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Wallpaper Removal in Fort Lauderdale, FL

The short answer

We remove old wallpaper from Fort Lauderdale homes by testing the paper type, softening and stripping it without gouging the drywall, cleaning off leftover adhesive, and repairing the surface. Walls come out ready for paint or new wallpaper, and we plan drying time around South Florida's humid months.

Taking down old wallpaper in a Fort Lauderdale home takes more than a scraper and some patience. South Florida humidity changes how adhesive behaves, how drywall holds up once the paper comes off, and how long walls need to dry before paint or new wallpaper can go on. Custom Wallpaper Installer handles wallpaper removal for homes throughout Fort Lauderdale, about 9 miles south of our base in Pompano Beach. Whether it's a dated border in a hallway, a single accent wall, or several layers stacked up in a bathroom, we remove it carefully and leave your walls clean, smooth, and ready for whatever comes next.

Why Wallpaper Removal Is Different in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has no fully dry season. From May through October the weather is hot, humid, and wet, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. That moisture finds its way into walls, especially in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Over time it can soften some adhesives and cause seams to lift, while in other spots it bonds paper more stubbornly to the wall.

Vinyl and vinyl-coated wallpapers are common in older bathrooms because they wipe clean, but they also trap moisture against the wall. When we pull them back, we sometimes find mildew spots or drywall that has gone soft. Spotting these problems during removal, instead of covering them with new paint or paper, keeps them from showing up again a few months later.

How We Remove Wallpaper

Every wall is a little different, so we start by figuring out what we're dealing with before any stripping begins. The goal is to get the paper off without tearing into the drywall underneath.

  • Protect floors, trim, outlets, and furniture with drop cloths and tape before work starts.
  • Test a small area to identify the paper type, how many layers there are, and how well the wall was primed originally.
  • Score and soften the paper so the adhesive releases instead of ripping the drywall's face paper.
  • Strip the top layer and backing in sections, working at a pace the wall can handle.
  • Wash off remaining adhesive residue, which can cause paint to crack or new wallpaper to bubble if left behind.
  • Let the walls dry fully and inspect them in good light for damage.

What We Often Find Behind Old Wallpaper

Many homes had wallpaper hung directly onto bare, unprimed drywall. When that happens, the paper and the drywall surface become almost one piece, and even careful removal can expose the brown paper layer underneath. Painting right over that layer usually leads to bubbling and peeling.

When we run into torn drywall paper, gouges, nail holes, or uneven patches, we seal the damaged areas, skim coat where needed, sand smooth, and prime. If we find mildew or soft drywall from moisture, we point it out so you can decide how to handle it before anything new goes on the wall.

Planning Removal Around South Florida Weather

Removal can happen any time of year, but the season affects drying time. Walls dry more quickly from November into April, when the weather is warmer and drier. During the humid months, we allow extra time between washing, patching, and priming, and running your air conditioning steadily helps the walls dry out.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. If you're planning a larger project with several rooms during those months, it helps to build a little flexibility into the schedule in case a storm causes delays.

Fort Lauderdale Neighborhoods and Nearby Areas We Serve

We remove wallpaper in homes across Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, including ZIP codes 33301, 33304, 33305, 33306, 33308, 33309, 33311, 33312, 33315, and 33316. We also work in nearby Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and North Lauderdale.

If you're planning to repaint or hang new wallpaper after removal, let us know when you reach out. We can prep the walls for the finish you have in mind, and we can install new wallpaper ourselves if you want one crew for the whole job.

More services in Fort Lauderdale

Related

What to expect

How a visit goes

  1. Preparation Comes First

    Most wallpaper problems start with the wall, not the paper. We remove old coverings, repair dents and cracks, smooth textured areas where needed, and prime with a product suited to the wallcovering you've chosen.

  2. Straight Answers About Materials

    Grasscloth, vinyl, murals and peel-and-stick each behave differently in humid rooms, on ceilings and in direct sun. We'll explain the tradeoffs so you can pick a product that fits the space and how you live in it.

  3. Respect for Your Home

    We cover floors, move and protect furniture as needed, and keep the work area organized. At the end of the day, we clean up so your home is livable while the project is underway.

FAQ

Common questions

Don’t see your question? Call (561) 944-3314 and we’ll talk it through.

Can you remove wallpaper without damaging my drywall?

We work to protect the drywall by testing first, softening the adhesive, and stripping slowly. If the paper was hung on unprimed drywall, some surface damage can happen, and we repair and prime those areas so the wall is smooth again.

Can you paint right over old wallpaper instead of removing it?

It's possible in some cases, but seams, texture, and moisture often show through, and the paper can loosen in humid weather. Removing it usually gives a cleaner, longer-lasting result.

How long does wallpaper removal take?

It depends on the size of the room, the type of paper, the number of layers, and how much repair the wall needs. Drying time also runs longer during Fort Lauderdale's humid months.

What if there are multiple layers of wallpaper?

We remove each layer in turn. Multiple layers take more time and sometimes reveal more wall damage, which we repair before priming.

Do I need to move furniture before you start?

It helps to clear small items and anything fragile. We cover floors and larger furniture and work around what can't easily be moved.

Will you prepare the walls for new wallpaper?

Yes. After removal we clean, patch, and prime the walls, and we can install new wallpaper as part of the same project.

Ready to Plan Your Wallpaper Project?

Tell us about the room, the look you want and any wallpaper you have in mind. We'll talk through wall condition, material options and next steps so you know what to expect before work begins.

(561) 944-3314
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