If you have a bathroom renovation coming up, and part of the process entails that you freshen up the tiling, you can bet you’ll be looking forward to when it is complete by day’s end.

Ceramic tiling, once adhered, is designed to be durable, water-resistant, and long-lasting, so trying to remove it can be a lot of work. Especially if you are trying not to make a (dangerous) mess in the process by using the old method of powering through it with a sledgehammer. Because there is a much simpler way to get the job done: use a heat gun.

Here is how to remove bathroom tiles more efficiently using a heat gun.

What you’ll need:

• A heat gun
• Putty knife
• Safety glasses
• Heavy gloves

Step 1. Begin by carefully removing the grout in between the tiles the best you can with your putty knife. This is perhaps the most difficult part of the entire process because it requires a lot of elbow grease and patience.

Step 2. Remove any caulking that was used to seal and insulate around the area. Do this by slightly heating it with your heat gun, then peeling it away slowly. If need be, use your putty knife to add some extra leverage.

Step 3. Begin this step by checking for loose tiles by pressing on them with your hand. Once you have determined which will require your assistance, move on to step 4.

Step 4. Before you apply heat, gently wedge your putty knife behind the tile and check for malleability. If a tile doesn’t come free with some pressure on your part, apply heat to the tile to heat up adhesive and caulk. Repeat until all tile is gone.

If you encounter too much leftover adhesive behind any tile, apply some extra heat from your heat gun and scrape it free with your knife. Just be careful not to apply excess heat to the wall, it is possible your heat gun can do damage if safety is not considered.

Good luck!