How to Remove Ceramic Wall Tiles Without Damaging Your Walls? 

Removing ceramic wall tile is a difficult task, and you should not attempt it without adequate experience. Removing wall tiles requires careful handling, and if the tiles are not removed properly, they may be damaged or even cause health problems in the future. 

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Luckily, it is possible to remove ceramic wall tile without destroying your walls. However, you will need to have an adequately prepped wall and be prepared to sand, re-plaster and seal the wall as you work. 

Start by removing any dust sheets that have been covering the tile. Gather up any pieces that have fallen to the floor and dispose of them carefully by placing them in a cardboard box or trash bag. The small bits of ceramic tile can kick up a lot of dust and may cut you, so be sure to use safety glasses and a mask to avoid breathing the dust. 

Next, if the tile is set in thin-set (a type of cement) or mastic (an adhesive), you will need to break it up. This may require the use of a ball peen or masonry hammer and a cold chisel to tap the piece free. 

Before you begin, soaking the old tiles in a bucket of water is often useful to help soften up any adhesive that might be holding them onto the wall. The water will also make it easier to scrape off the adhesive. 

Once the adhesive has softened up, sand the tile to smooth out any roughness. A good quality sandpaper will help, but be aware that the coarser the sandpaper, the more likely it is to damage the tile. 

Now that the tile is completely removed, you will want to take a look at the drywall beneath the tile. You might need to sand it down or cover it with a joint compound before applying paint or wallpaper. This will prevent the drywall from getting too sloppy during the process of removing the tile. 

Then, grab a putty knife and run it along the entire surface of the drywall, taking away any remaining adhesive that might be holding the tiles to the wall. Depending on the adhesive, this might not be an easy job to do. 

You might need to do a few passes over each spot on the drywall. You can also use a sander to lightly smooth down any areas that were damaged during the removal of the tile. 

It is always a good idea to test any new adhesive before installing it in the bathroom, as you never know what might be wrong with your wall. It might have an odd color or texture, or it might not hold well to the surface. If you find that it is not holding up, it is likely best to redo the entire wall. 

Once the drywall is cleaned, it should be ready for new tiles to be placed on it. You might want to sand the wall down and repair any holes that occurred during the tile removal process before you lay down the new tiles.