The short answer
WallStyle Installers removes wallpaper from Homestead, FL 33033 homes. We test how the paper and adhesive release, strip it with the gentlest method that works, wash off residue, repair any damaged drywall and prime the walls for their next finish.
Old wallpaper rarely comes off the way the instructions on a steamer box promise. In Homestead homes we find everything from builder borders around kitchen soffits to dated bathroom vinyl hung straight onto unprimed drywall, and sometimes two or three layers stacked on top of each other. WallStyle Installers comes down from Miami, about 10 miles north, to strip wallpaper across ZIP 33033 and leave walls ready for paint or new paper. Here is how we approach it and why removal in a humid climate takes a slightly different touch.
Start with a test patch
Before we commit to a method, we lift a corner in an inconspicuous spot. That tells us what we are dealing with: strippable paper that peels off dry, peelable vinyl that leaves its backing behind, or old pulp paper bonded so tightly it has to be soaked off. It also shows what is underneath. Drywall that was never primed is the hardest case, because the paste soaked into the paper face of the board and the two want to come away together.
On concrete-block exterior walls with plaster, paper often releases more easily, but the plaster can be soft in spots where moisture has crept in over the years. We note those areas so they can be repaired.
Our removal methods
We use the least aggressive approach that gets the job done, and switch tactics as the wall tells us to.
- Dry stripping for modern strippable papers that let go in full sheets
- Peeling the vinyl face first, then soaking the remaining backing with warm water and a wallpaper remover solution
- Light scoring on stubborn papers so the solution can reach the paste, using a tool set to avoid gouging the board
- Steaming for heavy or multi-layer jobs, with care around drywall seams and outlets
- A full wash of the walls afterward to remove leftover adhesive, which would otherwise cause new paint to crack or bubble
Why humidity matters during removal
Wet removal puts a lot of water onto a wall in a short time. In Homestead, where the outdoor air stays heavy from May through October, the wall will not dry as quickly as it would in a drier climate. We keep the AC running, limit how much solution goes on at once, and allow time for the drywall to dry fully before any patching or priming. Rushing that step can trap moisture behind the next coat of paint or paper and lead to mildew or peeling.
If you are planning removal during hurricane season, from June 1 to November 30, we schedule around storm watches so the house does not sit closed and without power while walls are still damp.
Bathrooms deserve extra caution. Paper near a tub or shower may have been absorbing moisture for years, and when it comes off we sometimes find dark spots on the drywall behind it. We point those out to you, clean the surface, and let you decide whether a section of board should be replaced before anything new goes on the wall. Catching that now is far easier than discovering it under a fresh coat of paint a few months later.
Repairing the wall after the paper is gone
Removal often reveals what the paper was hiding: nail holes, torn drywall paper, old anchor holes and hairline cracks. Torn drywall face paper must be sealed with an oil-based or shellac-based primer before any joint compound, or the patch will bubble. After that we skim, sand and prime so the wall is smooth enough for its next finish.
If you want new wallpaper afterward, we can handle that in the same project, which saves a separate prep visit. If you are painting, the walls will be primed and ready for your painter or for you.
Homestead and nearby service area
We remove wallpaper throughout Homestead and in Florida City and Cutler Bay, as well as Coral Gables, South Miami and West Miami. A few photos of the paper, including a close-up of a lifted corner if you can manage one, help us estimate how long the job will take.
More services in Homestead
- Wallpaper Installation in Homestead
- Accent Wall Installation in Homestead
- Mural Installation in Homestead
- Grasscloth Wallpaper Installation in Homestead

