Removing Wall Tile From Cement Board

Hammer the chisel until it breaks through the grout.

Removing wall tile from cement board.

Work the chisel between the tiles and the concrete hammering them up with a 2 lb. Two honey badger demo forks attack tile and cement board that has been screwed down to the subfloor. Please see description for important information. These pieces should break off fairly easy.

Lifting up the shovel from underneath will break the cement board and the grout holding the tile so you can remove it. Strike the face of stubborn tiles to break them up for easier removal. The homewyse tile removal calculator uses industry. Strike the end of the putty knife gently with the hammer.

See typical tasks and time to remove tile along with per unit costs and material requirements. Always wear safety glasses when removing ceramic tile. Masonry chisel and a 2 lb. Since backer board is relatively inexpensive it s not normally worth.

Use a 3 4 or 1 in. Hold a narrow chisel about the same width as the grout lines or slightly smaller against the grout. Now you ve created a small opening where you can slide a flat bladed shovel under both the cement board and the ceramic tiles. In some cases the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel.

The cost to remove tile starts at 2 08 3 67 per square foot but can vary significantly with site conditions and options. Start at a broken tile or between tiles where the grout has loosened. Once the grout is removed from around a tile try to pop the tile off the cement board by driving the stiff putty knife under the tile at a low angle. It is difficult to remove tile from a cement backer board and even more difficult to avoid damaging the board in the process.

Continue chipping until you have removed the trim pieces and have exposed the top edge of the flat tile. Tilt the chisel to a 60 degree angle once. The blade of the putty knife should be nearly parallel with the floor. Get fair costs for your specific project requirements.

Chip the grout along the grout lines use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free. Put the chisel along the top edge of the tile trim and hammer down. Work the chisel under the tiles forcing them loose.