Today is part 1 of 2 posts about our kitchen backsplash install. Next week we will cover all about how to install the subway tile backsplash, but right now we want to focus on the first step for this project – tile removal. [UPDATE: Check out Part 2 here to learn how to tile a backsplash!]
Logan is going to be stepping into today for this post…and for the record, you’re going to be hearing from him a little more on the blog front too! As you know, Logan is my other half and my DIY partner. On the projects that he primarily tackles around here, he is going to be writing the posts too. So, take it away Logan!
Kitchen Backsplash – Video Tutorial
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Hi guys, Logan here. If you are installing a tile backsplash in your kitchen, there’s a good chance that you’re going to have to remove the old tile first (like we did). This can seem kind of daunting so, I thought I would really break it down for you.
First, Chelsea says we always have to share before pictures in blog posts, so here is what the kitchen looked like before we got started.
Removing Kitchen Tile Backsplash: Before Pictures
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Supplies needed for kitchen tile backsplash removal:
- Hammer
- Wonder Bar
- Blue Painter’s Tape
- Red Rosin Heavy Weight Paper
- Work Gloves
- Safety Glasses
- Wall Scraper
- Trash Can
How to Remove Tile Backsplash: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Prep your area & remove light switches
You’ll want to clear your countertops and sink. You may want to cover up everything with Red Rosin heavy-weight paper before you get started. We actually used a long piece of cardboard that we moved around with us as we worked our way around the kitchen.
Tile removal is heavy and hard demo work. You don’t want any chips in your countertops, sink, and faucet. Trust me, take the time to prep and protect things now. Because once you get into it, the removal debris is going to be all over your kitchen.
Have a trash can nearby that you can toss your tiles into and be sure to check the weight of the trash can as you go. Tile becomes very heavy quickly, so you’ll need to empty the trash regularly.
My wife is a slave driver so I have super rough hands. I wasn’t wearing any work gloves, but you probably should. Also, don’t forget to wear safety glasses just in case any small pieces fly off while removing tiles.
The last thing you need before you start tile removal is to remove the light switch & outlet covers. These will simply screw off with a screwdriver. Use a Ziplock back for those and put them in kitchen drawers so you don’t lose the little screws or the covers.
Step 2: Start removing the backsplash tile
With everything protected, it is time to do the tile removal. The tile will generally “pop-off” if you can get behind it from the side.
Take your Wonder Bar and get behind the tile, with your hammer if you need to. Next, gently pry the tile off the wall. Almost all of our backsplash tile was removed this way except for a few stubborn pieces.
This saves you a lot of time on the cleaning end. And there will be a lot fewer jagged edges that can cut you very easily.
For those stubborn pieces, it really is just hammering and prying until you get it off, you know that ‘sweat’ equity part.
Step 3: Scrape your walls
Now that your tile is removed, you’ll have leftover mortar or mastic on the wall that needs to be removed as well before you start installing your new kitchen backsplash.
Take your wall scraper and hammer and just start going to town to get the rest off.
Note: we did end up putting down the heavy weight paper on the countertops before we started this part.
The alternative here, if you have green board or drywall up and you don’t want to spend a ton of time scraping, is to just cut out the existing green board and put in new. If you have drywall or green board up and it got damaged in the tile removal process, you may need to replace it.
We have cinder blocks for walls in the kitchen so we really had to just scrap all the mortar off the blocks.
Take the time now to really flatten your surface. Remove any high points you may have. You will need a completely flat surface when you go to install new tile (more on that next week).
That’s it! There isn’t a lot to tile removal, but it is labor intensive work.
You could also take a large hammer and break and chisel the tile into tiny pieces. But I think you’ll find taking some extra time to pry off whole tiles is cleaner and safer. This is pretty important in our house since we have a couple of kids running around the house.
Even if you’re not going to be tackling the new tile installation yourself and you’re hiring that part out – you can still save a ton of money by doing the demo and removal of the tile yourself.
It is definitely an easy DIY project for even a beginner to tackle because you don’t need much experience or access to many tools.
Now that you’ve got all of your tile removed, move on to part 2 of this series to learn how to tile a backsplash!
Are you going to do some tile removal in your house?
Let me know in the comments below!
Related – Other Tile Tutorials:
- Shower Tile Installation Tips and Tricks
- 9 Modern Farmhouse Tile Ideas
- How To Make Marble Coasters With Leftover Tiles
- How To Install Subway Tile Backsplash
- DIY Hamper With Tile Inlay
- Everything You Need To Know About Large Format Tile and 9 Ideas for Large Bathroom Tiles
- How To Demo A Bathroom (Removing Tile Floor Tips and Tricks)
- How To Mix Thinset Mortar for Tile | 5 Beginner Tips Before You Start
- 5 Different Types of Tile Explained
- How To Tile A Bathroom Floor
- What To Do With Leftover Tiles | DIY Tray With Leftover Cement Tile
- Why You Shouldn’t Buy A Cheap Tile Saw
How To Remove Tile Backsplash
Materials
- Painter's tape
- Red Rosin heavy weight paper
Tools
- Hammer
- Wonder bar
- Work gloves
- Safety glasses
- Wall scraper
- Trash can
Instructions
- Prep your area & remove light switches.
- Start removing tile.
- Scrape your walls.
