How To Remove Tile Adhesive

Contents:

• What is tile adhesive & why do you need to remove it?
• Tools & materials
• Step-by-step
• How to remove dried tile adhesive from tiles
• How to remove floor tile adhesive
• Safety considerations
• FAQs

Tile adhesive is a hard bonding material used to attach tiles to walls, floors and other surfaces. It sticks tiles onto the surface they’re laid on, and it helps with laying tiles perfectly flat.  

Tile adhesive hardens and bonds tightly onto the surface it’s laid on. As a result, it can be difficult to remove it if you want to replace your tiles or redecorate the tiled area. You also need to cause as little damage as possible to the surface underneath while you’re removing the tile adhesive. This can make it a tricky job.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to remove old tile adhesive. We’ll explain how to remove tile adhesive from walls, which is the most common task. As well as that, we’ll explain how to remove floor tile adhesive and how to remove dried tile adhesive from tiles.

Tile adhesive is the substance used to set tiles in place on walls, floors, and other surfaces. It bonds the tiles to the surface and makes it possible to lay them perfectly flat.

There are different types of tile adhesive:

• Cement based – solid and gritty

• Synthetic polymer based – firm but pliable

• Ready mixed mastic – a bit like plastic

• Epoxy adhesive – smooth and very hard

When you remove tiles from a surface, you’re normally left with a layer of tile adhesive attached to the surface. You can either prise the tiles off in one piece, or you have to break them off. After that, there’s normally a layer of tile adhesive left stuck to the surface underneath.

If you’re retiling or redecorating the surface, you normally need to get this adhesive off. At the same time, you need to minimise the amount of damage to the surface underneath. Removing the tile adhesive cleanly will leave you with a flat and smooth surface that is easy to work on.

The hard part is not damaging the surface underneath, particularly on weak surfaces like plasterboard. There are, however, many different methods. You can also start with the less destructive methods to minimise damage. 

Here are all the tools and materials you need for removing tile adhesive:

• Scraping tool – for scraping off tile adhesive

• Sanding equipment (60 – 80 grit paper) – to remove the last bits of adhesive and  smooth the surface over

• Water bucket and sponge – for wetting tile adhesive and cleaning the surface

• Wall filler – you often need to repair damage with wall filler

• Work gloves, safety goggles, ear defenders (for power tools) and dust mask – to keep you safe while you’re working

Here are some optional tools and materials, depending on what method you follow:

• Wire brush – these are good on some types of adhesive

• Hammer and chisel – often works on cement adhesives and other hard adhesives

• Chemical adhesive removers – these work on some adhesives. Using vinegar and baking soda is a DIY alternative

• Steamer –  careful steaming sometimes helps to get tile adhesive off

• Heat gun – Heat guns can also help to get tile adhesive off

• Multi-tool with scraper blade or a plunge cutting blade – you can grind off hard adhesive with a multi-tool

• Angle grinder with a grinding disc - you can remove very hard adhesive with an angle grinder and a grinding disc

• Floor scraper – you might be able to get the floor tile adhesive off just with a floor scraper

• Floor grinder – floor grinders are good if you’re working on a large area of firmly set floor tile adhesive

• SDS drill – SDS drills are an aggressive removal option for floor tile adhesive

Here’s a step by step guide for how to remove tile adhesive from walls.

There are six steps:

1. Prepare the area

2. Test removal methods

3. Remove the tiles

4. Sand the surface smooth

5. Clean the surface

6. Repair any damage

Most of the process is simple. The hard part is finding the best removal method for the tile adhesive on your wall. You need to work out how to remove the old tile adhesive while minimising damage to the surface underneath.

The golden rule is to start with the less aggressive methods and work your way up.

 

Step 1. Prepare the area

Removing tile adhesive is a messy and dusty job. Clear the area where you’re working so nothing gets damaged or covered in dust. Cover adjacent surfaces with protective sheets of wood or thick blankets. Also, remove anything from the room you don’t want to get covered in dust, or cover it with a dust sheet.

Open the window to improve the airflow. This is particularly important if you’re working with chemical adhesive removers.

Make sure you wear safety gear while you’re working and identify any electric cables or pipes in the surface you are working on. We recommend hiring a competent and suitably qualified registered plumber or electrician if there are any pipes or cables in the area. 

 

Step 2. Test removal methods

The next step is to find the best way to remove the old tile adhesive. This is the crucial part, and sometimes it’s hard to find the right method.   

The type of adhesive you have on your wall will have a big bearing on the best removal method. You’ll need to trial different methods, but here are some indications of what might work on different types of adhesive:

• Cement based – often needs a heat gun, hammer and chisel, multi-tool or grinder

• Synthetic polymer based – often scrapes off with water. Otherwise, chemical adhesive removers or steam guns often work

• Ready mixed mastic – heat guns or adhesive removers often work

• Epoxy adhesive – normally needs a hammer and chisel, multi-tool or grinder

You can trial different removal methods on a small area until you find the best method. Start with the less aggressive methods and work your way up.

Here are all the normal methods for how to remove old tile adhesive from walls, listed by order of aggressiveness:

• Soak in water and use a scraper – brush water onto the adhesive, let it soak in and then scrape it off with a scraper.

• Chemical adhesive removers – these often work on synthetic polymer and mastic adhesives. Refer to the package for instructions. You can use vinegar and baking soda as a DIY alternative.

• Use a steamer or a heat gun – gently heat the adhesive and scrape it off, being very careful not to damage the surface underneath.

• Chipping with a hammer and bolster – works on solid tile adhesive.

• Use a multi-tool – use a blade that’s good for scraping off the adhesive. Plunge cutting blades and scraper blades both normally work.

• Grinding off – you can grind off the hardest tile adhesive with an angle grinder and a grinding disc.

Make sure you look carefully at the surface underneath as you work to check you’re not damaging it too much. You can repair damage if you do cause some, but the less repair work you have to do, the better. You also don’t want to cause any damage that can’t be repaired.

 

Step 3. Remove the tiles

After you’ve found the best method, you just need to work using that method to remove all the adhesive from your wall.

Often, you’ll be able to remove most of it through one method, but there will be stubborn, hard bits left behind. You might need to use another method to remove these bits. Otherwise, you might be able to sand them off in the next step.

 

Step 4. Sand the surface smooth

Once you’ve finished, use coarse sandpaper (normally, 60 – 80 grit) to sand the surface smooth. Make sure you get rid of all bumps and lumps to leave a completely smooth and adhesive free surface.

A wire brush might be helpful at this stage.

 

Step 5. Clean the surface

Brush the surface down to get rid of the worst of the dust and leftover material.

Fill up a bucket with clean water and use your sponge to clean the entire surface. Don’t over-wet your sponge while you’re working, and stop frequently to clean it out in the water.

Give the surface time to dry after you’ve finished. 

 

Step 6. Repair any damage

The final step is to repair any damage on the surface. It’s normal to have some damage. Particularly if you have to use a more aggressive removal method like using a hammer and bolster.

Multi-purpose wall filler is normally fine for repairs. Refer to the package for instructions.

Purpose-designed edging and jointing tools will help you get the best finish if you’re redecorating the surface rather than retiling it. 

You might need to remove tile adhesive from tiles if some is left on the face of the tile after they were laid. 

The best way to remove dried tile adhesive from tiles when it’s on the face of the tile is with warm water or chemical adhesive remover.

Start with water, brushing it onto the adhesive and letting it soak in. Then gently scrub the adhesive with a cloth, wire wool or a wire brush. You can also try to gently scrape it off with a scraper, being very careful not to scratch the face of the tile. Plastic scrapers might be better than metal scrapers. Once you’ve removed it, clean the surface with a cloth and water.

You can also try to remove dried tile adhesive from tiles with chemical adhesive remover or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.  

If you’re working with delicate tiles, like ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone, be particularly gentle while you’re working. Also, check the compatibility of any chemical removers with the tiles you have.

It might be a good idea to clean the grout on your tiles at the same time. 

You might need to use more aggressive methods to remove floor tile adhesive.

Floor tiles are often laid with harder and more durable types of adhesive because they receive foot traffic and other sources of stress that wall tiles don’t. They’re also often laid with thicker layers of adhesive.

These factors can make it more appropriate to use more aggressive methods of removal. On top of this, floor tiles are often laid on top of durable surfaces like concrete.

Here are some common methods for how to remove floor tile adhesive:

• With a floor scraper – sometimes, you can just scrape the adhesive off with a floor scraper. Water may help.

• Chemical adhesive remover – chemical adhesives may work on floor tiles, with a scraper

• Heat guns – heat guns can help to soften adhesive for scraping or chipping off

• Hammer and bolster – you can break off solid adhesive with a hammer and bolster

• Multi-tool – a multi-tool with a plunge blade or a scraping blade might work

• Floor grinder – these are specially designed, powerful floor preparation tools

• SDS hammer action breaker – this is an aggressive method that you can use on floor tiles laid on solid surfaces

While floor tiles can often be removed with more aggressive methods, it’s still very important to be careful. Do not use a method that causes damage to the surface underneath. Some flooring surfaces are vulnerable to damage.

It’s very important to be careful with floors if there is underfloor heating or any other pipes, cables or delicate features in the floor. Make sure you check before you start working. Damaging these would mean costly repairs, and electric cables and pipes also present a safety hazard. We recommend hiring a competent and suitably qualified registered plumber or electrician if there are any pipes or cables in the surface you are working on.

It’s important to be safe when you’re removing old tile adhesive. There’s a risk of cuts and injury to your hands, eye injury or dust and chemical inhalation. There’s also a risk of hearing damage if you work with power tools.

Here are some important safety tips:

• Wear work gloves and safety goggles at all times.

• Wear an appropriate protective mask whenever you’re working with dust or chemicals.

• Ventilate the area to reduce the risk of dust and chemical inhalation.

• Make sure you understand how to use tools correctly, and follow all necessary safety precautions with tools.

• Be careful of the risk of fire if you use a heat gun.

• Wear ear defenders whenever you’re working with loud tools.

• Dispose of adhesive, solvents and any other hazardous chemicals according to local regulations.

We recommend hiring a competent and suitably qualified registered plumber or electrician if there are any pipes or cables in the surface you are working on.

Working out how to remove tile adhesive can be tricky, depending on the type of tile adhesive and the surface underneath.

The key is to find the right method for the adhesive in question. Start with the less aggressive methods and work your way up to the methods that are more likely to damage the surface underneath. While removing it without damaging the surface underneath does sometimes end up meaning a lot of elbow grease, this just helps you to avoid repair work after you’ve finished.

Always take all necessary safety measures to keep yourself safe.

Find out how to grout tiles if you’re laying new tiles on the surface.