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Removing Floor Tile Adhesive

  • 14-10-2012 05:10PM
    #1
    dubmark74
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 148 ✭✭


    Hi, a bit of help needed. I am re-tiling my bathroom floor and i removed the old tiles today. The problem is the old adhesive is very difficult to remove. I chipped away some with a paint scraper but it took two hours to remove only a small amount. I'm wondering if there is any chemicals which can help. The tiles were on plywood.

    Thanks, Mark.


Comments

  • #2
    bax4556
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 239 ✭✭bax4556


    use a spade!


  • #3
    Tom Joad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,134 ✭✭✭Tom Joad


    If they are on plywood i assume it's an upstairs bathroom?? - have tried to remove tile adhesive from marine ply and its a nightmare - why not save yourself some heart ache and just lift the ply and replace it with new marine ply....


  • #4
    dubmark74
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 148 ✭✭dubmark74


    bax4556 wrote: »
    use a spade!

    Sounds like a good idea, i'll try that tomorrow, thanks


  • #5
    dubmark74
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 148 ✭✭dubmark74


    Tom Joad wrote: »
    If they are on plywood i assume it's an upstairs bathroom?? - have tried to remove tile adhesive from marine ply and its a nightmare - why not save yourself some heart ache and just lift the ply and replace it with new marine ply....

    Yes, upstairs.
    I did think of removing the ply, but thought this would be the harder option. I'll give the spade a go first and how i get on. It's a fairly small room so shouldn't take too long.
    Thanks for the reply.


  • #6
    policarp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,669 ✭✭✭policarp


    If it's a small area and all the tiles are removed, you might try a sander.
    Very messy and dusty, but worked for me.


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  • #7
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,886 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    Hi folks, I'm getting laminate floors with underlay in next week and currently taking up the tiles. There's bits of adhesive left over so was wondering if anyone knew of a good solution for getting it up. Obviously don't want to go at it too hard and risk taking chunks of concrete up. Can't seem to see any obvious chemicals to buy that would help. Have tried soaking the adhesive in hot water but it's not making things much easier.

    Also, does it have to be perfectly level or will a few bits of adhesive here and there make much of a difference given that there's underlay going down too?


  • #8
    MarkR
    Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,251 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    I'm doing that now too actually. I rented a jackhammer from a local hardware store to take up the tile, and it works fine to take up the adhesive also, if you skim along with it.


  • #9
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,886 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    MarkR wrote: »
    I'm doing that now too actually. I rented a jackhammer from a local hardware store to take up the tile, and it works fine to take up the adhesive also, if you skim along with it.

    No risk of taking bits of concrete up too?


  • #10
    colm_c
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,015 ✭✭✭colm_c


    Floor needs to be perfectly level for laminate regardless of underlay.

    Chip it out with a hammer and chisel, you might need to smooth out any dips with self levelling compound.


  • #11
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,886 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    colm_c wrote: »
    Floor needs to be perfectly level for laminate regardless of underlay.

    Chip it out with a hammer and chisel, you might need to smooth out any dips with self levelling compound.

    Trying that but it's not shifting too easy. Father in law has suggested I borrow his wallpaper steamer and see if that loosens it up.


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  • #12
    GreeBo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,469 ✭✭✭✭GreeBo


    Use an SDS drill set to hammer action only with a wide spade bit.

    9581V_P&$prodImageMedium$

    Doing it by hand is a form of pennance.


  • #13
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,886 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    GreeBo wrote: »
    Use an SDS drill set to hammer action only with a wide spade bit.

    9581V_P&$prodImageMedium$

    Doing it by hand is a form of pennance.

    Good shout, should be able to get my hands on one of those handy enough.


  • #14
    MarkR
    Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,251 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    That's what I used. My blade wasn't quite so wide, but it did the job.


  • #15
    Tilikum17
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,325 ✭✭✭Tilikum17


    We are also doing this at the min. The tiles are up but there loads of stuff still on the floor. I asked one of the builders will that not all need to come up too. He said no, they’ll just put the levelling compound on top then put the floor down.


  • #16
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,259 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    Tilikum17 wrote: »
    We are also doing this at the min. The tiles are up but there loads of stuff still on the floor. I asked one of the builders will that not all need to come up too. He said no, they’ll just put the levelling compound on top then put the floor down.

    That's the other way to level the floor. But it takes time and money.


    If taking the adhesive of the floor. Then either floor scraper or a wide bit on a kango


  • #17
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,886 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    Tried a Kango hammer and it seems to work but it's slow enough. Have ordered a wide bit so hopefully that will help.

    Also tried a wallpaper steamer and a scrapper and it is useful in some parts but you need to steam each section for a few mins at a time so it's time consuming.


  • #18
    poker--addict
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,862 ✭✭✭poker--addict


    There is electrical floor scrapers, do they work on the thinset/mortar/tile adhesive stuff left over?


    https://www.balloohire.ie/product/equipment-hire/floor-tile-stripper


    https://www.concretecare.ie/shop/product/hire-floor-scraper-self-propelled-nfl-5280-342?category=7


    welcome anyone’s experience on leaving a concrete floor ready for fresh tiles

    😎



  • #19
    nosferatu1978
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8 ✭nosferatu1978


    Lifted tiles recently an started kangoing the adhesive to leave it ready for tilers. Was taking an age and was taking lumps out of the concrete, rang the tiler and he says dont bother with that, well just put levelling compound down. Not much clearance for the back door and I needed to cut the kickboards, but saved a tonne of work



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