Removing Ceramic Wall Tiles

Do you currently have some ceramic wall tiles that you would like to replace? If so, then you are going to have a little bit of demolition in store for you. This is because of the fact that when removing ceramic wall tiles, you need to do more than simply remove the tiles. You will also have to remove the walls themselves. The reason for this is that by removing the ceramic tiles themselves, you will also be damaging the wallboard underneath as well. This article will detail how you can remove the ceramic wall tiles, but will not be discussing how to replace the wallboard itself.

1. Gather materials. The first step in removing ceramic wall tiles will be to gather all the items you will need for your job. In this task will you need a hammer (or mallet), a reciprocating saw, gloves, glasses, tarp, and drill with a masonry hole. You may also want to consider getting some safety glasses, as well as some gloves that can help protect you from getting hurt. For cleanup, you will also need to get a strong vacuum, preferably a shop vac.
2. Prep work area. Once you have gathered together all your items, you need to prepare the work area. Since this is going to be demo work that means that it will be particularly dirty. You can prep your work area by removing anything that can be moved from the room, and covering what can't be moved with a tarp. This is to protect what you can from the dust and dirt from your demo work. At this time, you should also cut off any power to that particular room by flipping the breaker. This will help ensure that you don't cut any live wires, which can cause serious bodily harm. Be sure that you leave a note at the breaker box so that no one else turns the power on while you are working.
3. Cut an entry hole. After you have prepped your work area, you need to cut a small entry hole into the wall. Use a drill with the masonry bit to help you do this. Simply drill a small hole through the tile, and then use a reciprocating saw to make the hole a little larger.
4. Look for wires. Once the entry hole has been made, you need to check for wires. You don't want to accidentally cut any wires since this can cause a lot more work that you need to do. On the outside of the walls, mark the location of any wires that you see, so that you can avoid cutting into those areas. At this time, make sure that you also make a not of any studs so that you don't damage them as well.
5. Remove all the tile. With your wall finally marked, it is time to begin removing the tile. Do this by simply cutting down the areas that have been marked. Cut out square sections so that you can easily handle each section and dispose of them properly. For any section that is marked, use a hammer or mallet to remove the tile.

Finally, after you have removed all the pieces of tile you need to clean up. Cleaning up all the dirt and dust will help you get ready for the next project that you have in store: installing a new wall.