Optimal removal of floor tiles


Floor tiles are exposed to extreme conditions. Therefore, it is nothing special if floor tiles have to be removed after many years. Although it is an exhausting job, but with the optimal technology and good tools not as exhausting as often feared. Here are some valuable tips for the best possible removal of floor tiles.

Removing and replacing tiles is not an extraordinary job

Explicitly floor tiles are exposed to a tremendous load: they are committed, in wet rooms you are exposed to water, cleaning and care products, in the outdoor area the year-round weather conditions. In addition, many tiles used to be laid in a cement bed that only has a limited service life. Of course, there are also numerous tile decors that just do not like more. Laying new tiles directly on the old floor tiles is often out of the question because otherwise the construction height would be too high. So the old floor tiles have to be removed.

Good tools and the right technique for removing tiles is already half the battle

The removal is less strenuous and sweaty with high quality tools and a good working technique than you might expect. But even if it is a "rough" job, you should not blindly hit the tiles. Otherwise, the removal could be much more strenuous than it has to be. In the worst case scenario, you could even damage the substrate in such a way that a costly renovation is required - for example, if an underlying underfloor heating is damaged.

Step-by-step instructions for clean and quick removal of floor tiles

  • water
  • duct tape
  • cover
  • Impact drill with specialist chisel
  • cable drum
  • hammer
  • flat chisel
  • eventually concrete grinding machine

1. Preparation

Clear the room where you want to remove the floor tiles as empty as possible. For heavy or bulky pieces of furniture that you just want to move, it's best to cover it with a foil. Also windows and access door should preferably be covered dust-tight. The dust raised during tile removal will otherwise keep you tracked throughout the entire living area for months.

2. Removing the floor tiles

a) Remove the first floor tile
Often there are not completely tile adhesives under some floor tiles. Tap the tiles with a hammer and look for such a hollow floor tile. Find such a tile, smash it with a hammer and a chisel. Now you have a good starting position for removing the remaining floor tiles.

However, if all floor tiles are so good, you can also cut out a tile along the joint with the angle cutter. Alternatively - and especially with significantly less dust - you can also carefully knock out the first floor tile along the joint with a hammer and chisel. But be careful not to damage the ground.

b) Removing the remaining floor tiles
Now place the chisel diagonally on the substrate on the tile adhesive. The chisels are tapered at an angle in the front, which has 45 degrees. Exactly at this 45-degree angle you drive the chisel under the tile. As a result, each tile can be removed as large as possible.

Use the chisel at too low an angle to the ground, splinter the tile one by one and have a much higher and energy-consuming extra effort. However, if the angle is too steep, drive the chisel into the subfloor. This can damage the screed. The damage can be even more fatal if you damage underfloor heating. Even if no damage is visible, so significant vibrations can occur and clog the ground.

3. Rework after removing the floor tiles

a) Floor tiles in tile adhesive bed
Conventional tile adhesive is usually just as easy to remove as the floor tiles themselves. It may be necessary to rework in some places. Also set the chisel at a 45-degree angle.

b) floor tiles in the cement bed
Very old floor tiles are often in a thick bed of cement, which is not so easy to remove. Depending on the planned refurbishment work (laying new tiles, wooden floor, etc.), however, the floor must be removed as planely and completely as possible. For this you should consider the use of a concrete grinder.

Tips & Tricks

Spray the tile floor, but also the air with water again and again. This binds the Straub better.

Never remove floor tiles in a rental property without written consent from the landlord, because the tiles are part of the building fabric. The landlord can demand the return work or damages.

Remove the floor tiles because it is wet under the tiles, you can not just lay new tiles. You must first get to the root of the cause. If an additional barrier primer is sufficient, give the substrate enough time to dry out before further tillage. Otherwise, the moisture will be trapped in the soil, then blooms will soon follow. The complete dehydration can also take several weeks depending on the season.

Optimal removal of floor tiles

FAQ - 💬

❓ Where do I start when removing tile?

👉

  1. STEP 1: Start near the edge of the floor or a weakened area. ...
  2. STEP 2: Separate tiles (or tile pieces) from adhesive. ...
  3. STEP 3: Remove the remaining grout or adhesive. ...
  4. STEP 4: Inspect any underlayment and/or subfloor. ...
  5. STEP 5: Clean up. ...
  6. STEP 6: Remove mastic from any salvaged tile you plan to reuse or upcycle (optional).

❓ What is the best tool for removing floor tiles?

👉 Use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free. Always wear safety glasses when removing ceramic tile. In some cases, the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel.

❓ How much should you allow for tile wastage?

👉 10%The industry standard is to include an extra 10% allowance for 'wastage'. However, if the room to be tiled is a bathroom with lots of complex forms, such as boxes which hide pipework, or feature alcoves in the shower area, then 15% is a sensible allowance.

❓ How do you remove tiles without damaging the floor?

👉 Take a putty knife and place it along the cut grout line at such an angle that it is as close to the surface as possible. Take a rubber mallet and tap the end slowly until it is worked under the tile. Now take the putty knife off and put it at the next edge. Repeat the process until all the sides are done.

❓ How long does it take to remove floor tiles?

👉 Only 1-2 days on average. It may go quicker if you've prepped the room and have your tools ready. The work isn't complicated but it can get tedious. Remember how much money you're saving by removing the bathroom tile yourself and use that as motivation to complete the job in no time.

❓ How hard is it to remove tile flooring?

👉 Removing floor tile can be a difficult and time-consuming project and the challenges often remain hidden until the project is underway. Depending on the construction, the tile may be attached to bare cement, a plywood or mason board underlayment or even affixed to a previously installed floor.

❓ Is there a tool for removing tile?

👉 Masonry Chisel Sometimes you can also use a chisel together with a hammer. The masonry chisel not only do an excellent tile lifting job but is also on budget. You can comfortably remove the entire floor using a hammer and a chisel though the job may take longer.

❓ Can you use a multi tool to remove tiles?

👉 For small wall areas, like when renovating a 1920s bathroom, you can use a multi-tool in combination with a pry bar. For larger flooring spaces, we suggest using a rotary hammer with a Makita SDS-Max floor scraper. We like letting the tool do the work, and for tile removal, this fits the bill.

❓ Is there more waste with larger tiles?

👉 The size of the tile also affects the waste factor. Smaller tiles (e.g. 20x20 cm or 30x30 cm) entail a lower waste factor than larger ones. Then, you have to consider any critical element you may have to work around while laying the tiles.

❓ How much extra tile should I keep?

👉 However, as most tile installers will tell you, it is always best to buy 10% to 15% additional tile for any project as a general rule of thumb. This is because when taking on a tile project, there are numerous reasons why you will need that extra stock of tiles ready to go. For instance: For rooms that are oddly shaped.

❓ Is it difficult to take up floor tiles?

👉 Removing floor tile can be a difficult and time-consuming project and the challenges often remain hidden until the project is underway. Depending on the construction, the tile may be attached to bare cement, a plywood or mason board underlayment or even affixed to a previously installed floor.


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