The short answer
Reliable Wallpaper Installer removes old wallpaper, repairs walls and installs new coverings in West Little River (33147), 5 miles south of Miami Gardens. Older ranch homes often need careful stripping and prep before new paper goes up.
West Little River is an unincorporated community in Miami-Dade County, ZIP code 33147, about 5 miles south of our Miami Gardens shop. A lot of the homes here are older ranch-style houses that have passed through several owners, and many still carry wallcoverings from decades ago, sometimes several layers deep, sometimes painted over. When a homeowner calls us from this neighborhood, the job often begins with getting the old material off and putting the wall back in shape. New paper comes second. So this page focuses on the part people usually underestimate: what removal and repair actually involve, and why they matter so much in an older South Florida house.
Signs Your Walls Have Hidden Wallpaper
Not every old covering is obvious. Previous owners sometimes painted directly over wallpaper rather than removing it. Over time, the humid air works on the old paste, and the paint layer begins to show the problem.
- Faint vertical lines spaced about two feet apart
- Bubbles or blisters in painted walls, especially in summer
- Edges peeling up at corners, outlets or near the ceiling
- A hollow or papery sound when you tap the wall
- Patterns ghosting through thin paint under certain light
How We Strip Old Wallcoverings
We start by testing a small area to learn what we are dealing with: a strippable paper, a vinyl with a paper backing, multiple layers or paint over paper. That test decides the method. Strippable products may come away dry. Others need scoring and a warm solution to soften the paste. Painted-over paper takes the most time, because moisture has to get through the paint before the paper will release.
Throughout the process we protect floors, cover outlets and keep water away from electrical boxes. We work slowly near the ceiling line and around trim, where drywall facing is easy to tear. Once the paper is gone, we wash the wall to remove leftover adhesive. Residue that stays behind can keep paint from bonding and can cause new wallpaper to bubble.
Repairs After Removal
Even careful removal can reveal damage that was hiding underneath: torn drywall paper, old nail holes, cracks in plaster or patches from past repairs. In a house that has been through decades of humid summers and storm seasons, we also look for any sign of old water intrusion around windows and exterior walls.
Torn drywall facing gets sealed with a specialty primer before patching, because joint compound applied straight onto exposed gypsum tends to bubble. Cracks are taped and filled. Rough areas are skim coated. When the surface is smooth, dry and primed, it is ready for paint or a new wallcovering.
Choosing the New Look
With clean walls, you can pick whatever suits the room. Many owners of older homes here choose a single accent wall to modernize a living room, a washable vinyl for the kitchen or hall, or a removable peel and stick for a child's room. Grasscloth adds warmth to a bedroom or study, and a ceiling paper can make a plain hallway interesting. We also hang full-wall murals, sized from our own measurements so the image fits.
Because South Florida is warm and humid all year, with a wet season from May through October, we steer you away from materials that will fight the climate in a given room and toward ones that will last.
Keeping the House Comfortable While We Work
Removal is the messiest part of any wallpaper job, so we contain it to the room we are working in, run fans only when needed and leave the space swept at the end of each day. Please keep the AC running throughout; it helps walls dry evenly after stripping and gives new paste the steady conditions it needs.
If a tropical storm or hurricane threatens between June 1 and November 30, we may move your appointment so walls are not left open and damp during a power outage.
Close to Home for Nearby Neighborhoods
West Little River is a short drive for us, and so are Opa-locka, Miami Springs, Hialeah, North Miami and Miami Lakes. Send a photo of the wall you want cleared, mention whether it has been painted over, and we will tell you what the removal is likely to involve before we schedule.
ZIP codes we serve
- 33147