I’ve done it before, no fun. I have about 20 linear feet’ of 48″ high tile on mudbed over wire lath nailed to studs. The tile is porcelain (I think) subway tiles. Building is 1903, but I’m thinking this may be from the 20’s or 30’s. it’s beautiful work, I’ve been able to save it through two previous remodels (the cut you see I did with an abrasive blade in a sawzall maybe 15 years ago- not fun) but it’s finally gotta go.
Seems like the consensus is angle grinder vertical cuts one side of each stud, try to pry off each 16″ strip as intact as possible. Any other suggestions? I’m OK with using my 4″ grinder, but it won’t get all the way through the 1 1/4″ (hoping it’s that ‘thin’ everywhere). Should I get a bigger grinder? I’d like to avoid the mess and stress of trying to remove the tiles first…
All advice welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Replies
Rent a demo saw. You'll be there all day with a 4". And use it with lots of water and still be prepared for lots of dust
Unfortunately it’s on the second floor I can’t use a water saw
Some time ago, ?
Maybe here, maybe not...
I saw an idea that I have never tried. Take a clear tote and make one of those science things that people put their arms in sleeved holes......
Build it with no lid, that part lays against the wall or floor (in their case).
Add a hole for a connected vac hose fitting to go in/on.
Now you have a containment box you might be able to see through while you operate a bigger angle grinder inside that hopefully sucks enough dust out so you can see where you’re going.
On a couple interior floor tile wall cut outs I made a scoop sort of thing that I attached (taped) a hose to a gallon milk jug. That got a lot of dust but the rest was contained by a visqueen enclosure and another vac to clear the air. Use breathing equipment.
I have a Bosch Tuckpointing Grinder that I use for things like this. It has a shroud and a vac port. While the vac doesn't pull 100% of the dust, it does a decent job at keeping the dust way down. Its a little spendy, but its one of those tools that you don't know how useful it is until you own one.
Calvin,
I like your cobbled together containment option. I'll have to try it!
Cheers
Steve
If you do, please lemme know how it turned out for you.
You might google plastic storage container made into a dust collecting box....
Or, there appears to be something I’ve missed in over 45 years.....
Angle grinder dust shrouds.
And me with a cut up milk jug.
Ill let you know Calvin. I have to angle grind off the exposed end of a 1/2" expansion anchor in a finished kitchen and this sounds like the trick.
Whatever you do it's going to be very dusty. Get one of these, stick the duct out the widow, seal the gap, and crack the door to let in the fresh air. Works charm to move the dust out.
https://www.amazon.com/HVHF-12COMBO-Cylinder-Velocity-Portable/dp/B004GHNKU0/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=ducted+fan&qid=1606318326&sr=8-2
I like it- see my idea below for a one-time 'homeowner' solution...
Resolution-
I used a 4" angle grinder with a diamond blade, and a helper holding the shopvac hose. Had a powerful fan in the window, with another window opposite open for good cross-ventilation. Also had a carbide demo blade in the sawzall, which worked suprisingly well. I was able to make vertical cuts next to each stud with the grinder, sawzall where that couldn't access, then pry out each section with a 36" bar. Behind the tile, each stud bay was bridged by 1x material nailed to cleats to be flush with the studs and the lath nailed to that, so it took some muscle to pry the mudbed away. Much easier, IMHO, than chipping it out, I could (barely) carry each 'section' downstairs to the truck, then to the dump. Gotta say it was certainly a durable installation method, it was in suprisingly good shape for being 117 years old!
One thing that was a hassle was having to clean the shopvac filter so often, it clogged quickly with concrete dust. I had an idea to get a second length of vac hose, connect it to the exhaust outlet of the vac, then run that out the window and run the vac without a filter to simply 'pump' the dust outside- what do you think?
Running the shop vac without filter will run the dirt through the impeller, and as the motor is not completely sealed, some will end up in the motor as well. Concrete dust and motors are not a happy marriage.
I would use a cyclone separator inline with the shop vac, and keep the filter on.
Lots of YouTube videos on how to hack you own with a 5 Gal bucket and some ABS fittings.
Good idea cat man I’ll try that next time thanks for the replies everybody!
I’ve done recently on a pink bathroom a kitchen with the same mud bed setup. I used an Bosch hammer drill with a space bit to “cut” sections. Worked well enough. Very loud. Shook the house and don’t do it if you have plaster.
On a related note, I’m more and more convinced that floating time walls is the way to go. I saw a builder who do uses glass rock, ardex 8+9 and then floats over that with mud. I’m currently tiling and very much appreciate the idea of having perfectly level and smooth walls. The build up with schluter and other products leaves something to be desired.
Have you considered leaving it in place and tiling over they existing tile? I think ardex 8+9 works for that. Just roll it on.
Already done, and not putting tile back in everywhere
I’ve had good results using a Shop Vac with a filter bag in addition to the cylindrical filter. The bags are marketed as being useful for gypsum dust, but are equally so for most any fine dust. Way more surface area on the bag, so doesn’t have to be replaced nearly as often as you’d clean or replace a cylindrical filter.