Mural painting detachment is currently recommended only in extreme cases, due mainly to the fact that these works are considered an integral part of architecture. This paper reviews the use and consequences of detachment techniques at the archaeological site of Teotihuacan. It examines the circumstances that influenced the decision-making process of detaching a mural painting, in order to place an urgent demand for conserving and restoring the enormous number of Teotihuacan mural fragments produced by these detachments.