How to remove tiles from a solid wall

Get rid of those old tiles for a new look.

Level of difficulty

Level 2: Intermediate

What you need

  • Chisel
  • Hammer
  • Brick bolster
  • Putty
  • Sandpaper

The steps to follow

  1. Break a central tile on your wall with a chisel and hammer at a 45 degree angle. Knock the tile loose then lever it with the chisel.
  2. Chop off the next tile by driving the blade of a brick bolster under the edge of the next tile.
  3. Continue this step until the whole wall is stripped down.
  4. Hack off the old tile adhesive.
  5. Make an even surface by filling any holes with putty and sanding off any lumps of tile adhesive.
  6. If the surface is still uneven, you should re-plaster the wall or find a recommended plasterer to help you.
  7. If you'd prefer not to remove the old tiles, you can simply tile over them.
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