Flooring Tile - Tile countertop

I have a house that is 27 years old and still has the original white 6x6 square ceramic tiles with dark chocolate grout. The grout is starting to go away :( at the the back where the tile meets the backsplash. All the tiles are tight but are starting to wear through the white glaze. I want to sell this house this summer and know in order to get a good price I need to do something to the kitchen counter. I understand that generally means that the tile and cement underneath will have to come off. Although I am a pretty good DIY I have no idea where to start or what to use to remove it. Any and all answers will be appreciated. Also where the backsplash is on the wall what do you normally do to remove the tiles without tearing up the sheetrock?? I want to go with formica countertops. I believe that will be the cheapest.

Handy Husband :coffee:

If the tile are adhered well to the backsplash, more times than not it will come off in chunks so be prepared to re sheetrock the backsplash. If you can get behind a tile from the edge, use a 5 way and a hammer to see if it will pry off. The same will hold true for the counter. If the cement did its job for 27 years it wont come up without a fight. Chisel, hammer and 5 way tool. Get the surface as smooth as you can , put down 1/4" cement board, in a bed of thinset with galvanized roofing nails, for new underlayment and set new tile in thinset. Wall tile can go up with mastic.