The short answer
We remove wallpaper in Coral Gables by testing how it is bonded, peeling or scoring and steaming as needed, washing off old paste and repairing any damage. The result is a clean wall that is ready to prime for paint or a new paper.
Taking old wallpaper down sounds simple until a strip tears in half and leaves its backing glued to the wall. In Coral Gables the difficulty often depends on what the paper was hung over. Plaster tolerates moisture well, while drywall that was never primed can lose its paper face along with the wallpaper. WallStyle Installers drives about 11 miles from our Miami base to strip wallpaper in homes across 33134 and 33146 and leave walls ready for paint or new paper.
A quick test tells us how hard the job will be
We start by lifting a corner in an inconspicuous spot. Some modern papers are strippable: the top layer pulls away dry in one piece. Others are peelable, meaning the face comes off but a paper backing stays behind and must be soaked. Older papers, especially those painted over at some point, need scoring and steam to release.
We also check what is underneath. A tap on the wall and a look at an outlet box tell us whether it is plaster or drywall, and whether there are several layers of paper stacked on top of one another. Multiple layers are not unusual in homes that have changed hands a few times.
Removal methods we use
Every method has the same goal: get the paper and the adhesive off without gouging the surface below.
On plaster we can be more generous with warm water and steam. On drywall we control moisture carefully because soaking the paper facing of the board causes it to bubble and tear. If drywall was never sealed before the original install, we may stop short of full removal and instead seal and skim over the remaining backing.
- Dry stripping for strippable papers
- Soaking the backing with warm water and a remover solution
- Perforating non-porous vinyl so moisture can reach the paste
- Steaming stubborn or painted-over paper
- Washing every wall to remove remaining adhesive
Protecting floors and rooms while we work
Removal is wet work. We cover floors with absorbent drop cloths backed by plastic, tape off baseboards, and protect outlets and switches after shutting off the circuits we are working near. Furniture is moved to the center of the room and covered.
Coral Gables homes with original wood floors or stone thresholds need extra care because water and paste residue can stain them. We keep buckets and steamer away from those edges and wipe up drips immediately.
Old paste, humidity and mold concerns
Wallpaper paste left on a wall is a problem for whatever comes next. Paint over paste residue can crack or alligator, and new paper will not bond evenly. We wash the walls until they no longer feel slick, then let them dry under AC before priming.
In South Florida, old paper sometimes hides dark spots where moisture was trapped behind it, typically on exterior block walls, around windows or in bathrooms. If we uncover staining or soft drywall, we stop and show you before going further. You can then decide whether to bring in a remediation or plumbing professional before the wall is closed up again with paint or new paper.
Why doing it yourself often goes sideways
Plenty of homeowners start a removal project on a Saturday and call us on Sunday with half a wall done. The usual problems are predictable. A scoring tool pressed too hard cuts through into the drywall. A putty knife held at the wrong angle digs grooves into plaster. Too much water soaks into the drywall seams and loosens the tape underneath. And when the paste is not fully washed off, the paint that goes on later cracks along every old seam line.
None of this is a reason not to try, but it helps to know where the risk lies. If you have already started and run into trouble, we can pick up where you stopped. We will assess what has been damaged, finish the removal using the right method for the remaining paper and repair the areas that were gouged or torn, so the whole wall ends up even again.
Getting the wall ready for what comes next
After the wall dries, we fill gouges, repair torn drywall facing with a sealing primer and joint compound, and sand smooth. If you plan to paint, the wall is primed for paint. If new wallpaper is going up, we use a wallpaper primer and can schedule the installation right after.
Homeowners in South Miami, West Miami, Miami Springs, Sweetwater and Cutler Bay can book the same removal service.
More services in Coral Gables
- Wallpaper Installation in Coral Gables
- Accent Wall Installation in Coral Gables
- Mural Installation in Coral Gables
- Grasscloth Wallpaper Installation in Coral Gables
