how to remove thinset from wall

This was difficult and dusty, but it was definitely a DIY’able task. This is a first for me, especially with 24″ tiles (I did have them delivered to the store and picked them up myself which I think helped a lot…I’m pretty sure it’s the shipping that usually does them in. If the subfloor is concrete, you can take off the thinset with a floor maintainer and a concrete coating removal tool, such as a Diamabrush disk. Start Removing Mortar From Tile With the tiles free from the wall or floor, you can now start cleaning them so can reuse the tile. It is made of cement and forms a durable connection to the tile when dry. Start with a 2 by 2 … Continue removing the thinset in small chunks until you've removed enough to accommodate your new tiles. There is a good deal of old thinset stuck over the lather and plaster walls and using a hand scraper is virtually useless. The tiles need to be installed on a smooth, level surface in order to sit right. Old thinset makes the surface uneven, so if you plan to install new tile, make sure you grind all the thinset off. For semi-soft adhesive (mastic), use 120-grit sandpaper to remove it from the wall. Once it’s dried, it’s water-resistant, but brittle in strength. Sand any high or uneven spots to create a level surface prior to tile installation. There are much stouter blades made for removing ceramic tile and thin set. This decreases its integrity and makes it much easier to remove using a putty knife. Sam Adams is the owner of Cherry Design + Build, a residential design and construction firm, which has been operating in the Greater Seattle Area for over 13 years. If you want to lay down tile after removing thinset, make sure you create a smooth surface. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Allow to fully dry. % of people told us that this article helped them. Always use a putty knife with a hammer-end handle and sharp blade. If you ever have to take off a tile after it has set that's a drag especially when they cost about $10 a piece, but none-the-less you hafta do it. Cover nearby items with plastic when using a grinder. Do I need to remove old thinset before tiling? just expect alot of dust, (so wear a mask) and if you have a window, put a fan in it. Rub the sandpaper along the outside of the spacer in a circular motion. Be careful not to exert too much pressure downward on the tile, or you could cause it to crack. Clean the drywall of stubborn thinset encrustation with a razor blade scraper. When the old tile falls off or is removed from the wall, the thinset that was initially used to attach it has dried and become stuck on the wall. Removing Thin Set Mortar. Always turn on your vacuum before you turn on the grinder. Push the flat edge of the scraper or pry bar under the edge Scrape thinset off the floor or wall after removing the backer board with a metal scraper, or use a handheld oscillating power tool with a mortar grinding… For more tips from our Construction co-author, including how to remove thinset using an angle grinder and wet-dry vacuum, read on! The thin-set instructions say to sponge off any mortar from the tops of the tiles immediately, or at least as soon as possible. Apply 1 drop of sharpening or honing oil to the surface of the stone and rub it in with your finger prior to sharpening. You can purchase thinset removal tools from home hardware stores or popular online suppliers. It also seemed to work really well with the wall tiles. ... Prime the wall with thinset and allow ample drying time. Most times, however, once the tile is up, you are left with small mounds of … The homeowners decided to redo the kitchen tile floor AFTER having their custom cabinets refinished so I need to take up the tile and remove the thinset without alot of grit and dust flying around. References. Move the grinder up and down in motions and aim to cover about 2 to 3 ft (0.61 to 0.91 m) of vertical space with each motion. Then, chisel it away in straight motions of 1-2 feet in length at a time. )The bathtub* was d… wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Purchase 0.39 gallon (1.5 L) cooking pots from home hardware stores. To remove thinset, start by pouring boiling water over the thinset to weaken the material. Old thinset mortar should be removed from a floor before installing new tile. Set your sander to the lowest setting and be extremely careful not to grind up the surface of the tile. You can rent hammer drills from most home hardware shops. Keep … If the thinset is especially thick, decrease the angle of your chisel blade to make it easier. Use goggles to prevent particles from flying into your eyes. Rent a small dumpster or purchase a large garbage bin for the chunks of thinset and piles of dust. Scrape the wall to remove any texture and to create a flat surface. Which meant removing tile and thinset from the concrete foundation. The objective is to remove the old thinset without damaging the drywall. https://www.greenhousecenter.net/how-to-remove-thinset/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/tiling/remove-ceramic-tile-from-a-concrete-floor/view-all, https://www.cooksillustrated.com/articles/218-how-to-sharpen-kitchen-knives#whetstone, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Fill drywall gouges with drywall joint compound and sand it smooth. One of the ways to clean grout and remove the thinset is to start by adding some dish soap to the bucket of warm water. Sam Adams, design firm owner, advises: “When you install tile, the most important things are that the walls are square and the surface is flat and level. Pour 0.39 gallons (1.5 L) of boiling water gently over the thinset. I was doing that at the beginning, but I was getting REALLY annoyed because after placing each tile, and positioning it perfectly, and adding the ¼” spacers, the tile would move out of place EVERY TIME I sponged it off. Usually, when you chisel the tiles off, most of the thin set mortar will be removed with it. As well as the removal of Ceramic and porcelain tiles, Eddy is perfect for mortar/thinset removal too. Scrape the drywall's surface with the floor scraper to remove the thinset. It was actually easier to use on the walls than it was on the floor. More sturdy surfaces, like concrete or other tough materials, can be treated with stronger methods, either using a hammer drill or a putty knife. Sand your spacer with rough 40- to 60-grit sandpaper to decrease its size. Once you get all that tile and any backer board off, you … Fill the tub with soapy hot water and let the water sit for about 30 minutes, then drain the tub. Clean the subfloor or underlying wall. . Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 79,354 times. When you remove old floor tile, you will sometimes get small pieces of the thinset mortar to pull up along with the tile. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Chisels Included – 3 Chisels included, sized at 1 inch, 2 inches, and 3 inches. 4. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Work in 15-minute intervals to prevent your equipment from overheating. Alternatively, attach a chisel bit to a hammer drill and hold it at a 45-degree angle. I actually started out the week feeling pretty good…I had ordered most of the major bathroom pieces, and they were all shipping very quickly.The floor tiles* arrived and none of them were broken! For small jobs, hand tools can work well. [1] X Research source Purchase 0.39 gallon (1.5 L) cooking pots from home hardware stores. Always wear an N95 respirator and protective eye gear. After sanding, your dust shroud should fit snugly onto the spacer without jiggling. Ross was featured on the cover of "Instore Buyer" magazine and his articles have appeared on various websites. Lay the tiles face down, and use the putty knife to scrape across the tile back, removing as much old mortar as possible. Pots that are 0.39 gallons (1.5 L) in size will cover a region of approximately 107.639 square feet (10.0000 m. Add 1 cup (240 ml) of citrus degreaser or vinegar to your pot to help weaken the thinset. Avoid applying pressure to the ground unless you encounter stubborn areas. The thinset comes off like mud, leaving clean concrete. Removing the existing thinset so that the new tile has a good bonding surface is very important. You can also use a masonry chisel that is the same width. Wear a hat to prevent thinset from getting in your hair—it's difficult to wash out. Removing thinset releases silica through dust, when can damage your lungs and eyes. How to Remove Thinset From Drywall 1. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Wash Tiles Thoroughly If the areas of thinset are rather small and subtle, a good cleaning can do the bulk of the removal work for you. This article has been viewed 79,354 times. Be sure to wet the thinset before starting, and as needed. I'll give it a go again tomorrow and let you know how it comes out. If you're having trouble with patches, use a hammer and chisel or grinder to get rid of them. This is necessary to protect your health. Freelance writing since 2009, Tom Ross has over 30 years of corporate management and hands-on experience in the supermarket industry. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. To remove thinset, use a stiff putty knife and some elbow grease to scrape it from the wall. Soaking the thinset in hot water will produce cracks in it within 40 to 60 … By using our site, you agree to our. How to Remove Marble Tiles From Sheetrock, This Old House: Fixing Damaged Drywall Surface, Reliable Remodeler: Removing Tile Off Drywall, How to Remove a Backer-Board Attached With Thinset. Using Hot Water. Leave it for an hour, then hold a sharp putty knife at a 45-degree angle and hammer the back with a hand maul to break up the thinset. Thinset is sometimes referred to as mortar because it is used to secure tiles to a floor or wall. Scraping off the Texture Download Article Spray a small area with water. Scrape the drywall clean of existing hardened thinset with a 4-inch-wide putty knife for large expanses of drywall... 2. Add a squirt of dish soap or a cup of granulated sugar to a bucket of warm water and then apply it to the areas where thinset is present. . Between the 2 stones, the grit range should be 325 (coarse) to 1200 (extra fine). Stick to wider chisels—they work better for removing thinset and help your work progress much faster. Also included in this package are. If any stubborn traces are left, you may need to gently chisel it away or sand it off with a rotary sander and 50 grit sanding disk. Pots that are 0.39 gal… Refer to the instructions for your hammer drill—some have different routines for swapping bits and locking rotation. If you need to remove thinset from a wall, chiseling it off with a putty knife will get the job done quickly with the least amount of dust. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Since not all will come off, there will be an uneven layer of adhesive left behind. Use a sponge to gently scrub the thinset. While the process is simple, it requires patience and attention to detail. Gently scrape off the dried blobs of drywall with a plastic paint scraper, the edge of a discarded credit card, or a plastic hotel key. Wear gloves while cleaning the drywall with razorblade scrapers. For the smoothest possible surface, finish the job with an angle grinder and a diamond grinding wheel. There is a kitchen, small bathroom, and a large laundry/entry room to do, about 300 sf. Remove wallpaper and glue from the wall(s). Remove the screws from the backer board with a drill and a Phillips-head screwdriver bit. Thinset is a cement-based product, and mastic resembles thick glue. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to reduce its size with rough sandpaper. Continue using your hammer and chisel to remove the remaining patches of thinset. Generally, yes. If the mortar is still fresh then you must wait for it to dry completely. Finish any small patches off with a hand-held chisel and hand maul. . Re: removing thinset I have done this many times. And when the work is done Eddy folds down to a compact 26″ X 16″ X 25″ size for easy transportation. Scrape the drywall clean of existing hardened thinset with a 4-inch-wide putty knife for large expanses of drywall and a 1-inch-wide putty knife for smaller areas. This can be a challenge if you decide to remove the tile, since most of the time the thinset remains stuck the floor. Wipe the tiles down with a dry rag. I don't get why it's mastic and not thinset . Adjust the pitch of … Keep the blade pressed flat against the wall and at an angle that scrapes the thinset off without gouging the drywall. . By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Just pulled a small bathroom's worth of old tile down off the walls (about 100 sq.ft) and I'm planning to paint over the former tile area, so I need to get this pretty smooth. Slowly move it to the right or left as you grind and don't worry about going over the same spot more than once. If your knife still needs sharpening afterward, use a fine stone. This article was co-authored by Sam Adams. Follow this with a wet-dry vacuum, and finish off the job with a wet mop. Always have thinset tested by asbestos experts if you're working in an older home. Scrub the tile surface and the grout with a soapy sponge, making sure to remove any of the thin-set that is not entirely hardened. Could use some suggestions for removing thinset from brick (fireplace, paint, living room) User Name: ... it properly so the brick hasn't been damaged Now I'm trying to figure out the best and easiest way to get the remaining thinset off the brick & the mortar joints. Having done this exact thing recently, I found that using the hard metal brush attachment for the angle grinder worked very well to remove thinset without affecting the concrete beneath it. When replacing tile on drywall it is necessary to prepare the surface so that the new tile adheres properly. Wipe the tiles dry with a rag, then scrub them again with the textured side of a kitchen sponge. Wallpaper. Use a coarse stone for sharpening first. Start with BDM's method with the razor scraper, but to be professional,as this site is, finish it off with a diamond blade grinder, and you can smooth the remaining thinset off the plaster to perfection. Use a putty knife with a sharp blade and a hammer-end handle, a flat-ended handle that can be hit with a hammer. Delicate surfaces, like kitchen walls and wood floors, will require using an angle grinder to gently scrape away the thinset. If you notice your grinder has a smaller one, swap it out with one that is the proper size. To get dried thinset off the top of your tiles, scrub away as much of it as you can with warm, soapy water and a sponge. Vacuum away the dust and then wipe the tiles down with a damp rag. If you're unable to remove all of it, smooth out the surface with an angle grinder and a diamond grinding wheel. I'd lean towards the stiffer bristles. How do you remove thinset from a subfloor? These products can be purchased at home hardware stores. However, if the subfloor is plywood, you’ll probably have better luck with a hammer drill or demolition hammer with a scraper tool attached. Thinset mortar is generally used as the adhesive when tiling a wall. Brush the drywall clean with a stiff brush and wipe off the residue. If the old thinset is bumpy or uneven, you’ll need to remove it before you put down any new thinset. This adhesive is a Portland cement product commonly used in wall and floor tiles. I mean it specifically says thinset on the stupid bucket and it specifically says it's for marble. There are a few ways to do this depending on the tools you have at hand and the size of the project. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Remove-Thinset-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Thinset-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/26\/Remove-Thinset-Step-1.jpg\/aid10157904-v4-728px-Remove-Thinset-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"