Removing Mortar From Concrete Wall

How to remove wall tile mortar and wire mesh.

Removing mortar from concrete wall. Mortar is a cement based paste that is used for binding building materials like bricks tiles and stones. Mortar is a calculated mix of portland cement hydrated lime sand and water. Delicate surfaces like kitchen walls and wood floors will require using an angle grinder to gently scrape away the thinset. But if you pull up old tiles it may be something you will have to contend with.

The mortar used to install ceramic tiles creates a fast and strong bond between the tiles and the installation surface. Once dry the mortar turns into a material that s as hard as concrete. Concrete mortar walls are created from a combination of wire mesh or chicken wire attached to the wall studs on top of a layer of plastic sheeting. More sturdy surfaces like concrete or other tough materials can be treated with stronger methods either using a hammer drill or a putty knife.

An easy solution is to let the mortar dry and at the end of the project clean the mortar off the wall with muriatic acid. Multiple applications used in conjunction with mechanical means may be necessary f or removing stubborn or thick built up areas. A hammer drill mounted on a saw horse seems to be the quickest way. Today we learn how to take thinset off the floor with a nifty contraption i made.

If you try cleaning off the mortar while it is still wet it just smears on the stones. Concrete mortar dissolver can be used to remove dried on cement concrete mortar or stucco from most surfaces. But i just watched a youtube video on cleaning thinset off of a floor and they used a bosch 1773ak concrete grinder that looks like what i need. Removing this mortar after removing the tiles can be a labor intensive messy process.

If you re using brick or cement blocks for a project that still has the mortar around it it needs to be removed. Sakrete concrete mortar dissolver is a safe environmentally friendly product f or cleaning dried. When building a stone wall or other stone projects it is almost impossible to avoid getting mortar on the stones where you don t want it. Removing mortar from concrete slab floor can be tricky.

See how i mounted it and watch the cleaning in action. Removing old mortar from concrete slab i have a bosh 1753 7 angle grinder and a small dewalt 4 angle grinder.