How to Remove stone Kitchen Tile

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Figuring out how to remove a kitchen tile is a simple process if you know how to do it correctly, but it is more than just pulling out the cracked tile and snapping in a replacement.

A properly grouted kitchen tile floor acts almost like a single sheet of flooring. Simply hammering out the tile causes a chain reaction that would damage all the surrounding tiles and create more work than is necessary. The following steps on how to remove a single kitchen tile will guide you down the right path.

The materials you will require to successfully accomplish the task of how to remove a kitchen tile are: a grout saw, hammer, chisel, a cloth, vacuum, matching replacement tile, adhesive, putty knife, trowel, grout, grout float, and sponge.

Cutting the Grout
First, isolate the tile by cutting away the grout connecting it to the surrounding tiles. This step is the most tedious to accomplish, as the job of grout is to solidify like concrete to strengthen the integrity of the tile floor.

The older the grout, the easier this will be to remove. This can be accomplished by using a grout saw or an electric rotary cutting tool (recommended considering the amount of time this step takes). After all the grout is removed, move to the next step on how to remove a kitchen tile.

Removing the Damaged Tile
Lay a cloth over the damaged tile and hammer to break it into smaller pieces. A cloth is needed to protect the rest of the floor from cracking from the vibrations. Wearing gloves, remove the broken tile pieces until all that remains is the old adhesive under the tile. Use a chisel to remove the adhesive without gouging the floor beneath.

Vacuum up all adhesive fragments and repeat the chisel process until the floor is completely clean. This step on how to remove a kitchen tile is vital, as a new tile won??t stick properly if the floor is not bare.

Setting in the Replacement Tile
Take your replacement tile and spread new adhesive on the back using a putty knife. Use a trowel to smooth the adhesive across the entire back surface so that no corner is forgotten. Set the tile into the hole where the old tile used to be and tap it gently into place with the soft handle of a hammer until it has adhered to the floor.

Allow it to dry for 24 hours. The next day, press grout around the edges of the tile using a grout float, and then wipe the area clean of excess grout with a sponge. That is how to remove a kitchen tile and replace it properly.

More Tips
A few closing grout removal tips as you follow the steps on how to remove a kitchen tile:

Patience is key when removing the grout surrounding the tile. All the grout must be removed, not just a simple cut separating one tile to the other.

Take care when removing the grout from the edges near the good tiles. Damaging those edges could mean needing to replace those tiles as well.

Do not fret. Removing grout is nott an exact science so an extra damaged tile can sometimes pass if it is not cracked. Just take care and watch what you are doing.

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