Scribd
Upload
218 views4 pages

How To Remove Ceramic Floor Tile

This document provides instructions for removing old ceramic floor tile in 3 or fewer steps: 1) Break up the tile using a hammer or sledgehammer, then use a floor scraper to pry up the tiles from the subfloor. Alternate between hammering and scraping to remove all tiles. 2) Use a hammer and chisel to remove any remaining thin-set adhesive or grout stuck to the underlayment. 3) Clean up the debris using a shovel, broom, and vacuum. The entire process generates a significant amount of dust and debris.

Uploaded by

Ri Sovannaphumi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
218 views4 pages

How To Remove Ceramic Floor Tile

This document provides instructions for removing old ceramic floor tile in 3 or fewer steps: 1) Break up the tile using a hammer or sledgehammer, then use a floor scraper to pry up the tiles from the subfloor. Alternate between hammering and scraping to remove all tiles. 2) Use a hammer and chisel to remove any remaining thin-set adhesive or grout stuck to the underlayment. 3) Clean up the debris using a shovel, broom, and vacuum. The entire process generates a significant amount of dust and debris.

Uploaded by

Ri Sovannaphumi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

How to Remove Ceramic Floor Tile

By
Tonya Lee
Updated on 04/21/21
Reviewed by
Johnathan Brewer

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

When you want to replace a ceramic tile floor with another flooring material, you usually are faced with the task
of removing the old ceramic tile. While it's possible to lay some types of flooring material directly over the
ceramic tile, this can increase the overall thickness of the floor to such a degree that it's not practical. Sheet
vinyl can usually be directly laid over ceramic tile, but if you are installing hardwood, laminate, or new ceramic
tile, you'll generally have to remove the old ceramic tile before laying the new flooring.

Removing ceramic or stone floor tile is a job that is simple in technique but difficult in terms of effort. In fact, it
can be backbreaking work, especially with older installations. Doing your own removal can, however, save you
a significant amount of money since the job is so labor intensive.

Thin-Set Tile Installation vs. Mortar Base Installations


In older traditional ceramic tile installations, the tile was set into a base of solid mortar that was often reinforced
with steel lathe. The mortar bed usually was applied over a layer of tar paper covering the subfloor. Removal of
such a floor can be extremely hard work, involving hours of breaking up the mortar base and laboriously cutting
away the metal lathe to free slabs of mortar and tile from the tar paper underlayment. Be prepared for a long,
hard weekend of work if you're dealing with this kind of installation. The process involves a lot of hammering,
prying, and cutting the metal lathe into manageable pieces. A similarly difficult job is ahead of you if the tile
was installed on a concrete slab.

The job is somewhat easier if the tile was installed over an underlayment of plywood or cement board. Thin-set
adhesive came into popularity in the 1970s, allowing tile to be adhered directly to a plywood or cement board
underlayment. This system quickly replace the traditional mortar-bed system. With a thin-set installation, the
bond between tiles and underlayment is relatively easy to break. It is still hard work, but you can take solace in
the fact that you're not facing a solid mortar base.

Removing Ceramic Floor Tile


Our example of floor tile removal uses basic hand tools on a ceramic tile floor that was laid over a plywood
underlayment. The process is largely the same if you have cement board as an underlayment. When removing
the ceramic titles, it's generally best to break the tiles first with a hammer or sledge hammer. Although we are
using hand tools, there are also power tools available to simplify the job. A hammer drill with a chisel
attachment or roto-hammer with a spade bit can make quicker work of this job, and is highly recommended if
the tile is installed over a solid mortar base or over a concrete slab. Hammer drills and roto-hammers can be
rented at tool lease outlets or home centers. A hammer drill can wreak havoc with a plywood or cement board
underlayment, though, so be prepared for some subfloor repair work if you use this tool.
Be aware that tile removal can generate a huge amount of dust. It's a good idea to tape off your work area with
plastic sheeting to protect your ventilation system and ensure dust particles do not travel needlessly through
your home or office.

Always wear a dust mask, eye protection, hearing protection, and heavy-duty work gloves when demolishing
tile. The hammering and chiseling action can kick up shards of tile or mortar that could cause serious damage to
your eyes. Tile pieces also can be very sharp when broken, so wear long sleeves when doing this demolition.

Ceramic tile demolition can generate a significant amount of waste, especially for large floors. You may want to
consider leasing a roll-off dumpster to handle the debris.

Carl Smith / Getty Images

What You'll Need


Equipment / Tools

 Dust mask
 Eye protection
 Flat pry bar
 Hammer
 Hearing protector
 Heavy-duty work gloves
 Flat-edge shovel
 Floor scraper (bully tool)
 Masonry chisel
 Sledge hammer
 Boxes or wheelbarrow for carting debris
 Circular saw (where needed)
 Scoop shovel
 Broom
 Shop vacuum

Materials

 Plastic sheeting
 Masking tape
 Contractor's trash bags

Instructions
1. Prepare the Work Area

Before you begin, take some time to prepare your working area so you don't accidentally damage other
things in the room.

Use a flat pry bar and hammer to remove all molding, trim, door frames, and doors that will interfere
with the tile removal. This prevents them from getting damaged or covered in dust during demolition.
Cover heating ducts and open doorways with sheets of plastic to control dust. Tile demolition can
generate a significant amount of fine dust that can travel throughout the house unless controlled.

2. Find a Starting Point

Begin at the edge of the floor in a spot with easy access, such as a doorway. Wearing your dust mask
and safety goggles, use the sledgehammer to break up the tile along the grout lines.

Be extremely careful, especially when dealing with porcelain tile. The sharp edges can cut like glass.

Warning

Be judicious in the use of a sledgehammer. Repeated heavy blows can damage floor framing. Use only
the amount of force necessary to break up tiles so that the floor scraper can do its work.

3. Separate Tiles With Floor Scraper

Once you have some of the tile removed from hammering at it, find a space to get the floor scraper
underneath the tile to pry it up. The more tiles you can pry, the less hammering that will be required,
which makes the job go smoother.

Slide a floor scraper under the attached remnants of tile and pry them off of the subfloor's surface. Put a
little muscle into it and they should pop off. A flat shovel can also work for this job. Many floor scrapers
are made to use either face up or face down, so try both ways to see what works best. Using it the right
way can make this task much easier.

Alternate hammering and scraping to make your way across the entire room, removing all tiles.

4. Remove Adhesive and Grout

You may need to use a hammer and masonry chisel to remove thin-set adhesive and grout that remains
stuck to the underlayment after the tiles have been removed. This depends on the scope of the work and
the requirements of the new flooring, but generally, you want to get the floor as smooth as possible after
removing the layer of tile. Your new flooring will likely require a smooth underlayment and these
smaller tools can help you achieve that.

5. Remove Underlayment (if Necessary)

Depending on the condition of the underlayment and the requirements of the new flooring, it may be
simplest to remove the existing cement board or plywood underlayment at this time. If the underlayment
is badly damaged, or if the new flooring requires a different type of underlayment, now is the time to
remove and replace the old underlayment.

This is usually best done by cutting the underlayment into manageable sections, using a circular saw
with the blade set to the same thickness as the underlayment. Once the underlayment is cut into sections,
it can be unscrewed or pried up for removal.
Tip

If you are installing new ceramic tile, existing cement board underlayment can often be reused as the
base for the new tile, provided it is intact and firmly bonded to the subfloor. Or, thin sheets of new
cement board can be applied over the old layer to create a fresh base for thin-set adhesive and new tile.

6. Clean Up

Use a scoop shovel and broom to remove debris. Sturdy contractor trash bags can be used to hold debris
for disposal. Check with local authorities on disposal requirements; you may need to arrange for the
transport this material to a specified construction waste disposal site.

Complete the cleanup by using a shop vacuum to remove any remaining dust.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy