Tile adhesive ensures a strong hold of the tiles on the wall. It is all the more difficult to remove if you accidentally find tile adhesive residue on the front of the tiles. However, it is still possible if some factors are taken into account and the correct procedure is followed. We give practical tips on how it can work.
safety
When the tile adhesive has hardened, it is not easy to completely remove all residues. Both the mechanical procedure and the use of chemical agents are difficult and involve certain dangers. It is therefore important to take appropriate protective measures.
These include:
safety goggles
During the mechanical removal of the tile adhesive, individual pieces can come off. Protective goggles should be worn so that these do not literally catch the eye.
gloves
Contact with the solvents used can severely irritate the skin. It is therefore important to wear rubber gloves.
Possibly respiratory protection
A lot of dust can develop during mechanical removal, which means that breathing protection is necessary
Possible aids
If the adhesive has not yet hardened, water, washing-up liquid and a rough, hard sponge are often sufficient. In other cases, however, more tools are needed.
The following items, among others, are required for mechanical removal:
- rough sponge
- Steel wool or wire brush
- Planes, spatulas, ceramic field scrapers
- Screwdriver or chisel and hammer
Depending on the type of tile adhesive, the following agents, among others, can be used for chemical removal:
- Stripper for emulsion paints
- Cement film remover
- Hydrochloric acid-water solution
Chemically remove tile adhesive
The use of chemical solvents is a comparatively simple and safe way of removing adhesive residues for the tiles. Eyes, skin and
However, airways need urgent protection. In addition, as mentioned, the room must be well ventilated in order to keep the exposure to vapors as low as possible.If these security measures are guaranteed, proceed as follows:
1. A special paint stripper for emulsion paints is applied specifically to the adhesive residue and left to act according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then the adhesive is worked on with a rough sponge, steel wool or a brush.
2. If the paint stripper does not remove everything, the process can be repeated. If there is no improvement, cement film remover can be used. First, however, all residues of the paint remover should be washed off thoroughly and with plenty of water.
3. The cement film remover is then applied to the tiles, left to act and the tile adhesive residues are then removed by hand. If this agent does not work either, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and water can be used.
To use the acid mixture, 30 percent hydrochloric acid is selected. Three parts of the acid are added to one part of water. The acid is added to the water and never the water into the acid. Because pouring water into the acid can cause severe splashing. Mixing should be done outdoors. It is also very important to protect the skin, eyes and airways from contact and vapors. The application process does not differ from the process already described.
Remove tile adhesive mechanically
In many cases, chemical removal will not be sufficient to completely remove the tile adhesive from the face of the tile. The chance of success depends on the one hand on the curing time of the adhesive. The longer this time had to dry, the more
he is harder and more persistent. If the chemical agents do not have the desired effect, the removal can be carried out mechanically. This works best on tiles with a very smooth surface. In order to avoid damage to the tiles, the respective aids should first be tested on an inconspicuous area or on remaining tiles.
With the aids mentioned above, such as steel wool or spatula, the residues are now removed piece by piece. The use of a grinding device is also possible. The removal usually requires a lot of effort and patience. In addition, there is a risk that scratches or welts will appear on the tiles or they will crack. In case of doubt, a specialist should therefore be commissioned to remove the adhesive residue.
time
The faster the glue is removed, the easier it is to clean. Because fresh tile adhesive residues are not yet fully hardened and can usually be removed with a hard sponge, washing-up liquid and water or the appropriate solvent. After laying new tiles, you should immediately begin to remove the adhesive residue. It is beneficial to go from row to row and remove residues while laying. This avoids the problem that the tiles may not be stepped on while they are drying.
Tip: In order to identify the adhesive residue and to remove it thoroughly, the tiles should be checked under different incidence of light. It is useful to use a flashlight and illuminate the tiles from different angles. Even small residues are quickly and easily noticed.
