Ceramic Tile Mural Problem

ALOHA TIM: I had a mural painted (and fired) on eight 8" ceramic tiles for a 16" x 36" backsplash in back of my stove. It is surrounded by 1/2" x 6" border tiles.

This ceramic tile mural is meticulously placed, glued up on drywall with Q-set Mastic 6500, an acrylic-based mastic. It is not yet grouted. Unfortunately, our tile installer was a friend here on vacation from the mainland who house-sat while we were on the mainland. We returned Monday. He installed the mural wrong, and I am not sure how it happened. I had laid it out for him before we left.

I'm trying to figure out what to do. Here are the options I have at this time:

1) The artist is willing to come here and paint three tiles to look like they go together and she uses a good paint. She says it won't last forever. I'm not sure she can create the balanced effect she originally had (whales, turtles, dolphins, coral) with a patch job.

2) Remove the tiles and whatever does break, she can do new tiles and have someone else install them.

I don't know if we will end up with having to do some sheetrock work or not. I have very few of the original backsplash 2-1/4" white tiles (original backsplash was two rows of these tiles) in case removal of the mural causes tile damage to the adjoining backsplash. The original backsplash continues on the back wall on both sides of the stove. I do have more border tiles. Do you have any suggestions? Mahalo, Gail Jackson, Lanai, HI

DEAR GAIL: You are in great luck since the tile was not yet been grouted. You can salvage each tile without breaking them, if you take your time in the removal process.

You are going to ruin the drywall in the process, but it is a small price to pay. Since the tiles are larger 8 x 8-inch ones, I assume the grout joint lines are large probably between 1/8 and 1/4 inch. The first thing to do is to take a razor knife and cut through the paper facing of the drywall around each individual tile.

Once you have done this, take a hand-drywall saw or a rotary-powered-drywall-cutting tool and cut through the drywall around each tile. You will need to cut carefully so that you do not cut into any wires or plumbing pipes behind the drywall. Have someone help you as you finish the final cuts around each piece, so that the tile and drywall does not fall into the wall cavity or onto the countertop.

Once all tiles are cut out of the wall with the drywall attached to each one, place them in a bucket or several buckets of water and allow them to soak overnight. This soaking period should soften the drywall so that it can be easily removed from the back of the tile.

Once you have scraped the softened drywall off the back of the tile, apply an adhesive remover to the tile to soften the mastic. Scrape as much mastic off as possible, but don't worry if some remains on the tile.

Repair the drywall and start again, but this time, stay in the house and assist with the installation to ensure each tile is put in the right spot.

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