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I got tile in my kitchen that is chipped and cracked and has seen better days. It looks like it was laid down right on the concrete slab. Is there a quick way to remove the tile ? What about the thinset left over – how do get rid of that so taht’s it (relativly) smooth ?
Thanks for any suggestions
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Um, is this old (older) tile, about mebbe 9" x 9"? Beware asbestos...
*I had the same thing in a couple bathrooms in my house. I ended up chipping off the tile with a masons chissel, a air or electric powered chisel would probably work too. The leftover thinset is OK to leave, I just knocked off all the high spots and thinset the new tile to the old thinset with a 1/4 - 3/8 notch trowel. Make sure you pick a tile you will like for a long time! One bathroom I did actually had 2 layers of tile??? I guess it is possible to just go over the top of the old tile. The only problem is the floor hieght differences and the poor sap that has to scrape 2 layers of tile off the floor next time.
*Dan,Since you mention the concern about any thinset left over, I infer that the tile you refer to is ceramic?If so, one technique that you might try, although comewhat crude, is to take a two - three pound hand sledge (or engineers hammer) or even a very large ball peen hammer (using the peen end) and simply smack the bejeebers outa the tile. In times past where the tile has not been cemented within an inch of its life, I have had a fair amount of success with this. The lafge impact sometimes jars the tile loose, or at least "tenderizes" it so that it comes off easier.Ken
*I do not know if there is a Home Depot near you with a rental center in it, they rent a air powered chisel thats mounted on a pole. You stand up and stay out of the shrapnel. It works very well but like anything worth doing, it will take time and patience. Do not attempt any removal with out at least safty glasses and I would recomend a face shield as well. The surface of tile when broken shatters like glass and WILL put out your eye. You will have residual thin set in places, the idea is not to get it off as much as even and smooth other wise when you reset your new tile, it will "rock" on the high spots. Rental yards also rent floor grinders. In my 20 years of tile work I have found the prep work pays off each time. That and good lay out is the difference of a professional job and not .Good Luck! its only hard work, but worth it. Steve.
*The air-powered chisel on the pole is probably best if you have a lot of area to do. I have used my big roto-hammer with 2" chisel with great success, but it is a "down on the floor" kind of job. Unless the tile is very poorly bonded, manual methods will wear you out unnecessarily.Bill
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I got tile in my kitchen that is chipped and cracked and has seen better days. It looks like it was laid down right on the concrete slab. Is there a quick way to remove the tile ? What about the thinset left over - how do get rid of that so taht's it (relativly) smooth ?
Thanks for any suggestions