Removing Ceramic Tile From Wall
In some cases the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel.
Removing ceramic tile from wall. As always remove a section of grout in a starting area then depending on size of tile and if you wish to save those tiles would depend on how you would remove them. This means that it takes more care to remove a wall tile without damaging the surrounding tiles. To remove thinset use a stiff putty knife and some elbow grease to scrape it from the wall. To remove an existing tile use a nail set to mark the surface then drill holes through the tile using carbide tipped masonry bit.
Use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free. Finally chisel away the title with a cold chisel and remove any loose mortar. Once you have removed the tiles you will see there is an adhesive beneath that is either rock hard or semi soft. Ceramic wall tiles provide an easy to clean surface for kitchen backsplashes and bathroom walls.
Since they are available in a wide. I would recomend an oscilating tool or a flat head screw driver to slowly and light get under the tile in an attempt to left it from the thinset. Choose an edge where flooring and the wall come together and start by removing any edgings or moldings. Removing wall tiles is different and more difficult than removing floor tiles because wall tiles are typically set very close together with minimal grout lines.
Removing floor tiles laid on cement board is more work than wall tiles but the methodology is similar. How to remove bathroom tile without damaging the plaster walls. Using a cold chisel and hammer to remove a ceramic tile. How to remove ceramic wall tile without damaging drywall.
The rock hard adhesive will be thinset a cement based product. Bathroom tile is installed to last applied to the wall with adhesive and topped by grout between the tiles to keep them in place.