How do you make walls good after removing tiles?

To make walls good after removing tiles, you need to clean, assess the damage, and then apply appropriate repair materials like plaster or specialized fillers to create a smooth, sound surface ready for painting or re-tiling.

Preparing Walls After Tile Removal

Removing old tiles often leaves behind damaged walls, ranging from minor adhesive residue to significant gouges and holes. The key to making them good again is proper preparation and repair.

Initial Assessment and Cleaning

Before any repair work, thoroughly clean and assess the wall:

• Remove Debris: Scrape off all remaining tile adhesive, grout, and loose plaster. A sturdy scraper or chisel can be effective. Ensure the wall is free from any crumbling material.
• Clean the Surface: Wash the wall with a sugar soap solution to remove dirt, grease, and dust. Rinse thoroughly and allow it to dry completely.
• Assess Damage: Carefully inspect the wall for cracks, holes, divots, and areas where the plaster or drywall paper has peeled away. This assessment will determine the repair approach.

Repairing Wall Damage

The method for repairing the wall largely depends on the extent of the damage.

For Minimal Damage

If the damage is primarily superficial, such as slight indentations or small missing patches of plaster:

• Plaster Application: According to experts, if the damage is only minimal, you should plaster the thickness then apply a coat of plaster. This builds up the surface gradually.
• Finish for Re-tiling: If you are planning to tile over the repaired wall again, "you don't need to get a perfect finish as eventually you're going to tile on top of it." The new tiles will cover any minor imperfections.
• Skimming: For a smooth finish for painting, apply a thin skim coat of finishing plaster over the entire wall surface after patching the deeper areas.

For Thicker Fills and Larger Voids

When dealing with deeper holes, large missing sections of plaster, or significant unevenness:

• Specialized Fillers: If the background requires a somewhat thicker fill, products like Easyfill are highly recommended. This type of product can be purchased from most building suppliers.
• Layered Application: For very deep voids, apply filler in layers, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next, to prevent cracking and ensure proper curing.
• Patching with Drywall/Plasterboard: For extremely large holes, it might be necessary to cut and fit a piece of drywall or plasterboard into the void, securing it before plastering over.

Step-by-Step Wall Repair Process

Here’s a general sequence for repairing your walls:

1. Preparation: Clean the wall as described above, ensuring it's dry and free of loose material.
2. Prime Deep Areas: For very porous or dusty areas, or where old adhesive was removed, apply a suitable primer or bonding agent (like PVA diluted with water) to ensure proper adhesion of the filler or plaster.
3. Fill and Patch:
   • For small holes and cracks, use a spackle or all-purpose filler.
   • For deeper gouges or larger areas, use a patching plaster or a specialized thicker filler like Easyfill. Apply with a plastering trowel or putty knife, ensuring it's slightly proud of the surface.
4. Leveling and Smoothing: Once the filler or plaster has dried, use a sanding block with medium-grit sandpaper (e.g., 120-grit) to smooth out any high spots and blend the repaired area with the surrounding wall.
5. Fine Sanding: Follow up with fine-grit sandpaper (e.g., 220-grit) for a smoother finish, especially if painting.
6. Dust Removal: Wipe down the entire wall with a damp cloth to remove all sanding dust.
7. Final Prime (if painting): Apply a coat of primer-sealer to the entire wall before painting. This ensures uniform absorption of paint and a consistent finish. If re-tiling, a primer may also be beneficial for tile adhesive bond.

Essential Tools and Materials

To effectively make your walls good again, you'll need:

• Scraper/Chisel
• Stiff brush
• Buckets
• Sugar soap
• Sponge/cloths
• Dust sheets
• Safety glasses and gloves
• Plastering trowel or putty knives
• Sanding block and sandpaper (various grits)
• Spackle, patching plaster, or specialized wall filler (e.g., Easyfill)
• PVA (diluted) or wall primer
• Measuring tape (if cutting drywall)
• Utility knife (if cutting drywall)

When to Seek Professional Help

While many wall repairs are DIY-friendly, consider hiring a professional if:

• You discover significant structural damage (e.g., severe cracks, moisture ingress).
• The entire wall surface is severely damaged and requires extensive re-plastering or drywall replacement.
• You are unsure about the extent of the damage or the best repair method.