Dismantling wall tiles is different and more difficult than dismantling floor tiles because wall tiles are usually installed very close to each other, with thin lines of grout (or nut, ie mortar between tiles). This means that you have to be more careful when disassembling the wall tiles so as not to damage the tiles next to them.
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Part 1 of 2: Preparing for Disassembly
Step 1. Protect yourself and those around you
Wear safety glasses and work gloves to protect yourself from sharp tiles, even if you try hard not to break them. Clean the surrounding area and stretch a cloth or tarp to protect fragile surfaces and make cleaning easier later.
Protect the tiled shower and tub tiles from falling tiles, by covering them with cardboard
Step 2. Decide when it's time to remove the grout
This section will discuss how to remove grout between tiles. By removing the grout, you reduce the risk of breaking the tiles and make them easier to dismantle. While this grout cleaning is useful, many people choose to save time and only throw it in the areas that matter:
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When disassembling a single tile, remove the grout on all sides so that the surrounding tile is not damaged.
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If you want to remove all the tiles on the wall, first clean the grout near the ceiling and floor.
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Step 3. Heat the grout (optional)
Wall grout is usually easy to remove, but you can use a heat gun or hairdryer to soften tough grout, if necessary. If you can only disassemble a small amount of grout at a time, heat a line of grout for 30 seconds, clean, repeat.
Step 4. Scrape the grout with a cutter
This method takes a lot of time, but minimizes the risk of the surrounding tiles being damaged. Use a cutter with a firm grip and carefully scrape it repeatedly next to the tiles you want to dismantle.
Ordinary grout saws are generally not suitable for cleaning wall grout because there are metal spacers connecting the tiles under the grout
Step 5. Use an electric grinder
A Dremel grinder or other small grinder can remove grout faster than a knife, but it can also break tiles easily if you slip your hand. Set the grinder to the lowest speed and move it slowly along the grout line. If you can hold the grinder steady and the tiles don't break when hit by the grinder, you can increase the speed.
Purchase a small grinding head that fits the width of the grout between the tiles
Step 6. Clean the grout until the base between the tiles is visible
You don't need to remove all of the grout debris, but just remove most of it to make dismantling the tile easier. At the very least, scrape the grout so that the mortar under the tiles is visible.
Part 2 of 2: Dismantling the Tiles
Step 1. Look for tiles that have wobbled
If you want to dismantle all the tiles on the wall, tap the ends of each tile with a chisel to find any loose tiles. The first tile will be more difficult to disassemble than the rest, so you better take the time to look for wobbly tiles, who knows you might get lucky. If there is, use one of the methods below to disassemble it.
The best option is to look for tiles in areas where the grout has been cleaned or in areas that show water damage
Step 2. Pry the tile using a chisel
This method can save more tiles to be reused later, unless the tiles are very strong or relatively recently installed. Slide a chisel, blade, or other thin tool between the tile and the wall. Position the chisel as parallel to the wall as possible. Hammer the handle of the chisel until the tiles come off the wall. You may have to pry it in two or three places if the tile is firmly in place.
- If the tile breaks instead of falling off, use an air grinder.
- Ask an assistant to put on leather gloves and hold the tile as it falls off the wall, before the tile falls.
- The first tiles are usually more difficult to remove than the rest. Take more time to dismantle the first tile, then work on the next tile whose sides have been exposed.
Step 3. Break the tiles if necessary
If the tile is attached directly to cement, you may have to break it into pieces. Use a hammer and chisel to make a hole in the center of the tile, then pry out the tiles. Be careful not to damage the tiles around it.
- Use protective glasses when you use this method.
- Porcelain tiles will shatter into pieces as sharp as glass. If this happens, break the tile from the side with a chisel and hammer, so it doesn't break too much.
Step 4. Clean the area from the remnants of grout
Use a cloth to scoop out the foundation material until the wall surface is fairly even. You may not be able to get rid of all the adhesive and grout, but make sure the new wall tile sits evenly on the entire wall later.
Step 5. Remove the tile separator before installing new tiles
Some tile separators are made of metal and may have been left in place when the tiles were first installed. You can remove the tile separator by cutting it with pliers, a knife, wire shears, or sanding it with sandpaper.
