Best way to remove wall tiles without breaking?

[guv]

We've had a leaking shower, which is fixed on a tiled plasterboard wall. We basically need to remove the tiles to find out where the leak is to fix it and then put back a new plasterboard and re-tile.

Problem is, that whilst I do have some spare tiles, I certainly dont have enough to do them all if I break them. Obviously I'd rather not retile the whole bathroom if I can help it!

The wall the tiles sit on is probably pretty flakey (hence the reason it needs replacing) so I am hoping this will ease the problem of removing them. I am olso hoping that by soaking the tiles, I will be able to remove the tile adhesive. (Ive seen adhesive completely removed this way before - but it was "freshly dried". Will I have any luck getting the adhesive off? (They have been up for about 5 years!)

So, what would be considered to be the best way to get them off? Breaking one and then wedging them out? The one good point is the fact the wall they sit on is plasterboard - so that hopefully will just pull away through the damage the leak has done.

Any helpful suggestions appreciated.

Cheers

[John]

I don't know of any way that you can remove and save the tiles directly. However, since the plasterboard sounds shot, why not try to take it down carefully with the tiles intact and remove the remains from the tiles. A hacksaw blade should cut along the grout lines with care. Of course, you could always retile in a contrasting colour. That's generally better than trying to match the existing.

John

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Was the plasterboard skimmed? would have been a doddle prising them off. If not your going to tear the plasterboards material whichever way you attempt it, score the grout with a stanley knife making sure the scoring reaches the surface of the PB then use a wallpaper steamer over the tiles if possible(don't know what size tiles are used?) if the steamer is left on for a bit this usually soften the adhesive enough to prise tiles off but as i said PB will become damaged.

[guv]

From memory, I think it was!

Sounds like a good idea to me. Think my parants have a steamer I can borrow.

Once off, do you think soaking the tile in hot water will remove the old adhesive? (Will all be a bit in vain if I cannot remove it!!!)

Cheers

[Chris Bacon]

You'll have to be careful if the tiles have soft "biscuit", anything that stains will get into it and spoil the tile.

[guv]

Not sure what you mean by that Chris? They are for all intents and purpose ordinary ceramic tiles AFAIK.

[Steve Walker]

I think he means the unglazed backs might be absorbent

[guv]

Ah, Ok thanks. Will need to watch for that - and maybe just do a single to see. Depending how far I have to go up the wall, I do have just enough tiles still in the box. Only the central border will be a problem if I can't salvage, but they are really very thick and heavily glazed. I would be suprised if they stain up from the "inside".

[The Medway Handyman]

I'd attack the plasterboard. If it's already damp, wetting it more will make it really weak so it should release from the tiles. Getting the adhesive off the backs could be done mechanically - carefull use of an angle grinder even?

If some adhesive is left on the back it won't really matter if it's not too thick.

[Chris Bacon]

That's it, the tile material is called "biscuit", on some cheap (Italian and other) tiles if you mark it with a pen you can get trouble. More expensive ones tend to be impervious. Where's John Smitrh of the Tile fsq fame...

[meow2222]

I left tiles in a bucket of water for 2 days and the adhesive then came off no problem. Used an electric scraper to get it all off.

And any thing that wont come off is sound anyway.

NT

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

And how is he supposed to get the wall in a bucket. :-P

[Ian_m]

Had a similar problem once, shower valve leaked onto plaster board in the wall, eventually causing a tile to drop off. I tried to save the tiles, but some broke during removal, soaking in water enabled them to be cleaned of plasterboard and adhesive, but ended up just buying a new walls worth of tiles and doing the job properly and certainly would have been much much quicker if I hadn't arsed around trying to save the tiles.....

[Stuart Noble]

Hot water and detergent makes a big difference if you are going to clean them off. A 4" scraper behind them works best IME

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember guv saying something like:

Yep. Leave them in a bucket of water for a day or two.

[guv]

OK Guys, thanks for all your input. Will have a go this weekend.

I did think I had loads left over (overkill and also "just in case") but dont have enough. I doubt the tiles are availble now to buy (I think theyve been up about 8 year!) - but worth checking I guess.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Brick acid will clean cement and grout off tiles..but getting them off whole is non trivial.

[Christian McArdle]

I find they ping off whole when removed with an SDS chisel, whilst hand removing tends to disintegrate them. Whether you'd get enough off undamaged is another thing, though.

Christian.

[meow2222]

hmm, bigger bucket?

NT

[xscope]

Just seen a tool on QVC for specifically designed for removing tiles without damaging the wall and from the demo, didn't damage any tiles either. :-

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