Comments, category: "Flooring"

DIY Decorating/Remodeling Flooring How to Remove Old Tile
How to Remove Old Tile PDF Print E-mail
Written by Tom   

After a few years, some tiles are already unsightly because of degradation or because of regular wear and tear. If this happens to most tiles in the floor or in your room, remove the old tiles immediately. A new set of tiles can only be installed in the room of the old tiles if they are effectively removed. Removing old tile tiles can’t just be done by hitting the tiles with the hammer until they crack. There is a certain inspection that has to be done before you remove old tiles.

Inspection has to be done before removing old tiles since the strategy of removing tiles is based on what is underneath the tiles. There are three beds where the tiles could be placed:
  • Concrete Base
  • Thin Concrete
  • Backer Board
Once the type of bed is determined, it’s time to implement bed-specific steps on to remove old tiles fast.

Removing Tiles on Concrete Base

1 Using a chisel and a hammer, the grout is chiseled to create space for the chisel to remove old tiles.

2The chisel is then positioned in an angle wherein it could penetrate the middle portion of the tile. Expect the tile to break so different types of protection should be worn as broken tiles are usually sharp.

3When a part of the tile has been broken, a wide scraper will be inserted below the tile so the tile could be easily pulled out of concrete base.

Removing Tile
How to Remove Old Tiles in Thin Concrete

Since more cement was used in this bed, this type of bed is more compact; a hammer should be applied directly to the grout to destroy the grout completely.

The chisel could be used to remove the tiles completely as these tiles could really stick to the thin concrete.

Work with one tile at a time to control the floor level.

How to Remove Old Tiles on the Backer Board

Aside from tiles, the backer board has to be completely removed along with the tiles. If the back board is not removed and the new tiles are installed on top of the backer board, the new tiles will be uneven and could be easily cracked.

Hammer and chisel is used to remove the grout and slowly break the tiles. At least six tiles should be broken to show a good amount of backer board. After removing the initial number of tiles, the hammer is used to destroy a small part of the backboard, just enough for the scraper to move in.

The scraper is placed below the backer board and the backer board is slowly pulled out.

Instead of focusing on a tile, a group of tiles is removed before the scraper is used. This will save time since the backer board could be easily removed if there is enough space for the scraper.

A general rule in removing tiles is to start at the end of the floor. That part of the floor usually has edges wherein the hammer and chisel could have a good start to remove the grout.
 
Comments (1)
Other ways to Remove Tile?
1 Friday, 10 October 2008 21:43
Jenny Dowling
Is a hammer and chisel the only way? Seems old fashion in todays age but what does a girl like me know? But I have an old home and want to renovate some things on my own and I *HATE* my current tiles. Please someone let me know or I guess I will go out and buy the supplies listed and get to hammer chisel this ugly stuff away!

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