Removing And Replacing Tile From Old Gypsum Plaster Walls

Use the lightest pressure necessary to cut into the grout without cutting through to surface of the plaster.

Removing and replacing tile from old gypsum plaster walls.

Repair wall after removing ceramic tile tips wall must be flat smooth or tile will telegraph defects. Once it s off now it s time to start to repair the deep depressions. The tile should pop away from the wall. This can also be done with the addition of a light sander using fine grade sandpaper.

Work the putty knife or plaster spatula in and out behind the tile in a cutting like motion around each side of the tile to loosen it from the wall. Insert the claw end of the crowbar into the hole. Then use a utility knife or rotary grinder to scrape away the grout until the spacer lugs between the tiles are visible. Tiles installed with thinset or another tile adhesive often require more work to remove them.

With the removal of the one tile keep going under the surrounding tiles gently popping the tile from the wall by prying it from the wall using the scraper and hammer. Once those tiles loosen pry them off. Through trial and error i found a way to remove the decorative plaster that a previous owner had used to cover up bad drywall decisions. Next use a chisel and hammer to pry the tiles off of the wall.

Strike the top center of one of the walls with the hammer or crowbar punching a hole through the plaster coating until you see the lath beneath. To remove wall tiles start by heating up the grout between the tiles with a blow dryer so it s easier to remove. Once the tile is down take a 5 in 1 tool and scrapper to remove any excess grout. You just mix it with water and it.

Step 4 pry the tile away from the wall gently using the putty knife or plaster spatula.