[scrapbook]

I need to remove some bathroom tiles in the downstairs toilet to replace a cracked one in the main bathroom. The tiles we have are discontinued.

Does anyone have any cunning tips on how to remove them without smashing them to bits??

Is it just a case of gouging the grout out and gently pulling it away from the wall.

[Mylo]

depending on what type of wall they are mounted, it could be either very tricky or near impossible.

[scrapbook]

Originally Posted by mylo

depending on what type of wall they are mounted, it could be either very tricky or near impossible.

A nice bit of solid plasterboard

[Nick_UK]

A powered scraper can help to chisel out the old grout. Then it's just a case of gently prising the old tile out.

[pete252]

That's about it really, I wouldn't bother trying to remove the grout, that will come away anyway. Start at the edge tiles using a thin flexible wallpaper scraper. The type of wall that they are being removed from and the type of adhesive used will have a factor, if it's a plasterboard wall and good adhesive then the damage to the plasterboard could be extensive. Best advice - take your time with it.

Pete

[Mylo]

Originally Posted by scrapbook

A nice bit of solid plasterboard

Good news, In my bathroom they came off fairly easily along with the finish layer of the plasterboard. Make sure you wear gloves in case of a smashed tile.

[MRW]

Do you definitely have to remove them?

Some people just score their existing tiles (with a circular saw/grinder) and mount new tiles onto the old ones.

[lee789]

The couple of times I've done this I've used a thin electricans chisel. Its not difficult to get them out in one piece if you remove them all, I suspect if you try one at a time this will be very tricky indeed. I would try and remove them all, working across in a line - then you are bound to get one good one. They usually come off in 4's or 6's with the ones at the edge maybe damaged.

[scrapbook]

We only have a rather pathetic 4 in the downstairs loo and only 2 of them will be the right size to replace the cracked one in the shower!!!

This could be interesting!

[Paul D]

If you have a steamer (wallpaper steamer or cleaner etc), that would help.

Try to direct the steam all around the edges of the tile(s).
This will loosen/soften the adhesive.
There is a good chance the tile(s) will simply drop off if done long enough.(so maybe apply some tape to the tile(s)!!!)
A long flat paste knife should help loosen the tile(s).

I use steam to clean of old adhesive before retiling etc.

[mason]

just dont do what i down in my kitchen. I couldnt get them off (maybe 50 tiles or so), so i took a hammer too them!!

The wall behind was platerboard and it all came away on the wall going the hall... not nice and a small job turned into a large project!

The end result is good tho!!

[smeghead]

if it's a plasterboard wall just cut around all 4 tiles with a pad saw (or any sharp blade) right through the plasterboard and take out the section of board with tiles attached, then you can carefully remove the board from the back of the tiles
then just patch up the hole with a new piece of board,just get 4 new tiles a bit bigger to cover the joins in the board.

hope this helps

[scrapbook]

Originally Posted by mylo

Good news, In my bathroom they came off fairly easily along with the finish layer of the plasterboard. Make sure you wear gloves in case of a smashed tile.

Finally managed to get round to do this this weekend.

Tiles came off easy...or should I say the plasterboard came away nicely . Having removed the 'spare' tiles form the toilet downstairs I then I spent the whole weekend taking apart the shower cubicle in the en suite, chipped away at the cracked tile and replaced it with a nice new one.

No problem getting the shower cubicle back together....that just left having to do the sealant again..argghhhhhhhhhhhhhh..talk about messy, I said to the Mrs we will move before I have to do that again. Putting down new sealant has to be the work DIY job of them all.

[JohnG]

You should just get me to put up the tiles in the first place and then the things would fall off before the end of the first day anyway