How to Remove Tile Countertops

If you have tile countertops, you may be interested in replacing them with a more up-to-date counter material. Tile countertops can be very beautiful, but they can also be difficult to maintain. It is challenging to keep the grout from staining, and the tile is prone to chipping and cracking, leaving the countertops unsightly. The first step in replacing them with something more suitable, of course, is to get rid of the tile, but that can be challenging as well. Here, we explain how to remove tile countertops, taking out the old to make way for the new.

Assess Your Tile

If your tile is thin-set onto plywood, it may be easy to chip off the countertops. However, if you have thick set mortar, you may feel daunted by the task of removing it. The first step will be to take off the edging and assess the layers with which you will be dealing. You are likely to have tile, then adhesive, in thickset mortar, over wire mesh, a paper layer, and plywood, before you ever get to the countertop. All of those layers will need to be removed, to install the new countertop material of your choice, like granite or quartz.

Gather Your Tools

There are several tools that you are likely to find useful when dealing with tile removal. These include small and large hammers, a flat screwdriver, putty knives, two utility pry bars, a crowbar, a punch, and, last but certainly not least, safety glasses and gloves. You will also need to wear clothing that protects you from shards of tile, and put down tarps or otherwise protect the floors. The floor must be protected because tile and mortar will be flying all over the room. The debris can be placed in cardboard boxes for safe handling.

Getting Started

Begin by taking off all the tile around the edges, using putty knives, a flathead screwdriver, and the claw end of a hammer. Take care to remove the tile in sections, because it will be heavy. Use the punch and hammer to make a crack in the grout lines. After exposing the edge, drive in the utility pry bars about a foot apart, then work the crowbar in between them. As you see the section start to lift from the counter, push it further up with your crowbar and break it into large pieces. After that, you will have to move paper, and perhaps some wire mesh before you get to the plywood layer. Sometimes, the plywood is held down to the counter with nails as well as glue, and that will create the need to lift it carefully so that you don’t damage the countertops.

Is There a Back Splash?

If you have a backsplash of tile, going up the wall a few inches, you will want to remove that as well. That may be directly glued to the drywall and could be difficult to remove. Removing the tile carefully, you can use a putty knife to remove the adhesive. Sometimes, the tile is affixed to a piece of drywall that is attached to the wall. If that is the case, remove as much of the drywall as possible, then wet the rest with a spray bottle and scrape it carefully away from the wall.

You Are Almost Ready for New Countertops

Be prepared for a significant amount of tile debris and drywall dust. There will be a few more steps before installing your new countertops. However, taking off the tile is a major step towards having the kitchen of your dreams, and you will feel a sense of accomplishment once you have all of the tile removed.

Call Signature Marble and Granite for New Countertops

Of course, if you are not much of a do-it-yourself type, you don’t have to remove your tile countertops yourself. Instead, you can let the professionals take off your old counters and install your new ones, quickly and efficiently. For professionally installed countertops, contact the team at Signature Marble and Granite for a free estimate, and we will send a team to you for a more precise consultation. We are committed to doing the right thing for our customers, doing each job as it should be done, and providing each customer with a pleasant experience. Once we’ve installed your gorgeous new countertops, we’ll provide you with a one-year limited warranty, to give you peace of mind. A local Utah company, we take pride in helping you select the perfect countertops that you will enjoy for many years to come. Contact us today for your free estimate and consultation.