I just finished removing one wall with a hammer and it's very loud (live in a condo) and messy.

They make an attachment for recip. saws that cut thru grout which would then allow for the use of another type of saw which I could use to cut out large pieces, I think???

There is another recip saw attachment that is a scraper that goes under the tile and essentially lifts it.

Which method do you guys prefer?

Much easier to lift tile vs cutting through it. Removal always varies depending on how well it's attached, but generally with tile once you break out a few to get to an edge then getting under the tile works best.

I would think a demo hammer to pop tiles off would work better than a chisel blade in a recip saw. but my preference would be, if the tile is on a proper backer, to put a long wrecking bar under that backer and muscle it all up.

And I'll add that sometimes (especially if the tile was installed correctly) the tile will not release from the backer without destroying the backer. If that starts to happen then you are best off removing a perimeter of tile, then prying both the backer and the tile off. Once the tile starts to damage the backer you will have to replace it anyway.

The tile is attached to drywall - no hardi or durock. I'm taking it down to the studs. My plan was to remove the tiles first and then the drywall would come off easily.
Seems no one here thinks much of the grout removal attachment?

So far, everything has been dry despite not using red guard or a kerdi type system. However, they did use an orange strip of material in the corners which looks like kerdi. This place was built in 1986. Any chance Kerdi was around back then? I'm guessing it was a somewhat recent remodel.

I'm leaning towards the scraper due to less pounding and noise with a hammer.

Total waste oftime.
The grouts not holding the tile to the wall.
Only time you would want to remove the grout is if you had a broken tile or you were removing cracked grout to regroute it.
Your just going to end up making noise for a longer time by just pecking at it.

To follow up, HD had scrapers for recip. saws but they were for lighter applications such as vinyl flooring so I went at it with a crowbar, hammer and chisel.

Half way thru and hating every minute of it!

quote:

Originally posted by vinny186:

Half way thru and hating every minute of it!

Think of the wall as someone who you really dislike. Makes it easier and more fun.