What is the best way to steam off tile adhesive

How many times have you heard the saying fail to prepare and prepare to fail and this is certainly true when it comes to tiling your bathroom, kitchen or a floor. Probably the most important part of preparation when it comes to tiling is to ensure that your new tiles are applied to a surface that is not only flat but also clean and free from grease. 

If you are tiling in a new build or a recently constructed extension this should be a relatively straightforward process. However, in most cases if you have moved house and want to update your kitchen or bathroom you will have to remove the existing tiles. However, removing the old tiles is just the start of the process you are then faced with the challenge of removing the tile adhesive. 

The kind of adhesive that was used during the original job along with the type of material the wall is constructed from will usually dictate how hard it will be to remove the tiles from the wall. While certain types of adhesive can be removed fairly easily others are likely to need much more effort.  

However, before you start to panic it is worth noting that in most cases removing tile adhesives is fairly easy provided you follow some simple instructions and make use of the correct tools for the job. 

What Basic Tools do I Need to Remove Tile Adhesive 

As we mentioned above preparation is a key component when it comes to successful tiling and that includes making sure you have everything you need before you start. Let’s face it there is nothing more frustrating than getting half way through a job and having to stop because you don’t have the right equipment. So we have put together a list of everything you need to remove tiles from a wall. You should always have: 

• Protective sheeting
• A bucket of warm water
• Clean cloths and or Sponges
• A good quality scraper
• A suitable steamer
• Personnel Protective Equipment such as gloves and face mask 

Removing Existing Tile Adhesive

Our advice would be that you identify a small area to test prior to purchasing an off the shelf tile adhesive remover from your local DIY store. These contain chemicals that can be unpleasant as well as making a dent in your budget. 

There are two methods that are usually effective when it comes to removing most types of adhesive which are warm water and steaming. While the most stubborn adhesives may require you to use a commercial tile adhesive remover it is important to look at the benefits of using an alternative method wherever possible. You will often find that the more simple DIY solutions are the best option. One thing that is a definite no no though is the use of heat guns to remove tile adhesives, as the residue in some cases can be extremely flammable. 

Warm Water 

The first of these methods we are going to look at is warm water. In many cases the application of warm water will loosen the adhesive meaning that tiles can be removed much more easily. 

• Put your protective sheeting on the floor beneath the area to protect it from any residue that comes off the walls,  
• Soak your cloth with the warm water.
• Apply warm water to a small area of adhesive making sure it is enough to dampen it without any run off. 
• Let it sit for a bit, then gently scrape off the adhesive, making sure to keep the blade parallel to the wall to avoid any damage. You might need to leave the cloth on for a longer period to be effective or repeat the process a few times.
• Once the mortar starts to soften, scrape off the adhesive using a 4” scraper or a wallpaper stripper.
• You will need to this process over and again until you remove all the tile adhesive.  
• Once this is completed clean up any residue from the floor or hopefully your from your protective sheets

Steam 

If the tiles are not loosened enough by the water the next thing we advise is to try steam. If you read DIY blogs you will see that they recommend you using a wallpaper steamer. Now there is nothing wrong with this however there are some disadvantages. For example not many people already own one and they are can be expensive to buy or hire.  

If you don’t want to spend the money to hire or buy a wallpaper steamer then you could try using an old steam iron or and this would be our preference a hand held steam cleaner. This type of device is relatively cheap to buy at between £30 and £50. 

Not only will they help you remove tile adhesive but are exceptionally good when it comes to cleaning discoloured grout, bringing a shine back to shower hoses and taps and getting rid of grease stains from fabric along with other day to day household cleaning jobs.  

When you use a steamer to remove tile adhesive the best approach is work in small areas so that the softened adhesive does not harden again before you can remove it. Remember you should always be patient when removing tile adhesive as not rushing will generally mean the job gets done much quicker. 

Hopefully the information contained in this blog post will leave you better prepared if you are looking to retile any part of your home.