a second day. The drier season from November into April can speed things along. If a tropical system threatens during hurricane season, we pause rather than leave damp walls in a house that may lose power.
We also strip wallpaper in Miami Lakes, Hialeah Gardens, Miami Gardens, Opa-locka and Medley.
More services in Miramar
- Wallpaper Installation in Miramar
- Accent Wall Installation in Miramar
- Mural Installation in Miramar
- Grasscloth Wallpaper Installation in Miramar
