Removing Tile From Bathroom Wall Mudding

Repair any loose or cracked tiles.

Removing tile from bathroom wall mudding.

Remove the toilet if necessary. How to remove ceramic wall tile without damaging drywall. Always wear safety glasses when removing ceramic tile. If the walls were covered with a latex waterproofing the tile will be much easier to remove.

If existing tiles are beyond repair remove the tile and install a piece of wallboard in its place. It takes time patience and the right tools. Clumps of tile adhesive divots from where part of the drywall came off with the tile and other marks will probably be left on the wall as well. We had actually chipped away a section of flooring before starting demo work so we were already aware that our worse for wear basketweave tile was also set in mortar atop metal mesh which rested on diagonally placed subfloor beams the fact that the mortar and metal sheeting was also in all the walls of the bathroom was the added surprise.

Removing tile from bathroom walls can be a labor intensive messy process and the work is not over once the tile has been removed. Remove the tile and prepare the wall according to the corresponding instructions above or tile over the existing tile. If the toilet or a pedestal sink is covering the tile turn off the shutoff valve on the water supply line. In some cases the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel.

Flush the toilet until the tank and bowl are both dry finishing the job with a hand operated pump then a sponge. Before you remove the mesh and mortar of a mud wall you must first deal with the tile. Although you can chip away the grout by hand with small tools you are likely to damage the wall in the process. To do so make sure all of the tiles are intact and secure.

Use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free.