|
probably the easiest/safest way to remove the faux brick backsplash is to take a circular saw with an abrasive blade on it, set it to a very shallow cut depth (a smidge over an inch) and plunge cut a square out of the center. the idea is to get through the brick, and *almost* all the way through the drywall. once done w/ that, you can pry bar out the square. assuming you don't set your blade to deep (1/2" sheetrock+1/8"mortar+1/2" faux brick = a bit more than an inch) you are at zero risk of damaging any wiring in the wall (I'd still cut the breakers to the area/room to be on the safe side though) take a utility knife, and score the outside edge of the faux brick area (important), and use your pry bar to break out the sheetrock w/ the ugly brick attached up to your scored edge. A good deep scoring will cause the sheetrock to break at that line, so a new piece will fit nicely in the hole.
Walla! Studs! maybe some wiring. simply cut a piece of fibercement or cement backerboard to fit the hole, and screw it into the studs. Then you can put up any kind of backsplash you want (ceramic, stone, whatever)
If you are just going to paint, or put up a metal backsplash, instead of the backerboard put a new piece of sheetrock in.
BTW, you will get dirty (and DUSTY!!), but if you have an assistant, have them hold a shopvac hose right behind the throw off from the blade, and it'll cut down the dust by like 80-90%...
Did I say there will be a lot of dust? There will be.
|
more posts...