How to Remove Kitchen Backsplash? (Detailed Guides and Ideas)

Home and kitchen renovations must be done on our own because it is more economical and it will be done with utmost passion. 

When it comes to renovating your kitchen, the first thing you can notice is the backsplash. After many years of looking at the same backsplash, you want it removed and replaced with a new design.

So, in this article, we will guide you on how to remove your kitchen backsplash along with tips and guides to do it in the best manner.

How to Remove Kitchen Backsplash?

There are two ways in which you can remove your kitchen backsplash. You can either remove the backsplash by damaging the drywall and replacing the tiles along with new drywall or just remove the backsplash without damaging the drywall. You will just need simple tools like a paint scraper or chisel and a hammer to remove your kitchen backsplash. If you are removing without damaging the drywall, you can simply replace the new backsplash on the existing drywall. Otherwise, you have to replace both the tiles and drywall.

Let us now understand how to remove kitchen backsplash with both methods and find out how to replace the kitchen backsplash too.

Methods to Remove Kitchen Backsplash

As we discussed earlier, there are two ways in which you can remove your kitchen backsplash:

• Without damaging the drywall
• Replacing the entire drywall along with the backsplash

Removing Backsplash Without Damaging Drywall

This is the most economical and simple method to remove and replace your kitchen backsplash. This method involves removing just your backsplash gently without damaging the drywall at the back. Due to this, you need not replace your drywall and you can reduce cost and labor significantly.

Here are the tools and the procedure you must follow to remove kitchen tile backsplash without damaging the drywall at the back.

Tools Required:

• Chisel or Paint scraper
• Hammer
• Safety Goggles
• Safety Gloves

Procedure:

• First of all, wear your safety goggles and gloves to protect any damage to yourself.
• Spread a plastic sheet on countertops and floor to collect the dust and to reduce the mess.
• Now look for weak spots in your backsplash. Usually, you can find them in the corners or ends of the backsplash.
• Using your chisel or paint scraper, place it on the caulk or grout of the weak corner and gently tap your hammer on it.
• This will weaken the mortar and your backsplash will start loosening from the drywall.
• Once it loosens up, try to move the chisel around and weaken the backsplash from the mortar.
• Eventually, the tile will remove itself from the drywall along with the thinset mortar stuck to it.
• Once you remove one backsplash tile, proceed to the next tile in a similar fashion.
• Only the first tile will take some time to remove. The removal of the first tile will weaken the adjacent tile and you need not have to struggle.
• But you must be very gentle in using the chisel and hammer. Because we aim to remove the tile without damaging the drywall.
• Proceed gently tile by tile to remove the entire backsplash set from your kitchen drywall.

This is how you must remove your kitchen backsplash without damaging your drywall. 

But at times, you can find the backsplash to come off along with the drywall damaging it. There are several reasons for it and we shall discuss it now.

Reasons for Drywall Damage While Removing Kitchen Backsplash

• The use of heavy force to chisel the backsplash tile will damage the drywall for sure.
• If the caulk or grout is applied very thick, it might be difficult to remove it from the drywall and it will eventually damage it.
• If you had placed the backsplash very long back, then it will become very hard to remove it from the drywall which might cause damage.
• If the drywall has become weak due to age, then it can also lead to damage while chiseling it out.

Therefore, if you damage the drywall accidentally or due to any of the above reasons while removing the backsplash, then proceed to the next method. 

Removing the Backsplash along with Drywall

In case the first method led to the damage of drywall, you can use this method to remove the tiles.

Things to Consider before Removing Backsplash and Drywall

• This method is not economical since you have to invest in a new drywall, cutting tool, new backsplash, and all the pastes required to place the drywall and backsplash tiles.
• Be cautious while cutting through the drywall. Because you may damage the framing at the back of the drywall.
• Do not use force to pry the backsplash from the wall. Because you might damage the frame if it is weak or old.
• Remove all the electrical plug points and sockets from the wall before removing the wall or backsplash. Also, it is safe to turn off the circuit breaker to avoid any contact with electrical wirings.
• Make sure to spread a plastic sheet on the floor and countertop to reduce the mess.

Tools Required:

• Chisel or Paint scraper
• Hammer
• Oscillating Multitool (To cut drywall)
• Safety Goggles
• Safety Gloves

Procedure:

• Wear safety goggles and gloves to protect yourself from damage.
• Using the oscillating multitool, cut the caulking and grout on your backsplash.
• Make sure to cut the perimeter of the backsplash without damaging the countertops or the cabinets.
• You can cut through the drywall without any worries since we are focused on removing large pieces of the backsplash tile. But don’t cut the frame behind the drywall.
• After cutting through the grout and caulk, use the chisel and hammer to pry the backsplash away from the wall.
• Don’t worry if the tile breaks into pieces or the drywall comes off in large chunks. We will be replacing the drywall with a new one.
• Remove the entire backsplash along with the drywall and cut any remaining pieces stuck to the framing.

Once you removed the backsplash and drywall from the entire area, you can now install and replace the new backsplash onto the kitchen wall.

Conclusion

If you are passionate about renovating your kitchen, then replacing the backsplash is the primary thing to do. It is easy to do it yourself and you can perform it with simple tools available in your home. We have now understood how to remove your kitchen backsplash in the best manner. We will also find out how to install new backsplashes in your kitchen in another post.