The short answer
We strip old wallpaper, borders and paste residue from Pembroke Park walls, then repair and prime the surface. The method depends on the paper type and whether the wall is drywall or plaster over concrete block.
Old wallpaper in a Pembroke Park home can be anything from a peelable border in a kid's room to three layers of pasted vinyl in a bathroom that nobody has touched in decades. Pulling it off looks simple until the drywall face starts coming with it or the backing refuses to let go. We take on removal jobs throughout this Broward County town, roughly seven miles northeast of our Miami Gardens base, and leave walls clean, repaired and ready for paint or new paper. The goal is simple: get the covering off without creating a bigger repair job underneath.
First, a test patch
Before committing to a method, we lift a corner in an inconspicuous spot to see what we are dealing with. Strippable papers peel off dry in full sheets. Peelable vinyls separate into a top layer and a paper backing that stays on the wall and must be soaked off. Traditional papers and those painted over need scoring and steam or a removal solution.
The test also tells us whether the wall was ever primed. Paper hung straight onto unsealed drywall bonds to the paper face of the board, and that changes how gently we have to work.
How we take it down
Floors are covered with plastic and absorbent drop cloths, outlets in the work zone are switched off and taped, and furniture is moved to the middle of the room. Depending on the test, we either peel dry, soak with warm water and a removal solution, or use a steamer to soften the adhesive. Scrapers are held at a low angle so they slide under the paper instead of digging into the wall.
Once the paper is gone, the job is only half done. Dried paste left on the wall will bleed through new paint and keep new wallpaper from bonding. We wash the surface until it no longer feels slick, then let it dry fully before any repair.
- Dry stripping for strippable and non-woven papers
- Soaking for peelable backings and borders
- Scoring and steam for stubborn or painted-over paper
- Washing off every trace of old adhesive
Plaster on block versus drywall
Many South Florida houses have concrete block exterior walls finished inside with plaster or a thin skim coat, while interior partitions are often drywall. Plaster tolerates water and steam well, so removal from those walls tends to go smoothly. Drywall is more delicate. Too much water and the paper face swells, tears and bubbles. On drywall we use less moisture, work in smaller sections and stop to let areas dry when needed.
If the drywall face does tear, we seal it with an oil-based or shellac primer before skimming. Skipping that step leads to bubbles when water-based compound or paint goes on top.
Why humidity matters after removal
In a humid climate, a wall that has just been soaked can take longer to dry than people expect, especially during the wet summer months. We run fans and keep the AC on to pull moisture out of the room before priming. Rushing that step can trap water in the wall, which encourages mildew and makes new finishes fail early.
Removal sometimes uncovers problems the old paper was hiding: water stains below a window, soft spots near a shower or dark mildew behind a dresser. When we find those, we show you before covering anything so the cause can be addressed.
Getting the wall ready for what is next
After washing and drying, we patch gouges, fill old nail holes and sand the surface smooth. Then we prime with a product suited to your next finish. If new wallpaper is going up, we can move straight into installation. If you plan to paint, the wall will be smooth and sealed and ready for your color.
More services in Pembroke Park
- Wallpaper Installation in Pembroke Park
- Accent Wall Installation in Pembroke Park
- Mural Installation in Pembroke Park
- Grasscloth Wallpaper Installation in Pembroke Park