Removing Tile Mortar From Walls

Use the grout scraper to remove any thin set from the grout lines that is more than 40 of the tile thickness.

Removing tile mortar from walls.

In some cases the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel. After removing the grout use a small pry bar or a similar tool to pry the tiles away from the wall. It depends on a lot of variables in place at the time the tile was set but it comes down to how well the tile is bonded to the mortar. Removing tile from older style mortar walls can be very challenging.

Tiles installed with thinset or another tile adhesive often require more work to remove them. Thinset mortar is generally used as the adhesive when tiling a wall. Start removing mortar from tile with the tiles free from the wall or floor you can now start cleaning them so can reuse the tile. When the old tile falls off or is removed from the wall the thinset that was initially used to attach it has dried and become.

Begin by giving the tile a good cleaning with a sponge and soapy citric acid water as a descaling solution and use a toothbrush to deep clean grout to remove deposits and stains that may make removal more challenging. Most likely though if the tiles were installed onto drywall the drywall will be damaged during removal. If the tiles are grouted you will have to clear the grout away first. Use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free.

Be careful not to exert too much pressure downward on the tile or you could cause it to crack. There are inexpensive tools designed specifically for grout removal. Sometimes you can get a flat chisel behind the tiles and pop them off one at a time almost whole. Wipe the tiles down with a dry rag.

Wipe the tiles dry with a rag then scrub them again with the textured side of a kitchen sponge. Use a chisel to scrape away the dried thin set carefully chipping it loose from the tile without scratching it or harming the tile itself. Fit the oscillating tool with a blade specially intended for removing tile grout. Once those tiles loosen pry them off.

Always wear safety glasses when removing ceramic tile. Lay the tiles face down and use the putty knife to scrape across the tile back removing as much old mortar as possible. Set your sander to the lowest setting and be extremely careful not to grind up the surface of the tile. Use the scraper to clean off large debris and then clean off any soapy residue with a damp cloth.