How To Remove Thinset From A Tile Face (Step-by-Step Guide)

Home remodeling or renovation can be an expensive endeavor. You could end up spending somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 to have your home remodeled. Saving money whenever possible would be ideal.

You can do so by recycling some of your old tiles. By handling and cleaning them up properly, the tiles can be fit to use again inside your remodeled home.

Remove thinset mortar on tiles by using water, a sponge, and a good amount of pressure to scrub the thinner layers away. If the layers of mortar are on the thicker side, use white vinegar instead of water and scrub again. For quicker removal of the thinset mortar, you’ll have to soak the tiles in a container full of muriatic acid.

The process of removing thinset mortar is one you cannot take lightly. At the same time, it’s an important one to engage in if you want to save money. Read on to see how you should tackle this particular task.

Thinset mortar is used in homes across the country, but there’s a chance you may not know much about it. According to The Spruce, thinset mortar is made from Portland cement, silica sand, and a variety of moisture-retaining agents.

One of the main reasons why this type of mortar is used so often is because of its moisture resistance. You can use it to hold shower floor tiles with no issue whatsoever. It will even prevent the growth of unsightly mold because of how well it handles moisture.

Feel free to use thinset mortar in locations where it will be exposed to water often. Even warm water will not weaken the hold of thinset mortar so go ahead and take those hot showers.

Homeowners can also purchase thinset mortar pre-mixed if they so desire. Doing so will cut down on the time they’ll need to spend applying tiles to their bathroom or kitchen.

As you can see, there are many reasons why thinset mortar is a preferred household adhesive. Don’t be surprised if it’s also present inside your home. It’s also why learning about how to remove it properly is so important.

Probably the number one reason why many homeowners want to reuse tiles is because it’s a good way to save money. We touched on it earlier, but home renovation projects really can be pricey.

On top of that, remember that surprise repairs may also be needed. In the process of renovating your home, you or your contractor may spot a problem that wasn’t visible before. If enough of those pop-up, the budget you prepared may not be enough to cover everything.

The cost of retiling a shower or bathroom alone can cost around $2,000 on average, according to Home Advisor. You can cut down on that expense by reusing your old tiles.

To get started, you’ll need to prepare the cleaning equipment. You’ll need some water, white vinegar, muriatic acid, and a sponge. A plastic container that can hold the muriatic acid, a stick for stirring, and a brush will be required too.

Since you’ll likely have to use muriatic acid, it’s important to get your hands on some safety gear. Pick up a respirator, some safety gloves, and goggles at a minimum. To be extra safe, you can also buy some boots and overalls.

The thinnest layers of thinset mortar are the easiest to remove. According to Hunker, all you’ll need for this task are water, a sponge, and some patience.

Start by dampening the thinset with water and allow the liquid to seep into the mortar. Once the water has been given the chance to soak the mortar, you can start scrubbing it away with your sponge. Put some elbow grease into your scrubbing to remove as much of the mortar as you can.

Fill the plastic container with around five gallons of water and then carefully pour a cup of muriatic acid in there. Stir the mixture carefully with a stick.

Now, grab the tiles and place them into the muriatic acid and water mixture. Allow them to soak for at least five minutes, according to SFGate.

Once the five minutes are up, remove the tiles from the water. You should now be able to remove the remaining mortar by scrubbing them away.

Related Questions

How Do You Remove Thinset Mortar from Concrete?

In order to remove thinset mortar from concrete, you’ll need some heavy-duty tools. A hammer drill equipped with a tile chisel can work. You can also rent machines that specialize in removing mortar from concrete floors that are usually available at hardware stores.

How Do You Remove Thinset Mortar from Brick?

Removing thinset mortar from brick surfaces will require using a chisel. You’ll have to be careful while chipping away at the mortar so as to minimize the damage done to the brick surface.

How Do You Remove Thinset Mortar from Wood?

The process of detaching thinset mortar from wooden surfaces will also require the usage of tools. More specifically, you’ll need a chisel and a sharp-edged scraper.The chisel should be enough to take out the softer pieces of mortar. The scraper will come in handy when the time comes to remove the thicker pieces.