How to remove tiles from the floor: dismantling the old tiles without maintaining integrity and how to carefully remove the tiles without damaging them. How to remove tiles from a wall without damaging the subfloor Preparing to remove tiles

It is necessary to remove the tiles in all cases before starting to make new coatings on the walls and floor. This is the main surface preparation process. This operation is not as difficult as it might seem. The main thing is to carry out all the steps with care and be sure to use personal protective equipment.

In order to remove the old tiles, you will need: a hammer and a chisel or a perforator, a spatula, rags and film, eye protection glasses, gloves, a respirator, a steel cutter and a drill. I want to say right away that if there is a desire to save a sufficient amount of nerves and strength, then you can turn to specialists. For example, a company ZBS repair with its professional workers will help you to do all the dusty work.

How to remove old tiles. Instruction

by the most the easy way removal old tiles is knocking it down with a perforator. Removal in this way is quite fast, and besides, the most sparing, because a lot of small point blows are applied with a certain force with a puncher and does not damage the surface of the wall, at the same time it is more difficult to manually apply uniform blows. Read about how to choose a hammer drill for home.

You need to start removing the tiles from the top row and gradually move down. Do not forget that all work with a perforator is accompanied by dust, so be sure to use a respirator and goggles. Do not neglect the protection of your hands - use gloves. In the event that there are things or objects in the room that can be damaged by falling fragments, then you need to cover them with a film and rags. With special care and without haste, you need to work at the points of entry and exit of pipes, as well as their fasteners. Quite often, after the old tile is removed, pieces of glue remain in its place. They also need to be removed with a perforator if they are strong and large, or removed with a spatula when they are not too strong.

It happens that there is no puncher at hand. In this case, feel free to use a hammer and chisel. The technology for performing work is exactly the same as described above, but only in this case you have to work with your own hands instead of an electric drive. This method takes a lot of time and effort, so if you need to shoot a large area, it would be advisable to still think about buying a hammer drill. If it is not possible to buy or there is no point, then remember that you need to hit with a hammer carefully, tapping the chisel with small blows, you should not beat with a swing and drive the chisel deep. Remember that with just one careless blow, you can make a hole in the wall, which will then have to be putty.

The most difficult process will be the removal of a single tile from the total mass. There is a technology that allows you to knock down the tiles and not harm the neighbors. First you need to use a spatula to remove the grout around the removed tile. After that, you need to drill several holes in the tile. These holes make it easy enough to break it without damaging the neighboring ones. Be sure to make diagonal lines crosswise with a glass cutter, thanks to which it will chip off mainly along these lines. This is preparation for removal. After that, take the hammer and chisel and crush the tile first in the center, and then start knocking down the pieces, moving from the middle to the center. Do not try to hit too hard, do not touch the extra elements of the coating. After the tile itself is removed, be sure to remove the remaining adhesive on the wall, as the newly installed tile will stick out if not removed. In fact, the question of how to remove old tiles is actually not that difficult.

Video. How to remove old tiles

Any apartment or Vacation home periodically in need of repair. Sometimes it is enough to change accessories and furniture to make the atmosphere fresher and more cheerful. But in most cases, you will have to work on a more thorough alteration. If everything is clear with the replacement of wallpaper and painting the walls, then the question of how to remove the tiles from the wall can drive many into a dead end. Especially if this process must be carried out carefully, without damaging the tile.

In fact, dismantling is not a big difficulty. Most importantly stock up necessary tools and determine how the tile was glued to the wall (using cement or adhesive mortar). It happens that the old tile needs to be removed not completely, but only some part of it. Then you should be especially careful not to damage not only neighboring tiles, but also the wall in the kitchen itself.

What will we need?

It is almost impossible to completely clean the surface of the tile and not damage a single fragment. But if you show accuracy and a little skill, it is quite possible to keep the tile intact as much as possible. How successful the work will be depends primarily on the quality of the laid tiles and on the adhesive composition, as well as on the statute of limitations.

The work may require the use of the following tools and materials:

  • drill and perforator;
  • metal spatula;
  • hammer;
  • scraper to remove the grout;
  • knife
  • chisels.

Do not forget about the precautions. Dismantling old tiles is a dusty and dirty process, so you should stock up on work clothes, special goggles, a mask or gauze bandage, and gloves. To make it easier for yourself to clean up after work, you can lay an oilcloth on the floor.

Dismantling process

If the tile was mounted to the kitchen wall with cement mortar, then it is almost impossible to remove it intact. Therefore, a puncher with a special nozzle is required here. If the tile was attached to the glue, then there are more chances to dismantle it without damage. The easiest way is to remove the tile without preserving its integrity. In the process, you will need a puncher with a chisel attachment. Before starting, you need to put on work clothes, goggles and a mask, as the process will be quite dusty with a lot of flying small fragments. Cement mortar remaining on the wall after removing the tiles can be removed with a hammer.

The neat way requires a lot of effort and skill. Here it is necessary to use a sharply sharpened knife and a spatula to remove the grout from the joints. To make it softer and more pliable, you can moisten the surface with water using a sponge.

After removing the grout, you should begin to dismantle the old tile. Here you will need a perforator and a flat-shaped nozzle that goes behind the tile to clean out the old mortar. If glue was used during the laying process, and not on cement mortar, then successful removal without deformation is possible. Otherwise, the tile is likely to crack.

Instead of a puncher, you can use a chisel with a hammer. After removing the grout, you need to put a chisel under the tile and gently, without sudden movements, use a hammer to beat it off the wall.

Deleting multiple items

It is not always necessary to completely remove the tiles from the walls of the kitchen. It is enough to replace two or three tiles on which chips or other defects have appeared. Here you need to be extremely careful with exactly the tile that should remain. The process of dismantling tiles from the central part of the wall or in the corner is considered especially laborious. First of all, it is necessary to soften the grout with water and remove it as in previous cases. A puncher should not be used in this case. Dismantling occurs with a hammer and chisel.

Cement mortar can greatly complicate the task. Therefore, the tiles must be removed carefully and in parts. First you need to use a drill to make several holes in the tile, and then remove it piece by piece with a spatula.

How to remove tiles from drywall?

If the wall in the kitchen is made of drywall, then removing the tiles carefully without damaging either it or the wall surface is almost impossible. The adhesive mortar adheres very strongly to drywall, eating into the surface. You can remove one or more tiles, followed by replacing a piece of drywall. But with a whole wall, everything is much more complicated. You should hope for luck, and carefully proceed to the dismantling process. The chisel must be inserted between the tile and the adhesive and tapped on it with a hammer. The tile either flies off by itself, or together with a piece of drywall. Alternatively, you can try cutting ceramics with a grinder.

At the end of the work, it is necessary to assess the damage caused to the walls and decide what to do with them next. It may be necessary to replace individual sections of the drywall structure.

Removing old tiles from a wall is not as difficult as it might seem. As in any other repair business, it requires careful preparation and deliberate action. If you stock up on the necessary tools and materials, study the tips and choose the most appropriate method of dismantling for yourself, then you can cope with the task without resorting to the help of specialists.

Learn how to replace damaged tiles, old grout, sealant and more.


Replacing damaged tiles is a very important process because damaged tiles can lead to leaks in the room, which can damage walls and floors, and can lead to mold and eventually structural damage.

Remove the grout from all edges of the broken tile (image 1). Check wiring or water pipes using a detector.



To loosen the tile, drill a few holes in it (image 2).

Use a hammer and chisel to remove pieces of broken tiles. Remember to wear gloves and goggles (Figure 3). Apply adhesive to the back of the tile with a notched trowel (image 4).

Place the tile, making sure it sits flush. Use spacers so that the distances in the seams are the same. After the glue has dried, remove the spacers and apply grout (image 5).

Applicationbroken tiles

Before we get rid of the tile pieces, let's look at a few other options. Broken tiles can be used for decorative mosaics in your home. Mosaic can be used to decorate flower pots, photo frames, and used as part of a floor coverings. If you are planning to have houseplants, broken tiles can be used as drainage at the bottom of pots and flower jars.

Step 2: Grinding

As the mortar deteriorates over time, it can lose its color and waterproofing properties. Replacing grout can improve appearance tiles quickly and at a low price.

Remove the old mortar from the joints, being careful not to damage the edges of the tiles (image 1), clean the joints of dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner (image 2).

Caulk the seams using a spatula (Figure 3).

Step 3: Restoring the color of the grout

Where the mortar has deteriorated in terms of color but not structure, a small amount of mortar will help restore pure, light colors.

Thoroughly clean the surface with a sponge and spatula (image 1).

When the grout dries, apply the grout solution (image 2). Read the description on the package to find out how long to wipe off excess solution. Use a damp cloth (Figure 3).

Step 4: Repair the sealant

At the transitions between tiles and other surfaces, a sealant is usually applied, which can deteriorate over time. Once the sealant begins to leak water, it must be replaced.

Clean the place of the old sealant. Special scraper or spatula (picture 1).

Apply masking tape on each side (image 2). This ensures that the sealant has straight edges.

Apply sealant along the entire length of the joint, try to press deeper into the gap, and smooth with wet fingers (Figure 3). Remove the tape and smooth again if necessary.

Step 5: Removing Damaged Drywall in a Shower Cabin

If water seeps through the tile, it can damage the drywall, causing the tile to wobble. In this case, you will need to remove the damaged sections of the wall and repair as needed.

Remove any cubicle walls or shower screens before you begin so that you have full access to the tiles (Figure 1).

Use the scraper to remove the tiles (image 2).

Cut out the damaged section of drywall. Be careful not to cut hidden electrical wiring or plumbing (Figure 3).

Try not to damage the frame (image 4).

Remove all nails and screws (image 5). Dry the interior. A special hair dryer can speed up this process.

Step 6: Replacing the Drywall in the Shower Cabin

Cut a piece of moisture-resistant drywall to the size of the hole and fix it to the old frame (image 1) After that, it is necessary to coat all the slots with sealant along the edges of the board (image 2).

At the junction between the old and new wall it is necessary to glue the reinforced tape (Figure 3).

Apply tile adhesive to the tile and wall, fix the tile, grout. Re-apply sealant at the corner joints (image 4).

Step 7: Preventing Water Seepage

In most cases, water leaks in a shower stall are due to poorly sealed tile joints, or because the sealant at the joints has aged.

The gradual penetration of water can damage the wall or cause the tiles to fall off.

The situation can quickly deteriorate if left unnoticed, so check these areas regularly for damage or dampness. If you find any problems, resolve them immediately using the methods shown above.