How To Remove One Wall Tile

Be careful to cut away only the grout and not into the wall.

How to remove one wall tile.

Once the tile is down take a 5 in 1 tool and scrapper to remove any excess grout. The method used to attach the tiles to the wall affects the way the tiles come off. Fill drywall gouges with drywall joint compound and sand it smooth. Move the nail set.

Next use a chisel and hammer to pry the tiles off of the wall. Tiles installed with thinset or another tile adhesive often require more work to remove them. Remove the tiles with a flat pry bar placing the edge low against the side of the tile and striking the base of the knife with a hammer. Therefore you should use the same chisel to remove the adhesive from the wall by tapping it with a hammer progressively.

To remove wall tiles start by heating up the grout between the tiles with a blow dryer so it s easier to remove. In order to remove the adhesive from the back of the wall tiles you should use a scraper. Last but not least you should remove the tile adhesive from the wall and from the back of the ceramic tiles. Tap the end of the nail set with a hammer to shatter the tile and pry the pieces off with a chisel.

Allow to fully dry. Cut away the grout surrounding the tile or tiles that you want to remove. Use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free. When you believe you have removed or cut away most of the grout stop and examine your work.

Periodically scrape adhesive off the exposed floor with a putty knife or a floor scraper. In some cases the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel. An electric chisel is another option. Work slowly and at about a 45 degree angle.

With the removal of the one tile keep going under the surrounding tiles gently popping the tile from the wall by prying it from the wall using the scraper and hammer. Position the tip of a nail set against the tile at the cracked or chipped area. You should be able to slide a putty or plaster knife underneath the tile. For semi soft adhesive mastic use 120 grit sandpaper to remove it from the wall.

To remove thinset use a stiff putty knife and some elbow grease to scrape it from the wall.