How to Remove the Good Mortar Around Your Ceramic Tiles

The mortar between tiles, also known as the grout, it an essential material that holds a tiled surface in place. If the mortar between your tiled surface is showing wear, it could be a sign of a larger problem. While mortar that is water damaged or weakened is easy to remove, undamaged mortar can be slightly more difficult. With the proper tools, however, you can remove the good mortar between your tiles so you can re-mortar the walls and repair the ceramic tiled surface.

Things You'll Need

• Lever-type can opener
• Vise
• File
• Wire brush

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Press the tip of a lever-type can opener firmly onto the mortar between the tiles.

   • 2

     Apply firm pressure to the mortar as you draw the can opener down and follow the line of mortar. Raise the tip of the can opener back to your starting point and repeatedly scrape the mortar downward until it is removed.

   • 3

     Sharpen the edges of the can opener once it dulls by clamping it into a vice and running a metal file over the notched edges.

   • 4

     Clear out the remaining bits of mortar by running a stiff wire-bristled brush along the mortar lines.