Removing floor tiles!!

suitseir

How easy or I suppose, more to the point, how difficult can it be to remove floor bathroom tiles(concrete) - some are damaged?

Ta

GreeBo

The tiles are concrete of the floor is?

Hootie

It all depends on whether you want to keep the tiles !!!!! You can either smash the tiles or gouge out the grouting and get under the tiles to try to pop them and hopefully they wont break. Not easy if concrete floor, good luck with that.

grahamo

first tile is the hardest to get out. gouge out the grouting around the tile and lever the first one out with a cold chisel. The rest should be easy enough then.

oleras

Hootie wrote:

It all depends on whether you want to keep the tiles !!!!! .

Keep them ? Maybe if they were layed with chewing gum......

crosstownk

I'd a similar problem with tiles that were put onto chipboard :rolleyes: in my upstairs bathroom (was like that when I moved in). I ended up having to tile over them. I'm not looking forward to the next bathroom renovation.

patrickolee

I took up the old tiles in the kitchen in our house. Very easy... but most of them broke, the odd one stayed whole, but mostly they broke in half. It was on ply, so might be different. Also had an edge where half the room was laminate, half tiles. Had the whole thing up in about 2hrs and I'm a pretty slow worker, lots of tea. Just angle the cold chisel at about 20 degrees and give it a couple of hard sharp slaps with a hammer. They'll pop right up.

seanok

Hi Suitseir,

I am just standing in my Kitchen having taken up a tiled floor on concrete.

Its not easy!!! But that will depend on how lucky you are or not.
My floor had a layer of screed (Leveling compound) over the concrete. Some tiles just popped up, but some were well stuck to the floor.


I suggest a number of tools to help out.

A Lump hammer.

A good scraper. I had two DOSCO scrapers, they are heavy duty and can take the lump hammer.
http://www.dosco.ie/html/decorating_products.html

A masonry chisel might be better than the scarper though
http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/600986_front200.jpg

I had a chisel too, could not have done it without it.

It can be very dusty too, so a mask maybe and definitely goggles or glasses to protect your eyes.

Best of luck

suitseir

Thanks for all the replies!!!

Am NOT looking forward to the fun!! The floor is concrete. The first few have moved of their own accord forming a ridge about 1/2 " in height from one side to shower tray, so the rest could be or could not be easy to move. My builder reckons the guy who put them down MAY have used wall adhesive on some of them as it happened another build of his! Just shows, you have to be so careful with workmen!! Anyway, I am sure that the rest will come up ok. It is not a very big en-suite Thank God!!!

seanok

You might also look into hiring a tool to help. My neighbour told me yesterday(After going through the pain), that you can hire a unit that lifts tiles. Its like a kango hammer with a flat plate.
http://www.hss.com/g/2159/Floor_Tile_Removal_Kit.html

sunnysoutheast

wear eye protection - I can still remember the feeling when the razor-sharp shards of tile bounced off the bridge of my nose

suitseir

Just noticed today that there is a hollow sound under one of my floor tiles in the kitchen with a hairline crack? Has the adhesive failed and would it be easily replaced. Not the whole tile sounds hollow just part of it. I have spare ones. It is on concrete I assume.

wibago

Removing bathroom tiles can be a challenging task, especially if the tiles are installed on concrete. The difficulty of the task depends on several factors, such as the type of adhesive used, the age of the tiles, and the condition of the concrete substrate. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Safety first: Before you start removing tiles, make sure you have the right safety gear, such as gloves, safety glasses, and a respirator. Also, make sure to turn off any electrical circuits in the bathroom to avoid the risk of electrocution.
2. Assess the tiles: Check the condition of the tiles to see how firmly they are attached to the concrete. If the tiles are loose or damaged, they may come off more easily. However, if they are firmly attached, you may need to put in more effort to remove them.
3. Remove grout: Use a grout saw or rotary tool to remove the grout between the tiles. This will make it easier to remove the tiles.
4. Use a hammer and chisel: For small areas or individual tiles, you can use a hammer and chisel to chip away at the tiles and pry them off the concrete. Be careful not to damage the concrete substrate underneath.
5. Consider a power tool: For larger areas or stubborn tiles, you can use a power tool such as a rotary hammer or a demolition hammer with a chisel attachment to remove the tiles more quickly.
6. Clean up: Once you've removed the tiles, you'll need to clean up any remaining adhesive or grout from the concrete substrate. A scraper or putty knife can help with this task.

Overall, removing bathroom tiles from concrete can be a difficult task, but with the right tools and safety precautions, it is possible to do it yourself. Alternatively, you may want to consider hiring a professional tile removal service to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

bfclancy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120502111#Comment_120502111

if they're still at it 16 years later i feel for them

Mr321

You could try a multitool under them with the scrapper/chasing blade.

Put it under the spots where the tiles stuck to the floor. Should work OK without breaking the majority of tiles.