If you’re ready to update your kitchen or bathroom, knowing how to remove tile backsplash is the first step in the process. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the tools, techniques, and tips we used during our own home renovation to make your tile removal project a success.
As part of our recent home addition and kitchen remodel, one of the tasks I took on was removing our old tile backsplash to make way for a fresh new look. This was a labor-intensive, dusty, and yet deeply satisfying DIY project that will be a major update to our remodeled space.
For our kitchen I only had 3 places to remove tile. The hardest was behind the vent hood because I had to stand on the counter!
If you’re looking to tackle your own tile removal project, whether it’s a kitchen tile backsplash, old tile floor, or even wall tiles, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a comprehensive guide to show you the best way to remove tile and prep your space for the next step.
First Step: Gather the Right Tools and Prepare the Work Area
Before you even think about swinging a pry bar or busting out the hammer drill, you’ll want to gather all the right tools to make the job easier (and safer). For our kitchen, I used a pry bar, mallet, and putty knife to remove our old tile backsplash. But depending on the type of tile you’re removing—whether it’s ceramic tile, porcelain tile, or even tile flooring—you may need some additional tools.
Here’s a list of tools and materials I found helpful during our tile removal process:
- Pry bar
- Mallet or hammer
- Utility knife
- Knee pads
- Dust mask and safety glasses (you’ll be kicking up a lot of dust and tile shards)
- Shop vacuum for keeping the work area clean
- Drop cloths, plastic sheeting, and trash bags for easy cleanup
- Painter’s tape for covering outlet covers and light switches
- Putty knife and drywall mud for smoothing out the surface after tile removal
- You may need: Rotary tool or hammer drill for stubborn tiles
Once you’ve got your tools, it’s time to prep the work area. Start by laying down plastic sheeting or a drop cloth to protect your counters and floor. You’ll also want to cover any outlet covers or light switches with painter’s tape to keep dust and debris from getting inside.
Safety First: Don’t Forget Your Protective Gear
Removing tile can be messy and dangerous if you’re not careful. You’ll be dealing with shards of tile, broken tiles, and a lot of dust. Be sure to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying debris, a dust mask to avoid inhaling harmful particles, and knee pads if you’re working on tile flooring or close to the ground.
In our remodel, I found myself on my knees for much of the time, so knee pads would have been a huge help. You’ll also want to wear long sleeves and gloves to protect your skin from sharp tile edges.
Step 1: Find Your Starting Point
Every tile removal project starts with identifying your starting point. For our kitchen tile backsplash, I started by looking for a loose tile or a damaged area that would be easier to pry up. If you’re dealing with an older home where the tile has been in place for years, you might find that the grout or mastic adhesive has loosened in spots. Check the edges first! Luckily, some of our tiles came off when we removed the bar countertop in that opening.
If you can’t find a loose tile, use your utility knife to score along the grout lines, then take a cold chisel or masonry chisel and start tapping away at the edges of a single tile with a mallet or hammer. I found that removing one tile created a perfect starting point for getting the rest of the old tiles off the wall.
Step 2: Pry Off the Tiles
Once you’ve got your starting point, it’s time to get prying. Insert your pry bar behind the first tile and gently work it back and forth to loosen it from the wall. This part takes some patience, as you don’t want to damage the new drywall behind the tile. Go in from the SIDE and not straight into the wall – this will help not damage the drywall.
For stubborn or heavily adhered tiles, you may need to use a rotary tool or hammer drill to help chip away at the old mortar or tile adhesive. During my own project, a few areas were particularly tough, but with some persistence (and a lot of hard work), I was able to get the job done. There was damage along the way, but nothing a bit of drywall mud won’t fix.
Tip: If you’re removing floor tile, you might want to use a long-handled floor scraper or even an air chisel to speed up the process, especially if you’re covering a large area like an entire floor.
Step 3: Clean Up the Work Area
Once all the tiles are off the wall (or floor), it’s time for cleanup. Use a shop vacuum to suck up all the dust and tile fragments. This can be a dusty affair, so make sure to keep your dust mask on.
You’ll also need to scrape away any remaining old mortar, mastic adhesive, or grout from the wall using a putty knife or chisel attachment. I recommend taking the time to really smooth out the surface so you have a clean surface to work with when you install your new backsplash tile. A skimcoat of drywall mud will get you a smooth surface to re-tile.
During my project, I spent quite a bit of time removing old mortar and getting the surface ready for the next step: installing the new tiles. I filled the holes with drywall mud so I didn’t have to replace any of the drywall!
Step 4: Time for the New Tile!
Once your walls are prepped and clean, you’re ready to start the exciting part: installing your new backsplash tile! We are opting for a modern tile design to complement our new quartz countertops and farmhouse sink. But that’s a story for another day—right now, let’s focus on the tile removal itself!
Framing in and Adding New Drywall Above the Stove
One of the more significant tasks during our renovation was framing in and adding new drywall to the opening above our stove. The old layout of the kitchen had an unnecessary opening between the kitchen and the dining room. When we removed the old vent hood, which had been installed too high and had stopped working, we realized that installing a new one at the proper height would make that opening obsolete.
The new vent hood we installed sits much lower, making the opening into the dining room no longer useful. So, we framed in the space, added drywall, and it not only improved the flow of the kitchen but also allowed us to use the entire wall space in the room on the other side. It was one of those “aha” moments that made a big difference in how functional the space became.
DIY ARCHIVES
View our collection of DIY projects!
Our Home Addition
We are building a living room add on and remodeling the kitchen at the same time.
Introduction
It’s finally time to share the details of our our home addition!
Foundation
We had a brand new foundation poured for our living room home addition!
Framing
After the foundation was poured, the next step in our home addition was the framing! Here’s the process of framing to have a new room added to your home.
Interior and Exterior Finishes
After our living room home addition was framed, it was time to begin the interior and exterior finishes. Next up was the installation of insulation and drywall, painting the walls, then installing hardwood flooring and baseboards!
Final Thoughts on Tile Removal
Removing an old tile backsplash or flooring material isn’t necessarily difficult, but it does require a lot of time, patience, and effort. It’s labor-intensive, but the satisfaction of DIY projects like these is well worth the hard work.
Here are a few final tips to keep in mind:
- Always start with a small section to test the best way to remove your specific types of tiles.
- Wear the right safety gear—protecting your eyes and lungs is crucial.
- Be prepared for a lot of dust and mess, so have your shop vacuum, trash bags, and plastic sheeting ready.
- If you’re installing new flooring or backsplash tile after removal, take your time prepping the surface so the new tiles lay perfectly flat.
We’re thrilled with how our kitchen remodel is turning out, and removing the old backsplash was just one step in transforming the space. Whether you’re refreshing your kitchen, bathroom, or older home, tile removal is a great way to breathe new life into your space.
Leave a Reply