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re-using tile? quick answer needed

19 years ago

When you are patching a tile job can you re-use any unbroken tiles? If so how do you remove all the gunk that is left on the back of the tile? I have found a similar tile but it is just a little smaller than the tile which is there currently, so the old tile would fit better if we can make it work.

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Comments (2)

Brewbeer
19 years ago
An angle grinder with a masonary wheel will remove thinset mortar from the back of a tile.

If you've got mastic, you might try soaking in water for a day or three and using a putty knife.
User
19 years ago
We removed old mortar from the back of "vintage" (circa 1900) tiles by soaking them in a 3:1 water/vinegar mixture. We put the tiles in plastic totes and poured in 3 gallons of water and one gallon of white vinegar and let them soak on the deck for 2 or 3 days. The mortar came right off when we touched it (and some of the tiles had a lot of mortar on them!).

sandyponder
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