We’re no strangers to removing unsightly trees — real ones have been removed from our yard more than once — but this time the trees took the form of bathroom tile. During our home inspection, we were warned about a few dead or dangerous trees near the house, and pulling them out was a big part of our front-yard transformation. Removing the tile border in our bathroom, however, was a new kind of challenge.
We’d never loved the beige-on-beige look in that bathroom. Most of it blends into the background, but the tree border around the room draws attention no matter what. The same tree sketch repeats on every tile along all four walls, and it made the room feel dated and overly themed. Every time we opened the door we started humming that opening chant from The Lion King—so much so that we joked we could soundtrack the project with it.
Tile isn’t permanent, though, and replacing a handful of tiles is a practical option. We’ve cut out and swapped tiles before when they were cracked or just not our style, so this felt doable. After considering our options, we decided to replace the tree border with clear glass subway tiles. These glass tiles have a glossy, reflective finish that modernized the space without clashing with the bathroom’s palette. They’re clear in person and pick up the room’s colors, which helps them blend with the updated white and off-white elements we’ve been adding, like painted trim and a swapped-out toilet.
We found the right glass subway tiles at a local tile shop. With a 10% discount code we use for projects, we spent about $50 on enough tile to redo the entire border, which felt like a great value. Shopping was quick aside from coaxing a toddler away from the showroom displays; she loved crawling in and out of the fake showers and even lying down in them.
The tile itself was inexpensive, but the project required a tool capable of removing the old grout and tiles: a Dremel-style oscillating tool with a grout-cutting attachment. The tool and the special head ran about $130, which we justified as a shared gift for household use — something that would be useful beyond this one project. It has multiple attachments and has already helped on other projects around the house.
We started cautiously. The grout-cutting attachment oscillates rapidly, so we fitted it, put on safety glasses, and followed the grout lines slowly. The attachment did a nice job breaking up grout without aggressively damaging the surrounding tiles, which made slipping less disastrous. The grout gaps also provided a natural guide, helping keep the cut straight and controlled.
Removing the tiles wasn’t instantaneous. After cutting the grout around our first tile, we expected it to lift easily, but it chipped and broke more than popped free. A shard struck my neck and left a small cut, a reminder to wear protective gear at all times. Thankfully, both of us had safety glasses on and avoided any eye injuries. With a bit of careful prying, tapping the edges with a flat-head screwdriver and light hammer taps, John managed to get under the first tile. Once it began to lift, the rest followed with less resistance.
As we pulled tiles away, it became clear these had been applied over drywall instead of cement backer board. That’s not ideal for long-term durability in wet areas, but since this wall sits beside the toilet and not in the shower, we decided it wasn’t worth tearing down and replacing the backer board right now. The removal process did make a mess, though: dust and tile fragments scattered across the floor as the tiles came off.
Subsequent rows came off more easily, likely due to differences in thinset adhesion between drywall paper and cement-based surfaces. Cutting the grout remained the most time-consuming part of the job, but we kept at it and made steady progress. By the end of one toddler nap — about two and a half hours — we had removed the entire tile border. We swept and wiped the room down and took a celebratory break, pleased to have completed that stage of the refresh in a single afternoon.
Removing tile within a single nap window felt like a victory. The room needed a final tidy before tiling could begin, and we planned to tackle the installation next. The cleanup and the removal left us excited about how the new glass subway tiles would change the room’s atmosphere, breaking up the beige monotony and adding a clean, modern touch. We’ll share the tiling and finishing steps once they’re complete.