Removing Bathroom Tile for Replacement

Removing bathroom tile to replace it with a new one may sound like an arduous process to many. However, replacing bathroom wall tiles is not really a time-consuming effort if you use the right tools for the job. You may choose to use simple tools which are found in any household to get the job done, or else you can go for more powerful tools to finish the task more quickly.

Step 1 – Prepare Yourself

Put on your face mask, safety glasses and work gloves for safety. Then cover the floor with the drop cloth, so that if any tiles fall the flooring would not be damaged.

Step 2 – Remove the Grout

To remove the grout, you may choose to use either a manual tool or an electronic rotary tool. Manual tools generally have a triangular-shaped blade which you have to press down into the grout to scrape between the tiles. In case you opt to use a rotary tool, you would need to attach the proper bit and manage the correct depth and angle manually. In either case, make sure you do not push too hard since you may damage the wall.

Step 3 – Start Removing Tiles

Now it’s time to get your putty knife to work. Now that some tiles are grout-free, slide the knife to the edge of one of the tiles. Push the putty knife beneath the remaining tiles and pry them loose. To manage this, grip the knife firmly and tap it gently with the rubber mallet. It is recommended that you work by sections, since this allows a better angle for leverage, both for grout and tile removal. It is important to keep your knife at an angle so you do not damage the wall.

Step 4 – Remove More Grout

After having removed the grout from Step 2, you can now remove grout from another section. At this stage it will be much easier to remove the grout, since you would have more room to manoeuver your tools.       

Step 5 – Repeat for Remaining Tiles

Slide the putty knife under another tile you want to remove, and tap the knife’s handle with the mallet, just as you did in Step 3. Naturally, the more tiles you remove the easier it becomes to remove others. Continue in this way until you remove all the tiles you wanted to replace.

 

After you have removed all the tiles you want, make sure you dispose of them safely. If you managed to keep the tiles intact, you can store them for future DIY projects. If the tiles broke, or if you have no use for them anymore, it would be best to reduce them to small pieces to avoid danger from any jagged ends they may have. Once you have sorted out the old tiles, you can start to replace them with the new ones you desired.