Are you getting ready to do a new kitchen backsplash, but need to do some tile removal first? In this post, we'll walk you through the basics how to remove tile backsplash and prep your area to install a new kitchen tile backsplash.

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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How to remove tile backsplash: a step-by-step tutorial on how to remove kitchen backsplash tile

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

Before picture of a kitchen with dark cabinets, granite countertops, and a tan kitchen backsplash

A view of the kitchen sink with dark wood cabinets and a tan tile backsplash

This post contains affiliate links, but nothing that we wouldn’t wholeheartedly recommend anyway! Read our full disclosure here.

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

Before removing tile backsplash, make sure to remove all light switch panels

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.

Removing tile backsplash in the kitchen is messy work, so make sure to prep the area well

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.

Removing backsplash tile in the kitchen with a crow bar and hammer

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.

After removing all the backsplash tile, it's time to scrape down the walls to remove all the remaining adhesive

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).

A look at a messy kitchen after removing kitchen tile backsplash

That’s it! There isn’t a lot to tile removal, but it is labor intensive work.

A closer look at a smooth kitchen wall after the tile backsplash was removed

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!

Man using crow bar and hammer to remove tile in a kitchen with text overlay that says tile removal tips & tricks

How To Remove Tile Backsplash

Active Time: 1 day

Total Time: 1 day

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $25

Are you getting ready to do a new kitchen backsplash, but need to do some tile removal first? In this post, we’ll walk you through the basics how to remove tile and prep your area to install a new kitchen 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.

Tile Removal: Kitchen Backsplash Part 1

Kitchen Backsplash – Video Tutorial

Removing Kitchen Tile Backsplash: Before Pictures

Supplies needed for kitchen tile backsplash removal:

How to Remove Tile Backsplash: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Prep your area & remove light switches