How to remove adhesive from back of tile?

[tilereophonics]

Doing a job just now where I have to remove tiles from around a bath, the tiles were stuck onto plywood but haven't settled straight so will have to come off.
Going to replace the plywood with Marmox underlay, but want to re-use the same tiles because they were expenive, just wondered the best way to remove the adhesive?

Help appreciated, cheers!

 

[White Room]

What adhesive was used, powder or dispersion

 

[Alan.P]

A scraper and or angle grinder

 

[tilereophonics]

powder

 

[Fred]

Powder, a little tickle with the angle grinder. A shame it was not tub adhesive, soak in a bucket then scrap.

 

[doug boardley]

if it's dispersion (tubbed adhesive) you can put them in a bucket of hot water for 15 mins and the adhesive will soften enough to just scrape off.

 

[tilereophonics]

looks like a long job ahead then! Great!

 

[hillhead]

the grout around the edges can be a pain too:dizzy2:

 

[tilereophonics]

the grout is the easy part i think lol

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Good luck, rather you than me.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

The way I read it is you've got to get them 'expensive' tiles off the plywood first!
That will be fun - then if they've used the right adhesive (powdered flexible) you've gor to use grinder to get that off the tile!
As others - Have fun!

 

[Alan.P]

Time to maybe way up man hours against cost of tiles ?

 

[heavytrevy]

If it is a D1 formulation no probs, dosent work for the newer D2 stuff.(water resistant )


Trev

if it's dispersion (tubbed adhesive) you can put them in a bucket of hot water for 15 mins and the adhesive will soften enough to just scrape off.

 

[beanz]

Rather you than me i think.. Good luck with it though.

 

[RockCeramics]

If you place each tile (1 at a time) onto a workbench/workmate protecting the face of the tile to prevent scratching, clamp tile to bench and grind residue off with either a grinding stone or dia blade. As Alan P noted weigh up the costs of
(A) replacing tiles. to
(b) removing tiles carefully, as not to damage any + removing addy and grout,& the time to clean up, plus any tools you need for task.
Very costly and messy.

 

[Peter]

Nippers are great for removing grout off the sides.

Would tend to agree though, think I'd give the job a miss unless there were fresh tiles for it.

 

[notts_1980]

I had to remove the adhesive from the back of a couple of tiles I wasn't happy with after I installed them.

They were laid with Mapegrip D2, I just did what I have done in the past;
put then in a pan of boiling water for a few minutes then scrape it off the back.
Worked a treat.

 

[White Room]

Or in the oven at 6 and bake for two hours:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Tile Newbie]

Hello all.

I am a total newbie to tiles and this should not be considered advice - just my experience.

I tried soaking tiles in hot water ans it did make the adhesive softer, but still hardwork. I tried putting them on an old baking tray and baking them in the oven for 1/2 hour hour at 220 degrees C, and the adhesive just fell of like crumbling cement. It took me about 2 minutes to clean each tile with a chisel once it was hot.

I advise your open the windows to your kitchen before doing it, as the process makes a smell much like soldering copper pipes together.

Thanks to all for putting this post up, as it was your advise that has lead to this HUGE time saving for me. Many thanks indeed.

Newbie.