Expert: Dan Griffin - 1/7/2008

Question
I have recently started a remodeling project on a bathroom in my house. The bathroom currently has porcelain tile set into 1/2" concrete/mortar. During demolition, I cracked a few of the concrete masonry units (CMU's) in the exterior wall while trying to remove the tiles and mortar bed. Where should I go from here...should I look into having the CMU's repaired, then maybe tile over existing tile or can I pull down all the old CMU's and frame out the wall with standard 2" x 4"' stud system? I am an amateur, but have proven successful at everything involved in this remodel aside from the masonry work. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer
There are structural reasons to not take down a section of block wall.  Before attempting this idea, consult a structural engineer.

To insure a good exterior weather seal on CMU that you have damaged may require having a mason replace some units.

Full mortar bed ceramic work can be quite a chore.  Only you can decide if you can lose an additional 1/2 to 1" of room dimension to leave the tile in place.  Bathrooms usually are pretty tight.