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Wallpaper Removal Services in Wilton Manors

The short answer

We strip wallpaper, borders and painted-over paper from Wilton Manors homes, protect old plaster and drywall during removal, wash off adhesive and repair the surface. Walls are left primed and ready for paint or new wallcovering.

Renovating an older Wilton Manors house often starts with taking something down, and wallpaper is high on the list. Many of the city's mid-century homes have been through several owners, each adding a layer of their own taste: a patterned bath, a kitchen border, a bedroom papered and later painted. True Wallpaper Installation removes wallpaper in Wilton Manors, about a mile north of our Fort Lauderdale base. Our focus is a clean finish rather than a fast tear-off. That means figuring out what kind of paper and adhesive you have, removing it without gouging old plaster or ripping drywall, washing off every trace of paste, and leaving the walls repaired and primed for whatever comes next.

Plaster Walls Versus Drywall

In older Wilton Manors homes, exterior walls are usually plaster applied over concrete block, while interior walls may be plaster or drywall added during later renovations. The difference matters a great deal during removal. Plaster tolerates water and scraping well, so stubborn paper can be soaked thoroughly and lifted with confidence. Drywall has a paper face that softens when wet and tears easily, especially if the wallpaper was hung without primer underneath.

We test each wall separately. One room can have a plaster exterior wall that releases cleanly and an interior drywall partition that needs a much gentler approach.

On drywall, we limit how much water goes on at once and work smaller sections, letting the solution loosen the glue without saturating the board. Where the face paper does tear, we stop scraping that spot and mark it for sealing rather than digging deeper. On plaster, the bigger risk is old patches that were filled with softer material than the surrounding wall; those can crumble if scraped hard, so we treat them with the same care as drywall.

Step by Step

Our removal process is methodical, because rushing is what causes most wall damage.

  • Cover floors and furniture, and tape off outlets and switches
  • Test a small area to identify the paper type and how it releases
  • Dry-strip any strippable papers in full sheets
  • Peel vinyl faces and soak the backing that stays behind
  • Score painted-over or traditional papers so solution can reach the glue
  • Lift softened paper with wide scrapers held at a low angle
  • Wash walls until all paste residue is gone
  • Seal damaged areas, skim, sand and prime

Why Leftover Paste Matters

Wallpaper adhesive dries to a thin, almost invisible film. If it stays on the wall, new paint can crack in a fine web pattern or peel off in sheets, and new wallpaper may not bond evenly. Many DIY removals skip this step, which is why we often get called after a homeowner has already taken the paper down and the fresh paint started to fail.

We wash with warm water and a remover solution, then check by touch and with a light across the wall. Smooth, slightly chalky walls are the goal; any slick or sticky patches get another pass.

Damp Air and Hidden Mildew

Close to the coast, with a long wet season from May through October, moisture can collect behind old paper in bathrooms, closets and on exterior walls. When we take the paper down we sometimes find mildew spots or water stains. We will show you what we see and treat surface mildew before sealing. If the staining suggests an ongoing leak, perhaps around a window that took a beating during hurricane season, which runs from June through November, we recommend having it checked before new finishes go up.

What Comes After Removal

Once walls are bare, repaired and primed, you have options. Some Wilton Manors clients go straight to paint. Others book a new installation with us, which keeps the whole project in one set of hands and lets us prime with a product suited to the new wallcovering. Either way, you start from a flat, sealed surface.

We also handle wallpaper removal in Oakland Park, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Pompano Beach, Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes, and since Wilton Manors is right beside our base, an on-site look at your walls is easy to arrange.

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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 wallpaper be removed from plaster without damage?

Usually yes. Plaster handles soaking and scraping well. Any small gouges are filled during repair.

What if my wallpaper has been painted over?

We score the surface so water and remover can get through the paint, then soak and scrape. It takes longer but works.

Do I need to move all my furniture?

Move small items and wall decor. We can shift and cover larger pieces as needed.

Will you clean up afterward?

Yes. We bag stripped paper, remove drop cloths and leave the room clean.

How do I know if there is mildew behind my wallpaper?

Bubbling, dark spots or a musty smell are common signs. We check for it during removal and show you what we find.

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
Call (912) 873-9767 Request Service