Removing Wall Tiles Without Breaking Them

Salvaging ceramic tiles is never guaranteed as they can break easily.

Removing wall tiles without breaking them.

A hammer a good chisel with two ends and a scraper. Start by removing all the grout using a grout saw rotary cutter oscillating tool or utility knife. If the tiles are firmly attached you may not be able to remove them without breaking but here s how to give it a try. The first tile is generally much harder than the rest.

However you can usually remove ceramic floor tiles without breaking them as long as you are very careful and use the proper materials. Of course that you can do this operation mechanically by using a drill machine with hammering function but if you want to remove the tiles without breaking them it is better to do it by hand. Have an assistant wearing leather gloves catch the tiles as they come away before they fall. Once those tiles loosen pry them off.

If the tiles break instead of coming away try an air chisel instead. Video of the day. They are often secured with less adhesive. Take your time to tap out the first one then attack the exposed.

A wide blade putty knife is helpful in prying the tiles loose. Corner tiles have two free sides making them easier to access and remove. Removing tiles without breaking them means you will need to flex them to some point during the removal process. Removing ceramic tiles from concrete will be more difficult or even impossible without breaking them.

Pay particular attention to areas around doors and windows where decorative moldings and edging strips change direction. Not all marbles have the. If you flex them past their tensile strength they crack. Next position a chisel in the grout line under the bottom of the tile and tap it gently with a hammer to see if the tile will pop loose be careful not to chip or crack the adjoining tile.