Peel and stick tiles are a lifesaver for DIYers. They can transform the look of your home in no time with little effort. Removing them should be simple too, right? But this isn’t always the case.
In our article, we’ll tell you how to remove peel and stick tiles in four steps. We’ll also answer any burning questions you may have about this easy DIY solution.
To remove peel and stick tiles, apply heat to the surface, carefully lift the tiles from their corners one by one, and scrape away any extra glue.
Simple! Removing peel and stick tiles should be easy as long as they were installed well and are not water damaged.
How Long Do Peel And Stick Tiles Last?
Today, peel and stick tiles last a long time, and this is why removing these tiles can be difficult. Peel and stick tiles tend to last for at least five years, but a few factors will affect how long peel and stick tiles last.
The product quality will of course have the largest impact on longevity. If you are not looking for a quick and easy solution, then it’s worth buying high-quality peel and stick tiles. How thick the tiles are is also another good sign of quality.
A lot of peel and stick tiles are unsuitable for humid or damp environments where they will come into contact with water. Before you buy peel and stick tiles, check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
4 Steps To Removing Peel And Stick Tiles
To remove peel and stick tiles you’ll need a hairdryer, heat gun, or iron, a wide-blade pry bar, and a rubbing mallet. Adhesive remover and baking soda is optional.
Heat The Tiles
Peel and stick tiles are stuck down like double-sided sticky tape, but they have a stronger and stickier adhesive. When removing peel and stick tiles, try to lift every tile up without breaking it. This will make your job a lot quicker!
If you want to remove lots of tiles, you should consider using a heat gun or iron rather than a hairdryer. A hairdryer may break your tiles or overheat them.
You can use a heat gun the same way you use a hairdryer. Make sure not to scorch the tiles as the fumes may be dangerous.
To avoid dangerous scorching, you should place a towel over the tile when using an iron. It should take 1 minute to melt the adhesive (depending on the thickness of the tile and which heating method you use).
Lift The Tile From The Corners
Once the glue is soft, it should be easy to lift the corners of a tile using a chisel or a pry bar.
Work from one corner to the next, carefully lifting the tile from the floor. If you’re too forceful the tile might break, especially if the tile is brittle and old.
You can speed up this process by taking the flat end of the pry bar or chiseling and hammering it under the tile at a 40-degree angle until you lift the whole tile. Be careful not to gauge the floor or wall!
Continue The Process
Continue the process until you’ve removed all the tiles. It’s better to take a methodical approach (such as from left to right), disposing of the tiles you’ve lifted.
If you notice a big blob of glue on your floor or wall, pick up your scraper and try to scrape the glue off while it’s still warm. A strong piece of cardboard or old timber is excellent for removing glue from your scraper.
Remove Any Excess Adhesive
Once you’ve lifted every tile and disposed of them, you now need to focus on what’s left. After all, your next steps will determine what you do with your tile-free room.
If you are covering the floor or wall, you don’t always need to get rid of every last bit of adhesive.
Still, you will need to get a pretty smooth surface. It’s best to concentrate on any large lumps of glue and remove them with a scraper.
Meanwhile, a gentle sanding should remove small glue spots. You should refill any patches or holes with an appropriate filler.
Some people like to scatter some baking soda on the floor before vacuuming.
This blots out any extra stickiness before they install new flooring. We recommend doing this if you are laying carpet, click-fit laminate, or new peel and stick tiles.
If you want to lay down ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles or any flooring that needs wet adhesives, you will need to make sure the surface is non-porous and dust free.
This means you can’t use baking soda. You will need to remove any excessive adhesive with a scraper tool and a high-quality glue remover instead.
Do Peel And Stick Tiles Harm Floors?
You can usually remove peel and stick tiles without causing a lot of harm to the surface underneath. Issues are often due to poor installation or extra adhesive being unnecessarily applied to the surface.
You may also find problems if the surface has experienced water damage. This occurs when a significant amount of water settles below the tiles.
Removing peel and stick tiles without damaging the surface all depends on how sturdy the subfloor was in the first place. A level, dry subfloor with no dust or weak spots should not suffer damage when removing peel and stick tiles.
Any damage to your floor should be small and easy to resolve with basic filler. You can apply this with a trowel or putty knife. Most builders recommend that you apply a small layer of levelling compound before installing a new solid floor.
Conclusion
Removing peel and stick tiles is difficult sometimes. But we hope our guide on how to remove these tiles has made the process so much easier.
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