Looking at a tile job where the existing 12 x 12 inch tile need replaced (surface color wore off, tile manufacturer is replacing tile and paying for installation). Existing tile installation looks OK. According to owner 1/4″ hardi board was installed over subfloor (thinset and screws), tiles installed in thinset with 1/4″ x 1/4″ notched trowel.
Any options for removing existing tile and can the hardiboard be realistictly saved?
This floor is 24′ x 32′, so it would be a huge job to remove tiles by hand (hammer/chisel).
Anyone ever use an air chisel or similar?
In this scenario I envision getting the chisel between the tile and hardi board.
Is this realistic?
Any options?
Thanks.
Replies
Sounds like a nasty, messy job for sure. How about a hammer drill with a chisel bit? Might be a little esier to handle.
That's gonna be heinous. I would get ready with large pry bars, flat bars with thin, sharp tips, hammer drills with chisels, a large dumpster, and a bunch of helpers. My guess is that the CBU will separate from the floor more easily than the tile will from the CBU, and that you will the trying to rip off sections over the screwheads. There is some risk of tearing up the top veneer of the subfloor as well.
I haven't used one, but I've noticed that Harbor Freight sells an air powered floor scraper for about $99. Basically a floor scraper with an air actuated head. You'll need a big air tank to use it I imagine. I'd love to hear from someone who has tried it.
I just removed the 12x12 marble tiles in my foyer that were just like that. I rented a small electric jackhammer for about $30, and it took about 3-4 hours to take care of a 7'x7' space. It was a lot of work to break up the surface tiles, then break up the CBU, removing all of the screws (about every 6") as I went and shoveling the debris into a wheelbarrow. I did bang up the surface of the plywood subfloor a bit, but not bad enough to have to replace it. It also made a HUGE cloud of dust all over the house. A dust mask and some plastic curtains to contain the mess are highly recommended.
If yours is as similar to mine as it sounds, I don't think it will be possible to just take off the surface tiles and leave the CBU intact. The thinset bond to the subfloor was weaker than the bond between the tile and the CBU.
Good luck and have fun!