Can I reuse porcelain tiles?

Janell Moore
by Janell Moore
I refaced my fireplace using porcelain tiles and thin set. Then I learned that I should have used mastic. Can I take them down and scrape off the thin set?
  7 answers
  • Edie Pfeifer Edie Pfeifer on Dec 26, 2017

    you would likely break most of them in the removal process. I do not understand why you can't use thinnest. What will happen if you leave it? If it was me, I'd just wait to see how it holds up. Looks beautiful, nice job.


  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 26, 2017

    You've got it stuck onto the surround, and you managed to not have the thinset sag..... so you achieved your goal, it looks great and should hold just as long as mastic. Leave it be. They are both tile adhesives.

    • See 1 previous
    • Sharon Sharon on Dec 27, 2017

      Is it still wet? if so, push back into place if possible, and tape it to support it, and place a couple 2x4s cut to firebox opening to support the stones over it.

  • Bijous Bijous on Dec 26, 2017

    As long as your thinset included a latex additive, you're fine. Mastic, being organic, is not best around opening of fireplace.

  • William William on Dec 26, 2017

    It looks amazing and a great job. Thinset always works better with large tiles. If it's holding then leave it and see how it holds up. Edie and Sharon are correct. Why fix something if it's not broken.

  • Janell Moore Janell Moore on Dec 26, 2017

    I forgot to mention that the tiles are sagging and pulling away from the cement board. I apolog I did not mention that.

    Given new information do you think mastic would work better?

  • Edie Pfeifer Edie Pfeifer on Dec 26, 2017

    ah yes, that makes a difference. I'm wondering what you resurfaced over? If it's uneven that could be the problem, more so than the thin set. Have you used thin set successfully before on other projects? You may not have put it thick enough, or may not have troweled the necessary grooves. If some are tight, and holding well, how about just replacing the ones that have fallen off? If all are loose and coming off easily, then I would say yes, you could reuse them after cleaning off the thin set. A wire brush may help. Be sure they are completely dry before re setting.

  • William William on Dec 27, 2017

    Gravity is your problem. Thinset is correct to use on cement board. You would have the same problem with mastic. Realign the tiles and use painters tape to hold them in place until the thinset dries. One thing to remember is with large tiles to apply the thinset on the substrate, but also to butter the back of the tiles. This creates a suction effect for the tiles to grab and hold.