A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How To Remove Tiles

Date Published:

28/05/2009

Step Two

Starting at the edge of the tiling or along a grout line, hammer the cold chisel under the first tile, levering it upwards as you work. Work across the wall, levering off sections of tile and collecting the pieces into rubble sacks as you work. Make sure the floor is well protected, as small pieces of tile can be ground into the surface.

Step Three

Once all the tiles are removed, use a scraper or the chisel to chip off any remaining grout or old adhesive. If any plaster has become loose, chip this way and fill the hole with a plaster filler. You many need to use two layers to build up the thickness.

Step Four

If you have stud walls the plasterboard wall can be damaged as you remove the tiles. It may be easier to lever remove the entire plasterboard panel(s) and replace with new board before redecorating.

Step Five

It's possible to replace just a few cracked or chipped tiles. Drill three or four holes close together in a vertical line across the damaged tile and use a cold chisel and hammer to break it into pieces, working from the line of holes. Lever the loose pieces away from the wall and clean off any loose grout around the edges with the cold chisel or a craft knife. If any of the wall plaster has come away with the tile, fill the hole with a plaster filler and leave to set. Spread some tile adhesive onto the back of the new tile, press it into the gap and check it’s flush with the other tiles by holding a straight edge e.g. a timber batten, across the surface. Re-grout around the tile with a squeegee or sponge and clean off the excess before it hardens.