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Wallpaper Removal in Boca Raton, FL

The short answer

We remove old wallpaper in Boca Raton homes by testing the paper type, scoring and soaking or steaming as needed, then washing off the adhesive. Damaged spots are repaired and sealed so the wall is ready for paint or fresh wallpaper.

Plenty of Boca Raton homes still carry wallpaper from earlier decades: borders in kitchens, florals in powder rooms, vinyl in bathrooms, sometimes two or three layers stacked on top of one another. Taking it down is messy, slow and easy to get wrong. Pull too hard and the brown paper face of the drywall comes with it; skip the cleanup and the paint you roll on next will crack and bubble. We drive up from Pompano Beach, about six miles away, to strip wallpaper across Boca Raton and leave walls ready for paint or new paper.

First, figure out what is on the wall

Removal starts with a small test in an inconspicuous spot. We lift a corner to see whether the paper is strippable, peelable or neither. Strippable paper releases in full sheets with little residue. Peelable vinyl lets the top layer come away but leaves a paper backing that still has to be soaked off. Traditional paper, and anything painted over, has to be broken down with water or steam.

We also check what lies beneath. If the wall was never primed before the original paper went up, the adhesive is bonded directly to raw drywall, and removal needs a gentler hand. Plaster over concrete block, common in older Boca Raton homes, is more durable and tolerates steam well.

How the work proceeds

The room is prepared first: floors are covered with plastic and drop cloths, furniture is moved away from walls, outlets and switches are shut off at the breaker and taped, and baseboards are protected from water.

  • Score vinyl or painted paper lightly so solution can reach the adhesive
  • Apply warm water with a removal solution, or use a steamer on stubborn layers
  • Lift softened paper with wide, dull scrapers held at a low angle
  • Repeat on any backing paper left behind
  • Wash the wall to dissolve remaining paste
  • Rinse and let the wall dry fully

Why adhesive cleanup matters here

Leftover paste is invisible once it dries, and that is the problem. Paint applied over it can wrinkle, crackle or peel in sheets, especially when summer humidity rises and the residue softens. New wallpaper may not bond evenly either. We wash walls until a hand wiped across them no longer feels slick, and then allow drying time.

With air conditioning running and humid outdoor air pressing in during the wet months, drywall that got soaked needs time to return to its normal moisture level. Rushing to prime a damp wall is one of the main reasons paint fails after removal.

Repairing the wall afterward

Even careful removal can reveal gouges, torn drywall face or old nail holes. Torn spots are sealed with a stain-blocking primer made for exposed drywall paper before any joint compound is applied; compound spread directly over torn paper tends to bubble. We then skim, sand and prime so the surface is uniform.

If you plan to paint, we can leave the wall primed and ready. If new wallpaper is going up, we roll on a wallcovering primer instead, which makes the next removal far easier.

Bathrooms, kitchens and condos

Bathrooms and kitchens often carry vinyl that has hung for years in steam and grease. Those walls can hide mildew behind the paper, particularly on an exterior wall or behind a toilet. We treat any spots we uncover and let you know what we found.

In Boca Raton high-rises, we plan around association rules for contractor hours and protect common corridors when we bring materials in and haul debris out.

Our Boca Raton coverage

We handle removal throughout ZIP codes 33431, 33432, 33486, 33487 and 33496, and in nearby Highland Beach, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Hillsboro Beach and Coconut Creek. Many clients book removal and new installation together so the wall goes straight from bare to finished.

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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 you remove wallpaper that has been painted over?

Yes, but it takes longer. The paint has to be scored or broken so water or steam can reach the adhesive underneath.

Will removal damage my drywall?

Some minor damage is common, especially on walls that were never primed. We repair and seal those areas as part of the job.

How long does wallpaper removal take?

A small bathroom may take part of a day. Large rooms, multiple layers or painted-over paper can take a full day or more.

Do I need to move furniture?

Clearing small items helps. We can shift larger pieces to the center of the room and cover them.

What if there is mold behind the paper?

We will show you what we find. Surface spots can be cleaned; widespread growth may point to a moisture problem that needs a specialist.

Can you hang new wallpaper right after removal?

Once the wall is clean, repaired, primed and dry, yes. Drying time depends on how wet the wall got and the room's humidity.

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