How to remove glued tiles from a wall. Removing old tiles from the wall: possible problems and their solutions during the process

They shudder a little at the thought of having to remove the old tiles again. Even repair specialists do not like this process and often refuse clients, or charge very, very much for their services. It would seem that breaking is not building. What could be so difficult about picking out old tiles? If you think so too, then there are many discoveries ahead of you! Even with a hammer drill, it is not always easy to remove tiles, and when it is necessary to keep the tiles intact, the task becomes several times more complicated. There are several basic ways to remove tiles from walls and floors. Let's consider everything, and you choose the one that is more suitable in a particular situation.

Tools and preparation

When planning to dismantle the tiles, each of us wants to cause minimal damage to the wall. Somebody prerequisite names and minimal damage to the tile itself so that it can be reused. The choice of installation method largely depends on the purpose: either you try to save it, or you don’t care what happens to it.

Besides, The method of removing the tile also depends on how and on what surface it was attached:

Experts have one simple a way to determine whether there is a chance of removing old tiles without damage. You need to go over the entire surface of the tile and tap it with a spatula and a rubber hammer. The movements should be light so that you can detect the presence or absence of voids under the tiles. If they exist, and in large quantities, then you can try to remove the tiles using more gentle methods to preserve the tiles and further use them, for example, in the country.

Tools you may need:

with a chisel attachment, some use attachments in the form of a drill, bit, chisel;
chisel or chisel;
spatula, maybe several. Preference is given to more durable products;
hammer;
chisel and scraper for removing grout;
It may also be necessary to have a handle that is convenient for striking;
not necessary, but can be useful with a nozzle for cleaning seams between tiles;
container with warm water, sponges;
with drill 6 mm;
hardened wire with a diameter of 3-4 mm.

Of course, not all of these tools may be useful at once– it all depends on the chosen method.

Don't forget to take care of personal safety. Use safety glasses, a mask or gauze bandage, thick gloves, and even better, work in a protective suit.

No. 1. How to remove tiles without damaging them

Before you try to carry out this experiment on the scale of your apartment, I would like to remind you once again - It will not be possible to remove all the tiles intact and undamaged.. There will be losses in any case. The result depends not only on the composition on which the tiles were attached, but also on the quality of the preparatory work. The preparation is as follows:

You don't need a hammer drill - you'll have to use a hammer and chisel. It’s slow, difficult and painstaking, but if preserving the old coating is important, it’s the only way. The procedure is as follows:

In a similar way, it will be possible to remove tiles that were laid with glue, or those that were installed incorrectly on the mortar.

No. 2. How to remove tiles without damaging adjacent tiles

Imagine that only one or two tiles on the wall are cracked. Or you need to gain access to, or other communications. It would be stupid to remove all the tiles. But how to remove several elements without damaging adjacent tiles? The task is further complicated by the fact that during the dismantling process you will have to try to preserve those elements that you remove. If the tiles are old and you don’t have spare samples, it will be difficult to find a suitable replacement in the store. Even if the collection is still in production, there is no guarantee that the color will match. In general, this is, without exaggeration, a piece of jewelry.

Procedure:

No matter what the dismantling of tiles turns out to be, remember that even experienced craftsmen They do not give any guarantee whether it will be possible to save it or not.

No. 3. The easiest way to remove old tiles

If you don’t care about the integrity of the tiles, you can significantly simplify and speed up the whole process. However, even if you initially planned to save at least part of the tile, but during the work it turned out that this was impossible, then this method you will also need it. Arm yourself with a hammer drill and follow this order of work:

No. 4. How to remove tiles from drywall?

Many specialists do not like to bother with dismantling the tiles, and as soon as they hear that the tiles are glued to the surface, they often refuse. The fact is that the glue literally eats into the drywall, so it can be removed along with the tiles. However, it is possible to separate the tiles from the wall. But no one can give an accurate forecast of what drywall will look like after such an execution. No one undertakes to guarantee the integrity of at least some part of the tile.

If the tile was laid a few days ago, then it is still possible to remove it without much damage to the surface and the tile itself. In other cases you will have to suffer. The procedure is similar to the classic method:

No. 5. How to remove tiles from the floor?

Dismantling process floor tiles not much different from a similar process for ste new finishes. It all depends on the need to maintain the coating:

Removing tiles is a long and labor-intensive process. The most annoying thing is that no one can guarantee the safety of the tiles. So be prepared for anything, but hope for the best.

14 ways to wash and clean ceramic...

In what cases may it be necessary to remove old tiles from the wall and how to do it? Answers to the questions will be given in the article. Ceramic tiles - popular facing material, which has wide application.

Ceramics has the following advantages:

Beautiful appearance, a large assortment of products allows you to create a unique and inimitable interior;
durability of the coating provided correct installation and operation;
not exposed to moisture or sun rays, resistant to mechanical influences, for example, light impacts.

But there are times when ceramic coating needs to be partially or completely replaced.

Cracks or chips have appeared on a separate fragment of the cladding, and the enamel is damaged.
A little renovation was needed, you decided to refresh the interior and do cosmetic treatments for the walls or floor.
The cladding work was done poorly and everything will need to be redone. One option is that the tile is tapped and a dull sound is heard, which means there are voids inside. This will affect the durability of the coating, so it is better to replace it immediately.
Over time, the facing coating has become obsolete, so a complete replacement is required.
The base, for example a plastered wall, has become weak and unreliable, so that it can crumble along with the masonry.
Depending on the reasons and goals to be achieved, different methods and ways to remove tiles.

We carry out partial dismantling

How to remove tiles from a wall if you only need to replace one or two tiles? If you only need to remove one or a few tiles from a wall or floor, you will need more patience and care.

How to carefully remove tiles without damaging them, tips and solution to the problem - video

The main requirement for performing such work will be the integrity of the remaining cladding. When dismantling one damaged tile, one should not forget about the integrity of the neighboring ones.

The following tools will be required:

scraper;
putty knife;
bit;
hammer drill or drill;
6 mm drill;
hammer.

First you need to remove the grout that binds adjacent tiles together. Wet the seam with water, then wait until the grout swells a little and softens. Remove the grout carefully using a scraper or spatula.

If the grout cannot be removed, you can use a grinder with a diamond wheel. You need to be careful not to spoil your “neighbors.” Operate the tool at low speed.

After this, drill several holes to loosen its fixation on the surface. This can be done using a drill and a 6 mm drill bit. Take a hammer and break the tile, then pick up the fragments with a thin chisel or spatula and knock it down. Be careful not to chip or touch the cladding.

The layer of tile adhesive should be removed so that it does not interfere with installation new tiles to this place.

The surface must be cleaned; after removal, check whether the replacement will fit here. Are there any burrs or remnants of the grout mixture that will prevent the new tile from installing?

You need to start dismantling provided that there is already a replacement material that will not differ in color, shade and size from what is already there. Otherwise, the appearance of the updated coating will be clearly different from the old one, and this, in turn, will spoil the appearance.

Replacing tiles - real video advice from a working master

It is always wise to take 10% more tiles than necessary. It is taken in reserve with the expectation of trimming, fighting and replacement if necessary, as in our case. We considered the option of partial dismantling with the condition that the tiles do not need to be kept intact. Next we will reveal how to remove the tiles without damaging them.

Everything is safe and sound

How to carefully remove tiles from a wall: this question interests those who intend to reuse them in the future. Somewhere in the country, in utility rooms, you will also need recyclable materials, so saving is never superfluous.

Let's consider a difficult case, if the tiles in the bathroom have come off as a solid wall, what should we do?

In some cases, this option is simply impossible: if the tiles were laid on cement mortar, it can then only be shot down in parts. If the installation was carried out poorly, for example, there are voids, then removing the tile intact will be easier. It is easier to dismantle when laid with special tile adhesives.

Clean the grout from the seams; this can be done by first wetting the seam with water. It will become more pliable and easier to remove.
Carefully pry off with a spatula.

You should always knock tiles off the wall from top to bottom.

Avoid sudden and strong movements. Using a hammer, carefully tap the tile.
The most difficult stage of the work: the tile has already been lifted, it has moved away from the surface by two-thirds. Work carefully so as not to break the ceramic at the last moment or break off the far corners.

Cracked tiles cannot be reinstalled. No amount of grout will help.

We carry out complete dismantling

In many cases, complete dismantling of the facing covering and preparation of a new base is required.

Rules for removing tiles from the wall and something about safety measures

If your renovation dates back to the Soviet period, then most likely the geometry of the walls leaves much to be desired, and the tiles were laid using old and original methods. Here you cannot do without understanding how to remove tiles from the wall.

Complete dismantling of the coating will be required. In this case, the most important thing is to follow safety precautions and take care of your own health. Dismantling is carried out manually using a hammer and chisel, but this is labor-intensive and long-term option. Use a professional construction hammer.

Wear gloves, safety glasses, and earmuffs to protect your ears from excessive noise. Respiratory system Protect with a gauze bandage or respirators. Complete dismantling is a noisy and dusty job.
Removing tiles includes the following points:

The edge is pryed off with a hammer drill with a chisel attachment. After that, under acute angle ceramics and plaster are knocked off.
You need to remove all the tiles and knock down the plaster down to the brick, if possible. Otherwise, you can go through primers deep penetration, and then begin installation of a new facing coating.
Periodically, the hammer drill must be allowed to rest to avoid overheating of the device. And a short smoke break wouldn’t hurt for an employee.

Using a hammer drill is a smart decision that will help save time and effort. You can manually knock down a small area or hard to reach places. If we're talking about If you are dismantling old ceramics in the bathroom, you should take care of the safety of the rest of the interior.

Cover sinks and bathtubs with plastic wrap to protect from dust. If you leave the bathroom, make sure that large pieces of tile and plaster break off and fall without damaging the finish.

With complete dismantling ceramic tiles It is important to choose the right pace. If you rush, you can injure yourself and damage water pipes and other important elements.

How to remove tiles from the floor?

We will separately consider how to remove old tiles from the floor. Technological process dismantling will not be very different from removing tiles from a wall. The reasons may be various flooring defects, such as chips, cracks and gouges.

Impacts or the accidental fall of heavy objects can crack the tiles, and in high-traffic areas scratches appear and the attractive appearance is lost.

First, inspect flooring and determine exactly how many tiles will need to be removed. Tap gently with a hammer to see if there are any voids. If the sound is dull, it means there are voids.

This will make the removal process easier; this is where the hammer blows should be directed. The cracked tile is pryed off with a spatula or chisel and removed. The work can be done manually.

Bottom line
Our article was devoted to the question of how to remove old tiles from the wall and floor. The process is simple, but labor-intensive. It requires slow work, especially if you need to remove one or two tiles.

But every man and not only can do this himself. Calling a specialist for such trifles will cost a penny, which you can save.

When faced with the need for repairs, the question often arises of dismantling various coatings. The most problematic in this regard is tile. If you don’t need to preserve the cladding, then there will be no problems; you just chop it off with a hammer drill. But how to remove the tile if you decide to reuse it? The tiles can later be used for cladding a summer house, workshop, etc.

Important points before removing tiles

Problems with cement compositions on which the cladding is laid are, as a rule, beyond the capabilities of even specialists, so it is undesirable to take on this work without skills. If the tile is laid with glue, you can try to remove it with minimal damage, but you need to prepare for the fact that splits are inevitable and often they amount to about 50%.

To determine whether this work needs to be done at all, you can do a simple experiment. For which you will need a spatula and a small mallet. Walk around the entire perimeter and gently tap each tile. If there are a lot of voids, you can start working, but if the tiles are holding up well, then you shouldn’t waste time on this.

What you need to remove tiles

The tools you will need are:

bit;
perforator;
hammer;
durable spatula;
screwdriver;
scraper;
container for warm water, rags;
Bulgarian;
hardened wire with a cross section of 4-5 mm;
electric drill.

Reference! You also need to take care of security measures. Use rubber gloves, a gauze bandage, and safety glasses.

Preparatory work

If you need to completely dismantle the tiles intact, which is often simply impossible to do, then you first need to prepare the walls. The better this work is carried out, the easier it is to cope with the task, and the number of whole tiles will increase significantly:

Along the perimeter of the room, the joints between the tiles are thoroughly moistened with water. The easiest way to do this is with a sponge, soaking it in a soapy water solution.
Use a chisel, spatula or screwdriver to remove the grout.
It is advisable to additionally clean the edges of the joints with a brush attachment for an electric drill. If there is no attachment, you can simply wipe them with a wet, soapy sponge.

Reference! When the preparation is completed, let the tile “rest” a little; the moistened adhesive will swell a little, in this case the work is much easier to carry out.

Removing tiles without breaking them: step-by-step instructions

It is necessary to work with a chisel and a hammer. This is long, difficult and labor-intensive, but if you want to maintain the integrity of the tile, this is the only option. The stages of work are as follows:

if the row at the top, side or bottom is not open, then you will need to sacrifice some tiles to gain access. Most often this will not be necessary, but if suddenly the cladding is on the entire surface of the room, then use a hammer to break the tiles at the top;
When access to the tile has appeared, you need to drive the chisel between the layer of mortar and tile, and carefully tap on it. If 4-5 blows were made and the tile is securely in place, with a high degree of probability it will crack from further blows. Try to pry the tile from another part. If it doesn’t give in again, you need to come to terms with it; you can’t remove it whole, and you need to break it. If the coating moves away from the wall, then you need to be especially careful when it has moved away by 2/3, at this moment you must make every effort to keep the corners intact. You need to pry up the tiles from all sides;
the tiles are dismantled starting from the top;
move down from row to row. This reduces the possibility of the coating collapsing and causing injury;
You can remove old cement or glue from the wall using a hammer drill.

Bathroom tiles are glued using cement-sand mixture or adhesive compositions based on cement. They provide reliable grip base surface. The finish is held so tightly that if it becomes necessary to dismantle it, it cannot be done without physical effort and tools.

Removing old tiles in the bathroom can be done in several ways. Some of them allow you to keep part of the tile intact and suitable for subsequent use, others are faster and easier to implement, but the material becomes unusable.

It is important to carry out dismantling work so as not to damage the plumbing and furniture in the bathroom. If possible, you should vacate the premises. Bathtub and sink should be wrapped soft cloth and cover with film. If the tiles will only be removed from the walls, you will need to protect the floor from heavy fragments. It can be hidden under a sheet of plywood, cardboard, dense polyethylene.

If you remove the bathtub, it will be more convenient to remove the tiles, and the plumbing fixture itself will remain intact and unharmed.

You should also consider your own safety. You need to work in a respirator or gauze bandage. To protect against injury, you will need thick gloves, glasses, hard-toed shoes and clothing that covers the body as much as possible.

Important! Communications can pass under the tile finish. You should mark their location in advance and work especially carefully in these areas.

Depending on the chosen dismantling method, different tools will be required:

perforator;
renovator;
chisel or chisel;
hammer;
putty knife.

To keep as many masonry fragments intact as possible, you can paste over the edges of the tiles in several layers masking tape. This will significantly increase the dismantling time, but will save on the purchase of new tiles for renovating another room.

Chisel or spatula

This method is quite quiet and neat, but will take a lot of time. If the tiles need to be preserved, then first you need to unstitch the seams, this will allow you to divide the finish into separate fragments. How to do this depends on the composition of the grout mixture:

If she's on cement based, you should use a construction knife with a strong blade, a hacksaw or special tool with serrated blade. During work, it is important not to damage the edges of the tiles; it is better to run the tool along the center of the seam, cleaning the grout to the maximum depth.
Particularly durable epoxy grout You will need to first soften it using construction hair dryer, then clean the composition with a sharp tool.

You can remove the grout to a shallow depth using a construction drill with a disk attachment or a renovator, then finish the job with a knife.

Advice! To avoid breathing dust while sawing seams, work in tandem with an assistant. Its task is to direct the vacuum cleaner towards a running power tool.

You need to start from the top row. The first tile will have to be broken with a hammer or cut diagonally. Next, the work is performed step by step with each fragment separately:

It is necessary to work with the free edges of the tiles. First you need to knock down the glue around the fragment so that it does not interfere with installing the chisel under the tile, and not on its edge. Then, in several areas of the free edge of the tile, place a chisel at an angle of 45 degrees and knock it out with a hammer. The vibration, which will be transmitted to the entire fragment, will gradually separate the tile from the base. Remove the remaining trim, moving in horizontal rows from top to bottom.

Instead of a chisel, you can use a narrow spatula. First you need to separate the tiles from the glue from the free sides: place the blade of the spatula at an angle on the glue and lightly tap it with a hammer. This creates small gaps between the tiles and the wall. Then insert a spatula with a wider blade under the fragment and gradually drive it with a hammer between the tile and the glue. The angle at which the tool is directed should be minimal; ideally, the blade is installed close to the wall. If the tile large sizes, the length of the spatula may not be enough, then you can use a thin metal strip, inserting it under light tiles hammer blows.

Sometimes removing tiles can be especially difficult. For example, if it was placed on bare drywall. In this case, adhesion to the base will be very high and it will be impossible to knock down the tiles without damaging the partition. There is a chance to separate the finish from the drywall if it has been previously puttied. In this case, it is better to remove the tiles with a spatula.

If the safety of the tiles is not important, you can work with a chisel and hammer more actively and without opening the joints between the tiles.

Dismantling the floor in the bathroom is carried out in a similar way, with the only difference being that you can start from any area of the finish.

Hammer

The fastest way to deal with the old coating with your own hands is to use a hammer drill and an attachment in the form of a wide spatula. If the finishing is not valuable, then preliminary preparation no covering needed.

How to properly dismantle tiles with a hammer drill:

Break one tile in the top row with a hammer.
Place the hammer blade under the next tile in the same row at an angle of 45°.
Turn on the hammer drill and pry the fragment from bottom to top if it is a floor, and to the side or down if it is a wall.
Move along the wall only from top to bottom. If the finish is poorly maintained, the upper areas may collapse from strong vibration and cause injury.

Important! The hammer drill cannot be used if the tiles are glued to drywall. Rough dismantling is only suitable for solid substrates.

If the tile needs to be kept intact, the grout should be removed before dismantling. And when working with a hammer drill, use a wide attachment - a flat chisel. The device must operate in gating mode. The spatula should be placed on the glue without touching the edge of the tile. If the tile is large, the impact of vibration should be uniform: first in the center, then closer to the corners of the fragment. You cannot push the hammer drill blade deep, otherwise the tile will crack.

When working with a hammer drill, you can save the most tiles on the bathroom floor. To remove tiles from the walls carefully and with less loss, you will need the help of another person who will insure the dismantled fragments from falling.

Sometimes it is necessary to replace only one fragment of masonry, for example, if it has a defect. Also for tiles communications can pass through and if they are damaged, dismantling is not necessary. To carry out all the work with minimal damage, you need to remove one or more tiles without damaging adjacent ones.

Separate the tile to be removed from the rest of the tile. To do this, you need to clean the grout using any method indicated above, taking into account the hardness and composition of the mixture.
Tap the tile. If there are voids underneath, you can simply break the fragment with a hammer. If there are no voids, drill a hole in the center of the tile with a diamond crown (or use a drill to make several holes over the entire area) and knock down the finish with a hammer and chisel.
To put a new fragment in its original place, you will need to remove old glue. Removing the adhesive is necessary to ensure that the new tile is in the same plane as the undamaged areas.
Prepare the surface for installation of new tiles: sweep away dust and prime.

If it is not possible to purchase replacement tiles with the same design and color, we recommend using decorative tiles with a pattern that matches the bathroom interior.

Removing glue residue

For a new finish it is necessary to prepare the base. After dismantling, glue fragments will remain on the walls and floor. They can be knocked down with a hammer drill with a shovel in impact mode. In this case, the tool nozzle should be located perpendicular to the wall surface. If you hold it at an angle, the nozzle will slip and the glue will not separate from the wall.

If you don’t have a power tool, you can use a chisel and a hammer to remove any remaining adhesive in the same way as when dismantling tiles. Then clean the wall of debris and dust and prime it.

Cleaning tiles for later use

There will definitely be pieces of adhesive and grout left on the dismantled tiles. To prepare the material for re-laying, they need to be cleaned. How difficult this task will be depends on the characteristics of the glue. Sometimes mixtures can be easily cleaned off with a scraper, emery stone or wire brush. If the composition comes off with difficulty, you can wet it with water and start working when it becomes more pliable.

In particular difficult cases, when the glue is removed with great difficulty, the old tile needs to be soaked in saline solution for a few hours. Then try to remove the composition with a scraper. But this is not always possible, then they use aggressive chemicals, for example, Prosept.

You can use a grinder:

How to dismantle tiles in a bathroom depends on many features: the characteristics of the base, the composition of the mixture that was used for laying the tiles and grouting, and the availability of tools. If you do all the work correctly, you can save up to 80% of the material intact.

Advice! If you need bathroom renovation specialists, there is a very convenient service for selecting specialists from. Just fill out the order details, the specialists will respond themselves and you can choose who to cooperate with. Each specialist in the system has a rating, reviews and examples of work, which will help with the choice. Looks like a mini tender. Placing an application is FREE and does not oblige you to anything. Works in almost all cities of Russia.

If you are a master, then go to, register in the system and you will be able to accept orders.

Repairing your apartment yourself will not only save you a significant amount of money, but also allows you to be sure that all the work performed is done conscientiously. As a rule, if there is desire and time, most operations home renovation They are not particularly difficult and can be made by yourself or with the help of one or two family members.

What kind of “tile work” options exist?

However, if a major overhaul is required or when it is necessary to completely replace the cladding of walls and floors, you should soberly assess your strengths and choose the most suitable option:

The entire scope of work is carried out by a hired tiling master. The advantage is that you just choose the type facing tiles, its colors and pay for the entire amount of work, and all other troubles are taken care of by specialists. Among the shortcomings - good craftsmen they value their work very expensively, and the actions of “hack workers” are fraught with crumbling tiles in the shortest period of time;
You do all the work yourself. Most cheap option, but in this case you will have to master all the nuances of the work of “tilers” and buy a set of tools necessary for the work (tile cutter, spatula for applying mortar, etc.). The final result may very disappoint your other half, and you will definitely not experience any pleasure from the work done;
Are you doing preparatory stage for cleaning the walls of old tiles, and entrust the laying of new tiles to a recommended person. This option is a compromise between options 1 and 2, then in this case it will be guaranteed high quality work at moderate costs.

With good power tool the process will go faster

Do-it-yourself tile cutting

So let's ask ourselves a question - “how to remove old tiles in the bathroom or kitchen?”. For this we need:

A small hatchet with a wide blade or a hammer and chisel. They are needed for beating tiles from a concrete or brick base. Depending on the materials used and the conscientiousness of the craftsman, the old tile may crumble with one touch of the hand, or you will have to knock down each tile separately;
Safety glasses and gloves. These things will allow you to protect your eyes and skin from small and rather sharp fragments that can form when pieces of ceramic break off;
Garbage bags. For these purposes, it would be preferable to use containers made of dense polyethylene, into which all broken tiles are collected. The remaining undamaged tiles can be given to those who wish to use them in their country house or in an individual garage.

Technology:

The process of removing old tiles is simple. Work should start from the top of the wall and then gradually work down to the bottom.

If work is carried out in the area of the bathroom or sink, then the best option will either completely dismantle them or cover them with protective materials to prevent damage to the enamel from an accidentally falling fragment of tile. Do not forget that any noisy repairs can be carried out only during the permitted hours (usually this is the period from 8 to 22 hours on weekdays, and on holidays or weekends you cannot disturb your neighbors at all).

Video: how to remove old tiles from a wall yourself?

In some cases, you can do without beating the tiles: but still, think about everything carefully first.

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Discussion:

This is understandable if the tile is held on by snot. Construction mixtures incomprehensible, and all sorts of obscenities. And if it’s on cement, and even with some kind of glue mixed in. Pound so hard that the neighbors will hang themselves. I remember the movie The Matrix, how the tiles flew off with every poke... This is it correct work) Replaced without noise or dust.

I went to beat him off... I wonder if a person works and can only do repairs on weekends - what should he do??? It would be better to just do it on weekends and holidays, so that you can’t make noise from 10 to 18, for example.

Hello
I'm breaking the tiles in the bathroom, wall sheet not drywall
it was glued for centuries with cement, the tiles cool well, the cement glue does not come off at all, you have to go through one tile with a hammer 10 times, the surface is now ideal for setting the new glue, but still not smooth due to pieces of unbroken
I no longer have the strength to plaster, or leave it as is and painstakingly level it, laying large quantity glue..? what glue do you recommend for this case, thank you