Removing A Ceramic Tile Backsplash

I spent my weekend removing the ceramic tile backsplash from our kitchen.  I started doing it last Thursday, smashed my finger with the hammer and quit.  I continued on Saturday.  Other than a little bruising, my finger is just fine.

I am no expert when it comes to removing tile.  I just thought I would share with you how I did and what worked for me.

 This is what it looked like.  The tile goes behind the stove too.  I took this photo before I had painted the wall above the tile.  The wall is now a nice antique white.

Make sure you have the correct tools for the job.  These are the ones I used.

I used the rubber mallet to pound the end of the paint scraper behind the tile to loosen it from the wall.  I then used the claw end of the hammer to pull the tile off. The pointy chisel like tool I used to chip at the grout.

 

It's always helpful when you get the paint scrapper stuck!  Took me awhile to pull it out.   There may or may not have been some swearing involved.

I would recommend removing the outlet covers first.  I did not do this on the first one.  When I pulled a tile it took the outlet cover with it and broke.  That's okay because I planned on getting new covers anyway.   However, considering they are screwed to the outlet I could have pulled the outlet out of the wall and that is not cool!  Nor is it very safe.

 This area is where the stove usually sits.  We have to pull it out so I could get behind it.  Removing tile is extremely messy.

 

After the tile was down, the hubs cut the back of the counter-top off.

Why?  Because we (meaning the hubs) is going to tile the counter.  There will be a row of tile to replace it.  I'll have to live with it for a few weeks........we still haven't chosen a tile yet.  Really have to get on that.

I had to hold the pieces of tin while the hubs cut the holes for the outlets.  The tool he was using is very noisy so he let me wear his ear protection.  Now that's a fashion statement.

Here's a sneak peek of the new backsplash.

 I absolutely love it!

Thanks for visiting.