How to tile a previously painted besser brick wall?

[jeld]

Hi. I want lay subway tiles over a previously painted besser brick wall in my laundry. My question is about how to prepare the wall. I assume the paint will need to be stripped back before I put any tile adhesive on the bricks. What would be the best method to do this and clearly I can't get the paint out of all the little holes in the besser brick surface. How far do I need to go? Do I need to remove the paint at all? Also what would be the best tile adhesive at bunnings to use?

[JacobZ]

Hi @jeld,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Unfortunately, you are going to have to strip the paint back before tiling. This is because the tile adhesive would bond to the paint as opposed to the wall beneath. This means the tiles are relying on the adhesion of the paint to the wall. Speaking with our tile adhesive suppliers, they have informed me that this is not a method of installation they are willing to recommend.

My suggestion is to use Tricleanium Paint Stripper alongside a Trojan Knife Wall Stripper to remove as much of the paint as you can. You might like to check out How To Remove Paint for some guidance on this process. Ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for application and wear a mask, gloves and protective clothing while using the paint stripper.

It would be extremely difficult to remove the paint that has leeched into the small holes in the besser brick and grout. Do your best to remove as much paint as possible, but don't fret over tiny bits of leftover paint.

Once you've removed as much paint as possible, I would advise using Dunlop Mastic Tile Adhesive to attach your tiles to the wall.

You might like to check out How To Tile a Splashback and How To Tile A Laundry Splashback for some guidance.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob