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Yes, you can install a backsplash directly onto drywall, provided the wall is properly prepped, clean, and dry. For best results, especially in kitchen areas, your walls should be made of moisture-resistant drywall, often called green board. If your current wall isn't moisture-resistant, it's recommended to replace it before installing the backsplash. For even greater protection against water damage, you can remove the existing drywall and install a tile backer board or cement board instead. While properly installed standard drywall is typically strong enough to support a backsplash, some local building codes may require water-resistant materials in kitchen areas, so it's a good idea to check.

Removing old tiles can be more complicated, but it can also be more manageable, depending on your circumstances. Typically, old tile is hard to remove because the adhesive had loads of time to bond with your wall, becoming a formidable foe between you and your new tile installation project. On the other hand, old tile in high-traffic areas can become loose, making it much easier to remove.

A cement backer board is not needed for laying tile on concrete. Sometimes referred to as a cementitious backer unit, or CBU, backer board should be used if the subfloor is plywood or OSB. The backer board provides a base on which to install the tiles that isn’t as likely to be damaged by any accidental water seepage as natural materials would be.

If you’re handling your tile removal yourself, seal the room using painter’s tape and heavy-duty contractor bags to prevent dust and shards from escaping. Use a claw hammer or a pry bar and a mallet to get behind the tile and pry it away from the floor or wall. Once your tiles are all removed, sweep everything into contractor bags for disposal, being careful not to overfill them. Make sure you wear a dust mask, safety goggles, and work gloves to keep yourself safe from injury while you work.