Skip to content

Old Wallpaper Removal in Coconut Creek, FL

The short answer

We take down old wallpaper in Coconut Creek homes by identifying the paper type, softening it with water or steam, and scraping it off without gouging the drywall. We then wash off all adhesive, repair damage and prime the wall.

If you bought a Coconut Creek home that came with a dated kitchen border, a vinyl bathroom print or a bedroom papered by a previous owner, you probably want it gone before you paint. Removal sounds simple until you try it: the top layer tears into small pieces, the backing stays glued down, and the adhesive underneath turns slippery and then dries into a film that ruins fresh paint. Our crew comes about five miles west from Pompano Beach to remove wallpaper in 33066 and 33073 and hand back walls that are clean, repaired and ready for the next finish.

Signs the paper needs to come off rather than be covered

Painting directly over wallpaper is a shortcut that usually backfires. Moisture in latex paint can loosen the paper, causing bubbles and lifting seams, and the outline of every strip often shows through in raking light. Covering old paper with new paper has similar problems. We recommend removal when you see any of the following.

  • Seams lifting or curling at the edges
  • Bubbles or soft spots in the middle of strips
  • Discoloration or dark spots that may signal moisture
  • More than one layer visible at a torn corner
  • Paint already applied over the paper and starting to crack

Identifying the type of paper

We start by lifting a corner with a putty knife. Strippable papers peel away in long sheets and leave little behind. Peelable vinyl separates, leaving a paper backing that must be soaked and scraped. Traditional pulp paper needs water to break down the paste and comes off in pieces. Paper that has been painted acts like a sealed surface; water cannot get through until the paint is perforated.

Knowing which type you have tells us how much time the room will take and which tools to use. It also tells us how carefully we need to work, because walls that were not primed before the original paper went up tend to tear more easily.

Protecting the room and your systems

Removal involves a lot of water. We cover floors with plastic topped with absorbent cloths, tape plastic over baseboards, and switch off power to the outlets on the walls we are soaking, covering them with tape. Furniture moves away from the work area or to the center of the room under protective sheeting.

Because removal raises indoor humidity, we keep the AC running and may run a fan to help walls dry. In a South Florida summer, when outside air is already saturated, that drying step takes patience.

Softening, scraping and washing

For vinyl and painted paper, we lightly score the surface with a perforating tool so solution can reach the adhesive. Warm water with a removal agent is sprayed or sponged on and given time to work. Stubborn or multiple layers get a steamer instead. Softened paper is lifted with a wide scraper held nearly flat, which reduces gouging.

After the paper is off, the real work begins: washing. Dried paste is nearly invisible but causes paint to crack, wrinkle or peel later. We wash, rinse and test by touch until the wall no longer feels tacky or slick.

Repairs and readying the wall

Torn drywall face, exposed brown paper, gouges and holes are normal findings. Exposed drywall paper is sealed first with an oil-based or shellac-based primer, since water-based compound applied directly can make it bubble. Then we skim, sand and prime.

If you plan to paint, we can leave the wall primed for your painter. If you would like new wallpaper, we use a wallcovering primer so the next change is easier.

Areas we cover

We handle wallpaper removal throughout Coconut Creek and in Margate, Deerfield Beach, Parkland, North Lauderdale and Lighthouse Point. Homeowners often pair removal with new installation so the room is finished in one project rather than two.

More services in Coconut Creek

Related

What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. Clear scope before work begins

    After measuring and checking the walls, we explain what prep is needed, how many rolls to order and how long the job should take.

  2. Patterns that line up

    We plan seam placement around windows, doors and corners so repeats stay aligned from one strip to the next across the whole room.

  3. Respect for your home

    Drop cloths go down first, paste is wiped off trim as we go, and we leave the room ready to use at the end of each day.

FAQ

Common questions

Don’t see your question? Call (561) 823-3201 and we’ll talk it through.

Can I just paint over my wallpaper?

We advise against it. Paint can loosen the paper, and seams and edges usually show through the finish.

How messy is wallpaper removal?

It involves water, paper scraps and paste. We protect floors and furniture and clean up when we finish each day.

Will removal damage the wall?

Minor damage is common, especially if the wall was never primed. We repair and seal those areas as part of the job.

How long does it take?

A small bath may take part of a day. Large rooms, several layers or painted-over paper can take a day or longer.

Do I need to be home during removal?

Not necessarily. Many clients let us in, leave for the day and return to see the progress.

Can you install new wallpaper after removal?

Yes. Once the wall is clean, repaired, primed and dry, we can hang new paper, often in the same project.

Ready to talk about your walls?

Tell us which room you are thinking about, where you live and what paper you have in mind. We will set up a visit to measure and look at the surface.

Request Service Call (561) 823-3201
Call (561) 823-3201 Request Service