How do you remove ceramic tile?

[chrissyk]

My husband and I have gotten ambitious about ripping out the flooring in our new house ourselves. We're hoping that this will allow the flooring company to make quick work of our place (thus allowing us to move in sooner). Anyways, we're not sure how to remove the ceramic tile in the kitchen. It's just tile laid directly over the terrazzo (like concrete) floor below. There is no sub-floor in between. We thought about using a sledgehammer, but we're afraid of damaging the terrazzo and causing the flooring company to have to do even more levelling. Is there a "right" way to remove existing ceramic tile? Thanks

 

[Dan Murphy]

If Froggy does not reply here, send him a PM.

 

[DrCavin]

Once you get one or two out, then you can use a pry bar or I have seen a tool that has a flat piece of metal with a long handle that you could use to get them up.

Unless you have a really large room, it will probably only take a few hours to remove them, unless you are wanting to save the tiles for something else.

 

[monkeyboy]

good hand sledge
a few chisels

plenty of hard work

 

[disneyfanatic60]

I was wondering the same thing myself. We have tile in our bathroom that I want to replace. Though I think (almost positive) it's on a subfloor. Now my question would be, I have tile on my kitchen counter and backsplash which needs to be replaced. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove it? I am especially concerned about ruining the wallboard behind the tile. What can we use to take off the excess adhesive without again ruining the wallboard or should I just figure we need to replace that as well? Thanks.

 

[Microcell]

good hand sledge
a few chisels

plenty of hard work

Might want to confirm with Froggy, but I think that is how DH did it. Destruction!!!

 

[Microcell]

I was wondering the same thing myself. We have tile in our bathroom that I want to replace. Though I think (almost positive) it's on a subfloor. Now my question would be, I have tile on my kitchen counter and backsplash which needs to be replaced. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove it? I am especially concerned about ruining the wallboard behind the tile. What can we use to take off the excess adhesive without again ruining the wallboard or should I just figure we need to replace that as well? Thanks.

If it is regular drywall paper backed stuff, you may rip the paper depending on how old it is. When you hit it with the hammer it may shatter the adhesive if old, but if not, may rip the paper. Heck if it is old enough, it may not even be drywall with paper! Could be those little wood slats!

DH has completely replaced patches of drywall, it is not that hard to do!

 

[lissawynn]

My DH used a crowbar to get some of it up. Then he used some long-handled thingie with a flat thing on the end.
Ours came up pretty easily b/c the toilet had leaked for years (before we lived here)and ate away at the grout and cement.

 

[FroggyinArk]

ok ok ok,, i'm late getting here thanks dan for pointing me this way


ok ceramic over concrete ,, best way is wgat is called a flat hoe, its a larg escraper on a shovel handle,, these will cost about 30 bucks and are basically not worth it if you're just going to use it once, start in a doorway with a flat prybar, tell the hardware guy you need a flat bar,, he'll know dont hit the f ace of them with a sledge!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO DO NOT DO THAT!!!! ceramic is like glaSS.. It will shattter, splinter and pop, very very dangerous, make sure you wear safety glasses and make darn dure you wear gloves to handle the broken pieces, and be careful. starting at the door way or edge and start driving the bar under the tiles and it should pop loose. it may shatter off so again,, safety glasses area a must and be very careful.