How difficult is it to pop off a row of tiles in a shower surround and replace with decor tiles?

Question

Have a plain white shower and I want to replace a row with decoritve tiles. Is it hard to do?

Answer 1

taking down...peice of cake...prep and replacement and choosing the right thinset for walls, not so much... not really a joe homeowner task...sorry. on that, i would get a pro

Answer 2

Depends how well they are stuck - often its quite easy the only problem is that the grout between the tiles can be stronger than the bond to the wall - one tile can pull the next one off with it, and it is not that easy to cut the grouting out without damaging the glaze of the ones you want to keep. You might be able to source identical white tiles to have as a standby in which case it would be worth doing. A row like you are thinking of can lift the whole room - i put in a row at half height in a plain white bathroom (the one row cost more than the rest put together).

Answer 3

Actually what you want to do should be pretty easy. You will need a grout saw $5.49

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pr...

First saw out the grout around each tile. I am assuming you have standard 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 white tiles. You will find sawing the grout out to be fast.

Next lay some paper or a sheet in the bottom of the shower to help with cleanup.

Use a hammer (wear safety goggles) and use minimum force hit the center of one of the tiles that you removed the grout from around. Once you have one removed it should be a matter of using a METAL putty knife and "chiseling" them out. Removing the grout took away the force being dispersed and potentially cracking other tiles.

Clean the old mastic or thinset off the surface. Use new mastic to set your tiles into place & grout using UNSANDED grout if you joints are 1/8" or smaller & SANDED if larger. Lowe's has these all the items in the flooring department.

Time involved for one row of deco's in standard shower about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.

Good Luck

Scott

http://www.wheresmydrink.com

Answer 4

not very hard but time comsuming

you first break the tile you are replacing in the middle with a hammer,

then carry on breaking it from the middle to the outside,

if you try from the outside of the tile the impact will break or crack the adjoining tiles,

as long as you take it slowly you should be ok.

Answer 5

Couple things 1st..  Determine if your on a cement backer of some kind or rt on drywall.. On dry wall I wouldn t try it you ll rip more dry wall out than you ll save, If your on cement (board or a mud wall ) score all grout as far down as possible. Having plenty of blades for extra. You l dull them fast. Gently and slowly chip out tiles working from outside in.Make sure your deco s or liners are smaller than what you take out too.Get the rt grout for what your putting back in too  GL