Removing Wall Tiles Fastened With Mastic Adhesive

Place damp rags on dried mastic.

Removing wall tiles fastened with mastic adhesive.

In these rare cases a solvent may be needed to break up the adhesive so you can scrape it off the surface. Unfortunately water and heat often aren t enough to soften up vinyl tile or mastic adhesive. Next use a chisel and hammer to pry the tiles off of the wall. Apply some water to a small section of the adhesive.

If a tougher adhesive was used water. Apply a thin layer of mastic remover. Soak clean absorbent rags in warm water. First identify what kind of adhesive it is so you can buy the correct solvent.

To remove wall tiles start by heating up the grout between the tiles with a blow dryer so it s easier to remove. If you are applying it to mastic that is above wood flooring use rags instead. Load the mastic remover into a sprayer if possible or apply it to the top of the mastic with a mop. If it doesn t tap the screwdriver with the hammer to give you extra leverage.

Start at the far end of the room and work back to the door. To do this heat the adhesive with an electric heat gun or blow dryer. In an ideal world a few wiggles of the screwdriver or whatever tool you re using would give you enough leverage to remove the tile from the wall with your gloved hand. If the adhesive is not cement based you could try sprinkling water to the wall to ease the scrapping process.

When you remove that floor covering to make way for new flooring you may encounter the mastic and wonder whether it is safe to remove the main concern surrounding this question is that black mastic often contains asbestos. Then use a utility knife or rotary grinder to scrape away the grout until the spacer lugs between the tiles are visible. Wait several minutes and use a large scrapper to remove the mastic. Use the whisk broom or small vacuum to remove any loose pieces of mastic grout or dust.

If the adhesive used was organic mastic the water will begin to soften it allowing you to scrape it off. Use water as warm as you can stand to get the rags sopping wet. Irrespective of the adhesive formula you have to cover the floor with old cloths as to protect it from the residues which will fall off the wall. Once the tile is removed from the wall put it to one side for reuse or disposal of later.

Alternatively you could coat the adhesive with petroleum jelly or mineral spirits for at least 12 hours to a day. Using solvents to remove tile adhesive. Common in homes built in the 20th century black mastic was used as an adhesive for ceramic tile linoleum and other flooring materials.