Removing tile glue

Apr 21, 2016
12:28 am

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has tips on how to get the tile adhesive off plaster walls so that its smooth enough to re-tile?

I had fun with a little jack hammer

Thanks in advance.

Beetaloo

Apr 22, 2016
1:33 pm

If it is an old bathroom the tiles generally are small and were fixed with thin bed adhesive.
If retiling with large tiles, just use a wide notched trowel over the ribs of the old adhesive (assuming they are less than 2mm high.
However don't forget to install a new waterproof membrane to present day standards.

Stewie D

Apr 22, 2016
2:17 pm

Lots of elbow grease , a hammer, an old wood chisel, paint scrapers and whatever else you can use to remove it. Some old glues really do stick very well and you should aim to remove as much of it as possible so the new glue has a good chance of bonding well to both plaster wall and tile.

Stewie

Beetaloo

Apr 22, 2016
2:27 pm

Quote:

and whatever else you can use to remove it.

Don't do this at home, but I have found my old belt sander with a 40 grit belt is quite effective.

greengumby

Apr 22, 2016
4:35 pm

Stewie D

Lots of elbow grease , a hammer, an old wood chisel, paint scrapers and whatever else you can use to remove it. Some old glues really do stick very well and you should aim to remove as much of it as possible so the new glue has a good chance of bonding well to both plaster wall and tile.

Stewie

Beetaloo

If it is an old bathroom the tiles generally are small and were fixed with thin bed adhesive.
If retiling with large tiles, just use a wide notched trowel over the ribs of the old adhesive (assuming they are less than 2mm high.
However don't forget to install a new waterproof membrane to present day standards.

Perfect will give that a shot.... maybe not the belt sander

The bathroom tiles are not that old ~15yrs

Andinds

Aug 30, 2016
6:16 am

Beetaloo

If it is an old bathroom the tiles generally are small and were fixed with thin bed adhesive.
If retiling with large tiles, just use a wide notched trowel over the ribs of the old adhesive (assuming they are less than 2mm high. buy phen375 http://ohdivinehealth.com/phen375-reviews/
However don't forget to install a new waterproof membrane to present day standards.

changing tiles is really exhausting. we recently changed ours for about three months if i am not mistaken. we actually did what you suggested just exactly what you advised and it make the tile easily attached on the wall without any marks or stains at all. i thinkan appropriate use of adhesive is really a big thing.