How do I remove tiles without breaking them?

Removing tiles can be messy and time consuming, but there are some simple steps you can take to make your life easier. Here’s our top tips for removing wall and floor tiles without breaking them:

1. Use a heat gun or hair dryer to help soften the grout. This is a time-consuming process, but it’s well worth effort
2. Next, use a knife to cut any silicone or paint surrounding the tiles. Then, use a grout cutting tool to scrape the grout away until you reach the wall. This will help isolate the tiles, allowing you to focus on removing one at a time
3. The first tile is usually the hardest to remove – we recommend starting from the outer edge and working inwards.
4. Tap the corner of the tile to see whether there are any loose edges that are already coming away from the plaster. Then, slide a chisel or putty knife behind the tile and hit it lightly. The tile should then pop off whole. If it doesn’t, you will need to apply firmer pressure.

Top tip: make sure you wear safety glasses and gloves to protect your hands and face. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, tiles will break during the removal process. Broken tiles can fly across the room and they tend to be very sharp.

Also, we recommend preparing the room first. Take everything out of the room and tape down plastic sheeting to try and contain the dust.