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Wallpaper Stripping and Wall Restoration in North Miami

The short answer

We strip wallpaper in North Miami homes, including painted-over paper, multiple layers and old borders, then wash off the paste and repair the surface. You get walls ready to prime for paint or new wallpaper.

Plenty of North Miami homeowners have tried to take wallpaper down themselves with a spray bottle and a putty knife, only to stop after one wall because the paper shredded, the drywall started peeling, or the paste refused to budge. Others bought a house in 33161 or 33168 and found a kitchen border from decades ago, a bathroom papered three times over, or a hallway where someone painted straight onto the old paper. Reliable Wallpaper Installer takes on these removal jobs across North Miami, about six miles east of our Miami Gardens base. We strip the paper, clean away the adhesive and repair the surface so the next finish, whether paint or new wallcovering, goes on a sound wall. This page covers the surprises we find most often in local homes and what the finished wall looks like when we hand the room back.

Common surprises behind North Miami wallpaper

Every removal job reveals something. Knowing the usual suspects helps us plan the right amount of time and the right tools.

  • Two or three layers of paper stacked from different decades, each with its own adhesive
  • Paper that was painted over, which seals out water and removal solution
  • Borders hung over painted walls with heavy-duty paste that bonds harder than the paint itself
  • Paper applied directly to unprimed drywall, where the gypsum facing tears easily
  • Old water stains or mildew on exterior block walls, especially behind furniture or near windows

Why DIY removal often stalls

The tools sold for home removal can work on modern strippable paper, but they are less effective on older materials. Scoring tools used too aggressively puncture the drywall surface. Soaking unprimed drywall too heavily softens the gypsum and leaves gouges when the paper is scraped off. Steamers can loosen stubborn paste, but used carelessly they can blister paint on nearby walls or loosen joint tape.

We have the patience and experience to judge each wall separately. One wall might come off dry in long strips, while the next needs soaking, and a third has to be handled in small sections with minimal water because the surface underneath is fragile.

How a removal day typically unfolds

We begin by covering floors and furniture and shutting off power to outlets on the walls we are working on. A small test patch shows us how the paper is attached and what lies below. From there we choose between dry stripping, peeling the face and soaking the backing, scoring and soaking, or steaming.

After the paper is off, we wash the walls with warm water and a cleaner that breaks down adhesive residue. This step takes as long as the stripping itself in many rooms, but skipping it is the main reason new paint cracks or new wallpaper fails. We repeat until the wall is no longer slippery to the touch, then let it dry with the air conditioning running.

Restoring the surface

Once the walls are dry, we assess the damage. Small dings and nail holes are filled and sanded. Areas where the drywall's paper face has torn are sealed with a primer made for damaged drywall before patching, which prevents bubbles under the joint compound. On plaster over block, we fill cracks and smooth uneven patches.

The result is a clean, flat wall ready for primer. If you are painting, it can go straight to your painter. If you are repapering, we can prime and hang the new wallcovering ourselves.

Timing removal around a move or sale

Removal is often part of a bigger project: a new purchase before move-in, a refresh before listing a house, or a remodel where the walls need to be bare before the kitchen or bathroom goes in. Scheduling removal early gives repairs and primer time to dry fully, which matters during the wet season from May through October, when humid air slows drying. If your project falls in hurricane season, it also helps to finish wall work before any storm preparation takes over the household's attention.

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What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. Honest product advice

    We tell you how a paper will handle humidity, sunlight and cleaning in your specific room before you order it.

  2. Prep that is not skipped

    Repairs, skim coating and the right primer come before installation, so seams stay tight and future removal stays easy.

  3. Clear communication

    You know the plan, the prep needed and what happens each day, with no guessing about where the job stands.

FAQ

Common questions

Can painted-over wallpaper be removed?

Yes, though it takes longer. We score or break the paint layer carefully so the removal solution can reach the adhesive underneath.

Will you damage the drywall?

We work to avoid it, but older paper on unprimed drywall can pull up some facing. We repair that damage as part of the job.

Do you haul away the old paper?

Yes. We bag the removed paper and leave the work area clean.

Can you remove a wallpaper border only?

Certainly. Borders are a common request, and we repair the paint line or wall beneath so it is ready for a fresh coat.

How soon can I paint after removal?

Once the walls are fully dry and primed, usually within a day or two depending on humidity.

Do you cover areas near North Miami?

Yes. We also work in North Miami Beach, Opa-locka, West Park, Pembroke Park and Hialeah.

Tell us about your room

Send a few photos of the walls and the paper you have in mind, and we will explain how we would prep and hang it.

(561) 823-3201
Call (561) 823-3201 Request Service