Have you considered adding the new tile on top of the existing tile. Unless the existing tile is attached very poorly its going to take the sheetrock with it. Then all the sheetrock will need replaced. What a mess in that nice kitchen.

Hi, gzec. Yes, I've asked about that; most likely the drywall will come off too. It will be a mess for sure.

bill, thank you. This sounds like the right recipe.

There are several brands of multitrools now that can help you remove grout/thinset/mastic along with the tiles.

Below it the cheap brand, about $60. Fein, Bosch, SDears, and several other companies make more expensive models.

Here is a link that might be useful: HF multitool

"There are several brands of multitrools now that can help you remove grout/thinset/mastic along with the tiles."

Not worth the effort.

If the tile is on drywall, just cut at the top and bottom and remove it in larger pieces.

If it is on cement board a hammer and chisel will pop it off.

Be sure to protect the counter.
Pieces of 3/8 inch plywood would not be out of line.

Thank you both. We don't have a tile saw if we want to saw it off. It is on drywall. Do we need an actual tile saw? There is grout at the top and bottom.

I'll go with Brickeyee's method...quicker, faster, easier.

Most of all its the better one.

Use a proper carpenter's knife or a lino knife to cut along the bottom and top then use a drywall saw to come down each stud. (buy a couple or three drywall saws, you will need them) You only have to smack out the tiles that are in the way of the up/down cuts. Less broken tile bits flying about, the better.

(I'm assuming you don't have power tools...me, I'd tape/cover/protect the counter top, etc*. and use a recip saw with short blades...those blades will have Demo stamped or marked on them, wood blades won't work very long)((Actually the Demo blades may not either, depends on if its mastic or thinset right now))

I'll also back up his suggestion to lay ply or at least hardboard on the counter tops.
*I'd also bag the upper cabs, paper the lowers and use a movable sheet of ply or board right under where I was actively smacking tile, lean this up against the lower cab faces, between you and the cabinets. I'd have the floor covered with paper and mover blankets in that order at the least.

Then a sheet and a half of cement board re-installed where the drywall used to be, set your electrical boxes back in, thin set, tile, grout, caulk, done.

Going over the old drywall is not a long term fix.

Two day affair and that only to allow the thinset to set up overnight. If you spring for modified thinset with accelerated dry time you could do it in a long day. I know mastic works but I use thinset anywhere water is present. Even a backsplash.

A tile saw is for cutting tile before installing.

The tool I mentioned would be for removing the stuff still left on the wall after all the tile has been removed.

It will not cut tile, but will cut mastic/grout/thinset off the drywall. Particularly the kind you mentioned at the top and bottom of the tile.

Or, you can try to hammer/chisel that off the same way you do the tile.

thank you, thank you, thank you.

Its going to be messy no matter how you proceed.

Plastic off the doorways, open a window if you have one and place a box fan blowing out in it. Sweep carefully, the debris is abrasive.

Don't use your home vac to suck stuff up, either a proper shop vac with drywall filter or buy a cheap one and treat it as disposable.

Bag or cover everything you can, especially appliances.

Work with thought. Think like a dust mote or a piece of flying grit. Be one with the process, lol.

Go slow as you take down all your protection stuff, don't shake the debris out of it in the kitchen, eh?

I will tell you this, the feeling of satisfaction that will come over you is priceless. I still get it after many, many renos.

Do plan out how you are going to obtain finished edges, along the new tile/backsplash junction; along the backsplash/under cabinet junction and where the tile runs out at windows, hood vents, end of wall areas, etc.

"...a proper shop vac with drywall filter or buy a cheap one and treat it as disposable."

Do not use a cheap vac with a standard filter.
You will end up with VERY fine dust all over.

Try Cleanstraem filters for stopping the finest dust.

Purchase two filters so you can wash one and let it dry while using the second.
If you install a damp filter and suck up drywall dust the filter is pretty much ruined.

My tiles are cemented firmly to the drywall and each other. I cannot "pop" them off. They do not break off. I already cut much of the grout with a roto tool, to no avail. I cut the drywall across the top of the tiles and tried to pry and break them with a crowbar, but only the drywall behind them breaks up. How do I break the tiles and or cement? The electrician is coming in 2 days. HELP

I believe with most on this forum. The backsplash does need to be removed but if its gonna cause damage to the drywall it might be the smartest thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Inner City Skyline