How to Remove Kitchen Tile: Floor and Backsplash Removal Guide

By Lee Godbold & Christian Fowler ·

Kitchen tile removal is two different projects depending on which surface you’re tackling. Floor tile is heavy, physically demanding work with a significant debris pile. Backsplash tile is lighter work that requires more precision to avoid wall damage. Both are manageable DIY projects with the right approach.

Before Starting: The Asbestos Question

Kitchen floors — check the tile date. The classic 9×9 inch resilient vinyl tiles from the 1950s through 1970s commonly contained asbestos. If you have those tiles (or suspect you do), have them tested before removal. Breaking or sanding them disturbs asbestos fibers.

Even if the tile itself is ceramic (not vinyl), black mastic adhesive used under tile in pre-1980 homes sometimes contained asbestos. If you see a dark, tar-like adhesive layer, test it before grinding.

For ceramic or porcelain tile in post-1980 homes: proceed.

Part 1: Kitchen Floor Tile Removal

What You Need

The Process

Step 1: Score the perimeter and find a starting edge. The easiest entry point is along a wall, where you can work the scraper under a tile edge without fighting adjacent tiles. Score the grout line along the wall with a utility knife or oscillating tool to break the surface bond.

Step 2: Work the scraper under the tile. Long-handled floor scrapers are designed for exactly this — drive the blade under the tile at a low angle and pry up. Tiles set in thinset will often crack rather than come up whole. That’s fine.

Step 3: Remove thinset from the subfloor. After tiles are up, the subfloor will be covered in thinset ridges. This must come off before any new flooring goes down. Options:

For large areas, rent the floor grinder. It’s much faster and produces a flat surface.

Step 4: Inspect the subfloor. Once clean, look for: warped or damaged plywood, soft spots indicating moisture damage, and loose sections that need screwing down before new flooring installs. Address these before laying anything new.

Floor Tile Debris Volume

A 200-square-foot kitchen floor generates roughly 400–800 pounds of debris between the tile itself and the cement board or thinset-covered subfloor material. This is the heaviest common DIY demo debris.

Plan for:

Part 2: Kitchen Backsplash Tile Removal

What You Need

The Process

Step 1: Score all grout lines. Before removing any tile, score the grout lines with a utility knife, grout saw, or angle grinder. This separates the tiles from each other and reduces the chance of pulling adjacent tiles off when one pops.

Step 2: Work the oscillating tool at the grout line. The oscillating multi-tool with a scraper or bi-metal blade can get into the thinset layer between the tile and drywall. Work slowly at the bottom edge of each tile, driving the blade horizontally.

Step 3: Pry — don’t pull. Use a putty knife or drywall knife rather than grabbing the tile and pulling. Pulling tears drywall paper. Prying under the tile separates the adhesive bond without pulling the wall face off.

Step 4: Accept some drywall damage. Even working carefully, you will pull some drywall paper and surface material with the tile. That’s normal. After all tile is removed, fill gouges and tears with joint compound, let dry, sand, and prime before the new backsplash goes in.

Consider replacing the drywall section entirely if damage is extensive. Cutting out a damaged section of drywall and replacing it is often faster than trying to skim coat a badly damaged surface.

Backsplash Debris Volume

Much lighter than floor tile — a standard backsplash generates 30–80 pounds of debris depending on the area. This fits in a few contractor bags and is easy to transport.

Disposing of Kitchen Tile Debris

Drop at county transfer station: Ceramic and porcelain tile is accepted at NC county convenience centers as construction debris. Floor tile loads are heavy — call ahead to confirm weight limits for your county and get current fee information.

Junk removal: Cost-effective if you’re bundling multiple renovation debris at once. Describe the load accurately when calling — tile debris is priced by volume but weight matters for heavy loads.

Dumpster rental: Best option for multi-room or multi-phase renovations where debris accumulates over several days.

Don’t attempt to bag kitchen tile debris in standard household trash bags. They tear. Use heavy contractor bags rated for construction debris, and don’t fill them more than half-full for manageable lifting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove kitchen tile myself?

Yes — kitchen tile removal is a standard DIY demo project. Floor tile is more labor-intensive than backsplash tile because of the volume and the thinset that needs to be ground off the subfloor. Backsplash removal is less physically demanding but requires more care to avoid drywall damage. Budget 4–8 hours for a kitchen floor, 2–4 hours for a backsplash.

How do I remove kitchen floor tile without damaging the subfloor?

Use a floor scraper or oscillating multi-tool to work under the tile at the grout lines rather than hammering from above. Tile set in thinset will likely take some subfloor material with it — that's normal. The goal is minimizing the damage, not eliminating it. Large ceramic or porcelain tiles are more subfloor-friendly than small mosaic tiles, which require more aggressive chiseling.

Do I need to remove all the thinset after tile comes up?

Yes, if you're installing new tile. New thinset won't bond properly to the high spots and ridges left by old thinset. Rent a floor grinder with a diamond cup wheel — it's the fastest way to flatten a thinset floor. Plan 1–2 hours for floor grinding after all tile is removed.

Is it safe to remove kitchen tile if the house is old?

Check the date. Vinyl floor tile from before 1980 sometimes contains asbestos. The 9x9 inch vinyl tiles common in 1950s–1970s kitchens are a known risk. For ceramic and porcelain tile, the tile itself is not asbestos-containing, but black mastic adhesive from that era can be. Have suspicious adhesives tested before disturbing them.

How do I remove a kitchen backsplash tile without destroying the drywall?

You may not be able to fully — tile set with construction adhesive bonds to drywall paper and pulls it off when removed. The trick is scoring the grout lines deeply first, then using a oscillating multi-tool at the grout line to separate tile from wall without tearing the drywall beneath. Work slowly and accept some skim coat repair as part of the job.

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