Remove Tile From Concrete Wall

Tiles installed with thinset or another tile adhesive often require more work to remove them.

Remove tile from concrete wall.

Work the chisel between the tiles and the concrete hammering them up with a 2 lb. Chisel tiles away from the wall. This approach should let you save more of your tiles for reuse unless the tiles are unusually well adhered or a relatively recent installation. Before you remove the mesh and mortar of a mud wall you must first deal with the tile.

Use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free. Work the chisel under the tiles forcing them loose. Always wear safety glasses when removing ceramic tile. Wipe the tiles dry with a rag then scrub them again with the textured side of a kitchen sponge.

Give it a try by inserting a chisel putty knife or other flat tool in between the tile and the wall almost parallel to the wall. In some cases the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel. If the walls were covered with a latex waterproofing the tile will be much easier to remove and should pop. These pieces should break off fairly easy.

Put the chisel along the top edge of the tile trim and hammer down. To get dried thinset off the top of your tiles scrub away as much of it as you can with warm soapy water and a sponge. Strike the face of stubborn tiles to break them up for easier removal. The method used to attach the tiles to the wall affects the way the tiles come off.

Continue chipping until you have removed the trim pieces and have exposed the top edge of the flat tile.