Removing wall tile adhesive

duncan32

Hi all,

This is more plain old advice than moneysaving, sorry!?!?

I have retiled my bathroom walls and floors. One section, we decided to leave it for a bit of paint to break the room up. However, I had already put the adhesive on (and the tiles) and removed them and then stupidly left the stuff to dry on the walls - for a few days!!!! - while getting on with the rest of the room.

Now I have come to paint and got to that section, well, it don't want to come off very happily!?!

Has anyone got any advice on the best way to remove this, please? I assume something like soaking it before scraping....?

Thanks in advance!

Duncan

Alan_M_2

If you used a ready mixed tub adhesive, then the first thing to try is your suggestion of wetting it, use soemthing like one of those garden spray things. Give it a few thin coats allowing it soak in thoroughly (an hour or so) than use a paint scraper.

If this doesn't work it's good old fashioned elbow grease.

bigchasbroon

duncan soaking wont do anything, but might damage the wall if it is plaster board. I have tended to just remove plasterboard and replace it as it easier. if its on a plastered wall then a hammer and chisel or bolster will do the trick but make a mess so you will need to smooth over with some plaster.

might have been better leaving the tiles on

Wig

Why not plaster over the adhesive and paint it when smooth and dry?

duncan32

Thanks people.

Its a proper wall, so won't do any damage? I think I'll go with the wetting it option and a bit of elbow grease to get it off. Then smooth over any damage. How easy is plastering then? Only a little bit of wall to be honest. Need to be an expert? If its quite easy I might just plaster over all of it like wig suggested...

Thanks.

Duncan

Alan_M_2

It won't damage a wall as long as you're careful with the amount of water used, what make was the adhesive and does it mention if it's acrylic or not on the tub?

cheekymole

a wallpaper steamer did the trick for me

duncan32

It was ULTRAPROSTICK HG Superior High Grab Ready Mixed Wall Tile Adhesive.

Doesn't mention if its acryllic.

Any thoughts on ease of plastering?

Duncan

Alan_M_2

Personally I've never found plastering easy, worry abot that if the stuff doesn't come off, and cheekymoles Idea des work well.

Just having a quick look at the spec your adhesive is internal only and not waterproof, so with a small amount of soaking it sould easily scrape off.

duncan32

Cool, thanks all.

I'll post how I get on, if you're interested!

Cheers.

Duncan

duncan32

One more idea - well, the wife just had it to be honest!!!

How about simply putting more tile adhesive on, and smoothing over the whole lot. Then painting over that? Sort of like a poor-man's plastering? I think that would be really easy and quick to do. Whether the paint would take on it is another matter. And would it just go all mouldy or something?
Any opinions on this? Cheers!

Duncan