I’m doing a bathroom remodel, which means removing the old (ugly) 4 in. sq. ceramic tile from the walls and then demolishing the underlying thickset mortar bed. It’s circa 1950 when they made things to last. The mortar is attached to a metal lath which is placed over 3/8″ thick gypsum board (the kind with the holes in it); both lath and board are nailed to the studs. After removing the tiles, I’m wailing on the mortar bed with a 5 lb hammer to crack the mortar then chiseling it off until I get down to the lath, which I can pry off. Great exercise but not much fun. Does anyone have a better idea?
Thanks,
Max
Replies
Bosch SDS plus RHD and a flooring chisel...
now get back to work...
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=11255VSR
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Accessories/Pages/BoschAccessoryDetail.aspx?pid=301
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Thanks, sounds like just the ticket -- Bosch makes good stuff. I assume that a relatively wide chisel like the 1.5" HS1427 would be what I want. Would you attack the mortar bed straight on (perpendicular to the wall), or attempt to "shave" it off in a more vertical fashion?
IIRC it's called a tile chisel...
about 1.5 or 2" wide and it has an offset to it...
chiseling reduces the dust by an extreme margin...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
chiseling reduces the dust by an extreme margin...
Maybe compared to cutting it, but it still is a mess!>G<
I would get a skilsaw with a diamond blade and cut the entire thing into squares, maybe 2' x2', then start popping those off. Beating on it with a hammer does almost nothing.
Ditto what Dave said. Cut and remove in pieces. No need to beat it with a sledge
I have the Bosch SDS Max.
Doing a job right now exactly like yours.
Wide chisel at a 30 degree angle to the wall pops the old tiles right off and then I go at the mortar straight on, making a grid about 2' by 2' cutting all the way through, including the wire lath. A pry bar pops the chunk off the wall - don't try to catch it - and off to the can it goes. That's a comfortable size for me to carry.
Thanks to all for the excellent advice. I think I'll try both options. The saw route is easy since I'm equipped for that. The rotary hammer is attractive because there are some areas where the saw won't fit. My local tool store talked me into a Metabo KHE-D28 with the Bosch HS1465 tile chisel. Back to work...