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Wallpaper Removal in Sunrise, FL

The short answer

We strip old wallpaper, borders and leftover adhesive from Sunrise walls, then repair torn drywall and prime so the surface is ready for paint or new paper. The method depends on what kind of paper you have and whether the wall was primed underneath.

Old wallpaper rarely comes off the way a video tutorial suggests. In a lot of Sunrise homes, paper was hung straight onto unprimed drywall decades ago, sometimes in layers, and the humid air has bonded it to the wall face. Pull too hard and you take the drywall paper with it, leaving fuzzy brown patches that soak up paint unevenly. True Wallpaper Installation removes wallpaper and borders throughout Sunrise, working out of our Fort Lauderdale base about 8 miles to the east and covering the 33323 and 33351 ZIP codes. Our goal is simple: get the paper and the glue off, repair whatever the stripping reveals, and leave a wall that is actually ready for paint or a new wallcovering.

Signs It Is Time to Take It Down

Some homeowners want a fresh look. Others are dealing with paper that has started to fail. In Sunrise's climate, we often see the same few problems in rooms papered long ago.

  • Seams curling or opening along the top edge near the ceiling
  • Bubbles where moisture has gotten behind the paper
  • Dark spots or mildew in bathrooms and closets with poor airflow
  • Dated borders in kitchens and kids' rooms
  • Paper painted over by a previous owner that is now cracking

Testing Before We Strip

We start every removal by testing a small area. That tells us whether the paper is strippable, peelable or a stubborn traditional paper that needs scoring and soaking. Strippable papers can come off dry in full sheets. Peelable vinyls leave a paper backing that has to be wetted and scraped. Older papers glued to bare drywall need the most care.

We also check whether the wall was primed or sealed before the paper went on. A sealed wall releases cleanly; an unsealed one may lose its face paper no matter how gently it is worked, which means more repair time afterward.

How the Removal Itself Works

We protect floors with drop cloths and tape plastic over outlets and switches before any water is used. For papers that need soaking, we lightly perforate the surface, apply a warm water and remover solution, and give it time to work into the glue. Then the paper is lifted with wide scrapers held at a low angle to avoid gouging.

Once the paper is off, the job is only half done. Dried wallpaper paste left on the wall will crack any new paint and cause blistering, so we wash the walls until the residue is gone. Plaster over concrete-block walls usually handles water well; drywall needs a lighter touch so it does not get soft.

Repairs After Stripping

Torn drywall face paper is common after removal. Painting over it directly causes bubbling, so we seal those areas with an oil-based or shellac-based primer first, then skim and sand. Gouges, nail holes and old anchor holes are patched at the same time.

If you are planning new wallpaper, we finish with a wallcovering primer. If you are painting, we prime with a product suited to the paint system you have chosen. Either way, you end up with walls that are flat and sealed.

Moisture Problems Behind the Paper

Every so often, stripping paper in Sunrise reveals mildew or water staining on an exterior wall, often after a heavy rainy season or a storm between June and November. We will show you what we find and let you know if it looks like an ongoing leak, a condensation issue from AC ducts, or an old stain that just needs sealing. Covering active moisture with new finishes only hides the problem.

Serving Sunrise and Surrounding Cities

We remove wallpaper in Sunrise as well as Plantation, Tamarac, Lauderhill, North Lauderdale and Lauderdale Lakes. Many clients pair removal with a new installation so the wall goes from old paper to fresh finish in one project.

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What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. Honest wall assessment

    If a surface needs stripping, skim coating or time to dry, we tell you before work begins, not halfway through.

  2. Careful layout

    We measure, plan the repeat and decide where the pattern starts so motifs line up across corners, doors and windows.

  3. A clean finish

    Seams are tight, edges are trimmed cleanly at trim and ceilings, and the room is left tidy with care tips for your new walls.

FAQ

Common questions

Can you paint over wallpaper instead of removing it?

It is possible but risky. Paint can loosen the paste and cause bubbles, and removal later becomes much harder. We usually recommend stripping.

How long does wallpaper removal take?

A small bathroom may take a few hours; a large room with multiple layers or unsealed drywall can take a day or more.

Do you use steamers?

Sometimes, on stubborn papers. Steam is used carefully on drywall to avoid softening the board.

Will my walls need repairs afterward?

Often some. Older papers on unprimed drywall usually leave torn spots that need sealing and skimming before paint.

Can you remove just a border?

Yes. Borders come off the same way, and we clean the adhesive strip so it does not show through new paint.

Ready to plan your wallpaper project?

Tell us about the room, the paper you have in mind and the condition of the walls. We will follow up to look at the space and map out the work.

(912) 873-9767
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