I'm retiling my kitchen. How do I get the mortar of the walls ?

Question

The old tiles are coming of nicely, but all the mortar stays on the wall. Should I try to get it all off (how?) or maybe leave in on and put the new mortar and tiles on top ?

Answer 1

After installing thousands of sq. ft of tile, I suggest this.

Gently,,,with a hard blade scraper, chip at the mortar. Be prepared to incur some damage to the drywall,,,,if that's the substrate. Repair any major damage you cause, re-mortar when you have new tile at hand, and eventually enjoy the results.

Rev. Steven

Answer 2

You can use a putty knife and carefully chip off the mortar, in a downward stroke. The mortar is only at the tile level and the new mortar should cover the area removed. If the old is flush to sheet rock, removal may take off a little of the paper.
Do you not have a wood base board? And/or shoe molding?

If none, and if new mortar will not cover this, you may have to use shoe molding, 1/4" round.

In lieu of shoe mold, you could use vinyl cove base, with a small toe. It is available in 4" or
2 1/2" ht., and comes in white, black, brown, and pastel colors, 4' lengths. Installed after tile installation is complete. With this, mortar should not be necessary at the wall.
These are also available without a toe, straight, and can be installed before the tile is installed, with the tile/mortar flush to the vinyl cove.

With the toe, it resembles a " t ", without the cross at top.

Leaving the old mortar may not give you a suitable color and desired finish.

Answer 3

PA Biker is right. I've been asked several times, in business, to do that. And that is always the solution that I suggest and have to do. If it's a mastic, sometimes it will just peel the paper a bit. But mortar as you say, I have always had to replace drywall. I'm surprised you got the tile off without damaging the drywall to begin with. Assuming it is drywall. If is backerboard, then yes chisel and elbow grease may do the trick. If drywall, just replace the drywall. Once you start trying to chip mortar off drywall, you will tear up the drywall. Cut around the mortar with a utility knife, remove the old drywall, replace and you just have to mud where new drywall meets old. Unless it is a smooth transition and you go a little farther with tile than before, covering the seam.

Good Luck

Answer 4

If you are doing just a back splash (area between bottom and top cabinets) Just cut out all the old drywall. The time and effort you will put to trying to chip off old mortar is not worth the $20.00 you would pay for new drywall to put up. While trying to chip off the old mortar you will take out large chunks of drywall anyhow. When you install the new drywall you don't have to finish it like normal because you are covering it up anyhow. Plus your surface will be much more even and as always, tile is only as good as the surface you put it on.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

ATTENTION PEOPLE YOU ARE NOT READING THE QUESTION!!!!!
This poor soul has mortar on wire mesh on the wall. It was a mud installation. You have two choices. either remove all the wire mesh with the mortar and resheetrock the walls, or glue the new tile directly to the flat surface of the mortar. But you will need to cap the tile with a mud job cap.