Removing Tile Mortar From Walls

Use the grout scraper to remove any thin set from the grout lines that is more than 40 of the tile thickness.

Removing tile mortar from walls.

Use a chisel to scrape away the dried thin set carefully chipping it loose from the tile without scratching it or harming the tile itself. If the tiles are grouted you will have to clear the grout away first. Wipe the tiles dry with a rag then scrub them again with the textured side of a kitchen sponge. Thinset mortar is generally used as the adhesive when tiling a wall.

Use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free. Always wear safety glasses when removing ceramic tile. After removing the grout use a small pry bar or a similar tool to pry the tiles away from the wall. There are inexpensive tools designed specifically for grout removal.

A wide blade putty knife is helpful in prying the tiles loose. It depends on a lot of variables in place at the time the tile was set but it comes down to how well the tile is bonded to the mortar. Tiles installed with thinset or another tile adhesive often require more work to remove them. Start by holding the tool horizontally or vertically in the case of vertical seams turning on the power and lightly pressing the blade to the grout.

Use the scraper to clean off large debris and then clean off any soapy residue with a damp cloth. Be careful not to exert too much pressure downward on the tile or you could cause it to crack. Most likely though if the tiles were installed onto drywall the drywall will be damaged during removal. Removing tile from older style mortar walls can be very challenging.

If any stubborn traces are left you may need to gently chisel it away or sand it off with a rotary sander and 50 grit sanding disk. Start removing mortar from tile with the tiles free from the wall or floor you can now start cleaning them so can reuse the tile. Fit the oscillating tool with a blade specially intended for removing tile grout. Lay the tiles face down and use the putty knife to scrape across the tile back removing as much old mortar as possible.

Begin by giving the tile a good cleaning with a sponge and soapy citric acid water as a descaling solution and use a toothbrush to deep clean grout to remove deposits and stains that may make removal more challenging. Wipe the tiles down with a dry rag. Once those tiles loosen pry them off. Set your sander to the lowest setting and be extremely careful not to grind up the surface of the tile.