[andyhome]

Hi, I couldn't find a WALL TILE forum so I'm posting my question here.

I need to remove an old tile/ceramic toothbrush holder that is embedded in and sticking out of my wall. The wall is 1920s construction - chicken wire, lathe, plaster and tiles on top.

How can I remove this thing so that the wall is flat?

I don't want to damage the other surrounding tiles. For now I will somehow make the wall smooth where the fixture is, and the plan is that in a few years we will retile the wall completely.

Thanks

 

[miamicuse]

I don't know about this particular ceramic/porcelain toothbrush holder, but I had a ceramic soap dish at a property that looked like this.

This was also mounted on lath and thick set.

It took A LOT of effort to remove. I used a 4.5" angle grinder with a diamond wheel to cut along the outside perimeter of it, but was not able to avoid the overcuts at the corner.

Even after that I was unable to pry it out gently with a pry bar resting on wood blocking over multiple tiles. I end up having to score a large X across the whole thing and pry and chisel from the inside of the X out. It was a lot of cement dust even with dust collection, wetting the cut helps a bit but it was pretty messy.

The soap dish I have has a protruding ceramic stub on the back side the sets into the wall. Something like this.

You might want to leave it until you retile.

 

[andyhome]

Thanks. I'm not trying to save the fixture for reuse ... I just want it gone and the wall flat because i am changing my sink faucet from double know to single faucet. Besides todays' toothpastes don't fit into those slots.

I guess I could take a hammer and chisel to it but figured there might be some ways I could drill it apart...

 

[HandyAndyInNC]

That is mounted to the wall with light weight concrete, and possibly a center pin or bolt. You will break it when you try to remove it. Shame, that is a very nice historic piece.

 

[chandler48]

See the answers here, too. Duplicate post. https://www.diychatroom.com/f80/removing-ceramic-built-toothbrush-holder-686069/

 

[andyhome]

Yes. I posted it here first and then realized it was under Flooring but couldn't figure out how to move the post.

The piece is nice but it was already once broken and the previous owner sealed it very nicely ... but it's not mint.

I realize there'll be a gap just was wondering how to go about it.

 

[ClarenceBauer]

See if you can locate a Carbide Grit Hacksaw ROD.
Use it with out the hacksaw frame tape the surrounding tile for protection & work the blade by hand through the mortar joint it may take a couple of blades also use some water to lube the blade.

 

[zircon]

Feeling lucky?
Tap a wooden wedge between the tile and the left hand side of the fixture. It should pop off. The wedge should support the tile on the left and the cam action will hold in the tile on the right.
Two minute job.

 

[andyhome]

My comments are in the duplicate thread. Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[jeffnc]

Yeah, follow the suggestions in the order from easiest/least destructive to most. If you're lucky, it wasn't installed very solidly and will pop off. If you're not, it's the diamond grinder for you, with its inherent riskiness.