I am remodeling a 1980’s bathroom. Owners want to save the unusual oval Italian tiles, which means I cannot remove and replace the bathtub because taking it out would involve losing a substantial amount of those tiles. Bathtub seems to be acrylic, not cast iron and has a quarter size chip in the finish. Is there a product I can use to patch the chip? Also, there is a bulge in the wall, which indicates possible water damage due to cracks and gaps in the grout. So I must remove some tiles, but then put them back. Any suggestions for removing the tiles without cracking them? PLUS, even more importantly, how can I remove the old mortar from the back of the tiles so I can re-use the tiles? Thanks.
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Contact an acrylic tub supplier and ask for s specialist that does tub repairs. They can make that chip disappear.
A thin flat pry bar (red devil or Hyde) is a good tool to "pop" those tiles loose.
An angle grinder w/diamond blade done with care will remove old thinset from the backs of those tiles.
best of luck.
The chip in the tub can probably be repaired. Ask a few plumbers to find a good repair guy. Or get something like the Bondo tub repair kit and have a shot at it yourself.
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To remove the tile you first need to remove the grout between the pieces. Best tool for this, if the grout lines aren't too narrow, is a MultiMaster with the abrasive blade. Once the grout is removed you have a shot at getting the tile loose, or you can cut all the way through the backer (whatever it is) to free the tile.
If the tiles have a mastic type mortar on them we soak them in water and it seems to help soften the mortar. like the other poster said, you have to get the grout out first, this lets the tiles move a bit and not bind on the other tiles.