Getting ready to revamp my kitchen and the first part of the destruction is that I need to remove the existing (4″ square”) tile counter top. The cabinets below are staying so need to be careful that I don’t trash the cabs. Anyone have any suggestions on removing this. I thought about trying to remove the plywood deck that the tile is on but it is screwed to the boxes from above so that is not an option. There is a solid oak edge that I can remove so I am thinking that I will just start at the edge with a crowbar and hammer? TIA -Mark
SYSOP
[email protected]
Replies
the screws might let go if ya whack real good with a 2lb or so baby sledge..wanna bet they are drywall screws?
that way bigger hunks can be hauled out, if not, try sawzall in the gap (shim it open) and cut said screws
last resort..bust up the tile and make a bigger mess.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Can you cut the screws with a sawzall?
Sheet Rock screws not in my house! :) guess its time for a new tool, my old sawzall crapped out a couple of months back, time to hit the tool store. Will see if I can cut the screws. The problem being that I can't really get to them from anywere when I looked from below they where not easily seen. I can't remember if there is 2 layers of ply or just a single layer of 3/4". I do know the tile was put directly onto the ply so I am thinking it should come off fairly easy. We'll see I guess. I was hoping someone had an easy and clean solution as the Ktichen is hard to close off from the rest of the house and the dust will be going everywhere...SYSOP[email protected]
ya want easy an clean? buy another house..lol
I'd try the BFH route first..but get a sawzall while ya have a great excuse..."oh Honey?"....
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I know I am wishing on the easy an clean part... I just don't want to trash the existing cabs...
Thats what I am thinking, every job deserves a new tool right? at least 1 anyway.SYSOP[email protected]
Figure out where the gussets are on the cab boxes...
Bust out the tile ony at that spot... Dig out / remove the screw...
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!
Thanks that sounds like a good solution to try, did you get the package I sent you?SYSOP[email protected]
Another trick to try is to hole saw around the screw(s) in question, thru the plywood and take the counter top off as a unit...
The whole saw plug will work as a knob to turn out the screws...
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!
Yeah, the hole saw trick would probably work. I've used a carbide hole saw for installing shower grab bars, so I know they make hole saws up to the task. Even if you couldn't unscrew the screw, appropriate application of a momemtum-transfer device would separate the cut plug in reasonably short order.
Yur aware that the screw isn't being cut by the HS and that the piolet bit is along side it..
appropriate application of a momemtum-transfer device would separate the cut plug
Watchca got in mind???
Axe? BFH? Chainsaw? Brute BH? C-4?
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!
Remove the pilot once the cut has been started.
I'll leave you to figure out what an appropriate momentum transfer device is.
I'd go crazy with a drill and drill a series of holes on about 4 adjacent tiles. Give the area a whack and they should crack. Then with a hammer, a Wonderbar, and cold chisel, remove the 4 tiles.
Once they are gone, using a sharp Wonderbar, try to pry the rest off. They should come off, taking whatever mud or Hardibacker is under them.
Find the screws (good luck) or sawzall the the CBU into chunks to remove it. Probably no thinset under the CBU, unless the guy was a certified tile guy.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
certified tile guy ha ha ha ha certified lunatic maybe... Thats why I am hoping that he took short cuts and did a bad job setting the tile so it comes up easily. Thanks -MarkSYSOP[email protected]
>>I was hoping someone had an easy and clean solution as the Ktichen is hard to close off from the rest of the house and the dust will be going everywhere...
Mark, my schedule is a little light if...........
Try having someone lift the c-top from a corner and see if you can find the location of one or two screws from underneath........if you can cut or break these 1,2 or 3 screws with a flat bar or chisel your foot may be in the door. From there perhaps you could locate others and proceed as before. I have given tops a good yank up and had them come right of the cabs with no damage at all to exterior finishes.
Or chop off a few rows, sawsall or skill saw into smaller pieces or try to take off tile where you think the screws may be located. As long as the screws are not in the front rails or finished sides, I'd give it a screaming yank upwards and see what happens. 4 arms might be better than 2!
But, what do I know; I'm just an amateur hack!
Good luck,
EricEvery once in a while, something goes right!
So what are doing this weekend. Its only a short ride over here from your place what do say maybe 8ish Sat morning... :)
I did try and pry the counters up but they are locked down pretty tight. But with a second set of hands they might just come up enough to get something in there. Will see, would be so much easier to remove in large chunks rather than hundreds of little pieces.SYSOP[email protected]
How about going from the inside of the cabinet and using a wood splitting wedge to force the countertop up? The wedge itself might break the screws, otherwise the wedge should gain you enough space for a sawsall or even a cold chisel to break the screws with.
Danno that sounds like a great idea. The bigger the pieces I can remove the less mess I will make. I will still need to cut up the counter some but I have good "breaks" where the sink is, the cook top and the ovens so if I can get too the screws I think this should work out well. Thanks!SYSOP[email protected]
You're welcome; hope it works for you. I had to get some stair stringers pushed back onto the treads (the fools just nailed through the stringers into the treads, so the stringers were spreading and I was afraid the treads would just slide off of the nails), so I used a steel wedge between a steel beam and the stairs (there was a wall on the other side). The beam was near the top, and that part of the stairs drove over nicely, but the rest I just had to whale on with a BFH. Then glued and nailed cleats under the treads and nailed the treads to the cleats keep the stringers from spreading again.
upon further investigation tonight it appears that the wedge approach should work as there is already a good size gap to get the wedge into. I will start with that approach and if it doesn't work then the BFH will have to come out.SYSOP[email protected]
Good; good luck. And, like my dad says, whatever you do, don't force it--get a bigger hammer! :-)
I will start with that approach
If you get the counter top loose, two things wil lbe become quickly apparent. First, whether the peices are bigger than the door (or the trip to the door). And how stinkin' heavy can they get before you can get them into a wheelbarrow or dumpster (or other final or semifinal resting place).
Oh yeah, grab that nice fresh roll of duct tape, or snag some 3" masking tape, and cover the top edges of doors & drawers. It's not perfect protection, but not knocking a ding in the woodwork to be saved with the next-to-last #&*$^, #^$*#$6-pound chunk of countertop can be a bummer.
as to how I know that, I will only offer the Luka defense--it wasn't me, even if it was me, it wasn't me . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
If you can't sawzall them.. is it possible to locate the screws... then bust out the tile at those locations?
If so... then use a 4" grinder to take off the heads of the screws after exposure. diamond blade works... but in this particular situation... I might opt to go for the more traditional composite grinding wheels.
Once you get the top off... the grinder is used to take off any protruding screw remnants.
Not as clean as being able to sawzall 'em... but just another thought.
hmmm another new tool, that could be a good option I think I still have some of those composite discs lying around the shop from a previous job. The grinder is long gone though. Thanks -MSYSOP[email protected]
Hiya Sysop...
Are you in Newtown? If so, so's my father (I remember Taunton Press's first building). I'll be visiting this weekend if you need a hand. Let me know...
Paul
Yes I am in newtown and actually where I work is Tauntons original building the Old victorian house on Churchill Road. We moved back here a couple of years ago. Where in Newtown does he live?
Thanks for the offer of help, but I have a couple of friends that owe me some big favors so I am going to enlist them first, if they bail on me I might need some help. :)SYSOP[email protected]
My dad lives on Appleblossom Lane, family has lived there for hmmm... 35 years? Man, that sounds old. Matter of fact, my brother worked for FWW some years ago. Far cry from where they started to the new headquarters building on Main Street, eh?
Offer's open if you find you need another pair of hands or a Sawzall...
Paul
Did you live here as well? Appleblossom is right up the street. How long ago did your brother work for FWW? I have been here a long time so I probably knew him. And thanks for the offer of help.SYSOP[email protected]
Sure did, I graduated Newtown High in '74 (can that possibly be true? mannnn that would make me, gulp) ... I remember literally when Taunton opened in that building. Amazing to watch them expand as they have. My brother was there hmmm... maybe 12 to 15 years ago? Don't recall exactly, quite a while back.
Yes I do remember him. You also have a brother Doug correct? I was friends with him in high school.SYSOP[email protected]
LOLLLLLLLLLLLL, what a small world. Yupp, right on the nose! Nice to "meet" ya ;)
The internet makes the world smaller and larger both...
Next time you talk to Doug Tell him I said "Rabin" (as in Trevor Rabin of the band Yes) he will understand. Nice to "meet" you as well. Now that we have thoroughly hijacked this thread lets return to our regularly scheduled program...:) Thanks all for the info.SYSOP[email protected]
"I have been here a long time....."
BULL !!!!
I saw you at the fest.
Remember ? I was the one that bloodied your leg and scarred you for life...
What ARE you ??? Twelve ? Thirteen ? You simply couldn't have been there for a "long time".
: )
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
Take a look at the masthead of any Fine Homebuilding issue from 1986 and on and you will see my name there. I age gracefully!
A warning to all: DO NOT PLAY HORSESHOES WITH LUKA he is a killer! Next time I am going to don shin guards... He drew blood from 2 fellow Rhode Festers.
Where are those pics you took you gonna get them to me you leg breaker you. SYSOP[email protected]
ROFLOL !!!
They are still on the camera. (I hope. They did go through security...)
I have to find the software again, that will allow my camera to talk to my computer.
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
Excuses Excuses. I heard them all before. Send me the camera I will take them off. :)SYSOP[email protected]
Hey ! I have an idea.
There is a card in the camera. My neighbors have a card reader.
I wonder if it would work on my card without wiping the pics out ?
Next time they are home, if I haven't gotten this solved here yet, I'll go try.
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
I have a nikon ... it uses a compact flash card ...
when I download the pics into the computer ... I have to go back to the camera itself and thru the menu function on the camera body delete the pics from the card.
if I forget .. they just keep adding to what's there.
as a plus ... with XP ... me and Cath each have our "own side" of the computer ...
so I've found it easier to download the pics into my "side" of My Picutres ...
then go over to her side and download them into her My Pictures.
if yours works the same ... you can download all over the place .. time and time again .. and the pics will still be on the card until you delete them.
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Pennsy boy..
DL into "shared folder" in XP...then ya can git all the dirt, w/o loggin on to "you" or "her majesty"
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
yeah .. I know of the elusive shared folder ...
but we're talking about sharing pics with the wife ... which in this case is a female ...
so ...
after months of explaining ... I DID download those pics .. look in the shared folder ...
I find it much easier to to the mine and hers deal.
Plus .. when we first got the cam ... she was thrilled to learn she could take the cute pics of corey and make them "cuter" with all those stupid borders and little notations and crap! She had the nack for taking the one basic good pic I wanted to print ...
and screw the whole thing up with all that border and faded edge carp ...
so now ... mine and hers!
I get both the construction pics and the family stuff ...
she get's the family stuff ... poor pics ... lord knows what she does to them before emailing them around the world ....
I like my pictures to look like .... pictures?
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
ohhhh, I fergot about that stuff...it do happen..
just ferget I said anything ( and give her a hug from me)...
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Get in line, buddy !!!
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
Yup
I can download the pics as many times as I wish, wherever I wish, without having to change anything on the computer. If I want to create a hundred folders on the desktop and download all the pictures to each folder, I can do so, without stopping, and without changing anything. The camera is just like another hard drive, at that point.
To delete the pics on mine, I can do so from the camera or the computer, either one.
The camera hooks to the computer with a usb cable.
I have to install the correct software on the computer, or the camera is not recognized. It is found, and it is shown as being there, but it is not recognized so that I can download the pictures from it.
My concern is that my card may have a strange format or something. If I put my card in their card reader, it is possible the card reader will not recognize the format, and immediately start formatting my card. Which would erase my pictures...
"Criticism without instruction is little more than abuse." D.Sweet
you got to solve this I want everyone to see the evidence of the damage that a horseshoe can do when projectiled at a persons leg instead of the pin. By my estimate you got 2 good ringers LOL...SYSOP[email protected]
Sound like the solution -- just a few well-placed horseshoes.
Oh screw yer damaged leg ya whining puppy! Show us pics of yer cabinet/tile job!!!
<g>
Hey I gotta get my jabs at Luka when I can... :)
The tile Counter job is on hold for a little while we ran into a design issue with the cabinet maker and are rethinking the layout so it looks like I won't be destructing for a few more weeks possible months. What started out as a we need new counters I hate this tiel has turned into a whole kitchen renovation. Isn't that the way it always go. Glad I'm doing most of the work otherwise I would hate to see the change order costs on this... When I do I will be sure to take pics.
SYSOP[email protected]
>>What started out as a we need new counters I hate this tiel has turned into a whole kitchen renovation.
Cha ching!! I love this business!! I never walk away from;"we're thinking about changing the countertops and maybe the floor, can you give us some ideas?"
Good luck Mark!
EricEvery once in a while, something goes right!
Thats exactly why I am glad I have the skills to be doing most of the work myself. Cha ching into someone elses pocket... Liuckily we where not so far into the process that I will need to be making changes with the cabinet maker! In the end I think the kitchen will be much nicer and worth the extra wait time.SYSOP[email protected]
Hey Mark!
Sorry to hear about the delays to yer kitchen cabinet tile job...I've been following this thread with interest because I have a whole house where every single countertop in it has white 4x4" tile. In the kitchen, it particularly drives me NUTZOID. (Just need ONE SMOOTH surface to do prep work on y'know?)
I can, and will, deal with it staying on the countertops but the island in the kitchen is scheduled for tile removal. The house is very BASIC and doesn't deserve Corian, marble etc. I've ordered the plastic laminate book from Herrick (see BT classifieds) and figure that when I get back from my trip to S. America, I'll be demo'ing the tile on the island, building it into a 2-tiered top, and laminating it myself. Now you see why I've been following the dudes' advice on removal of yer countertops that are tiled...
This also brings up why I, a PITA DIYer, end up doing stuff myself. It's like this: cannot get 90% of contractors called, to SHOW UP! I'm midway between Pine Bluff and Little Rock and you'd think that 25 miles was some sort of extreme when in reality, we all know in an urban area that is less distance than going from one suburb to another!. I even offer to pay for estimates if they'll credit the payment against the work, if they're selected for it... (Is that unreasonable? I mean, if not selected, at least I'm reimbursing folks for their time/gas...WHEN THEY SHOW.)
Certainly you can sense some frustration in the above. Hence, even if my kitchen island countertop doesn't readily remove via the suggestions in the numerous posts above; I believe taking a hammer and crowbar to it to remove the tile, may be a therapeutic endeavor!!!! LOL!
Please DO post yer pics when ya get around to your task. Now that I'm finally literate on using my new Dig Camera, I'll do the same...if anyone's interested.
<ok, my lunch break is over...gotta git back to work! TGIF everyone!>
The tile part is exactly what we have. White 4x4. 10 years ago when we had the tile installed I told DW that she will be tearing it out in less than 10 years, her response no I love white tile... Guess what? Who do you think hates the tile the most? Its actually a good thing that this project is delayed as I am an outdoors kinda guy and working inside all week then having to go home and work inside more, well it will be better when the days are colder and I won't mind working inside as much. Unless it starts to interfere with Ice Climbing season of course...
Do let me know how your demo work goes, I will be most interested to hear about your efforts good, bad and otherwise. We are ripping out to put an Island in and you are ripping an island apart to improve. It also looks like I am going to be destructing a wall as well, should be fun...SYSOP[email protected]
"Do let me know how your demo work goes, I will be most interested to hear about your efforts good, bad and otherwise."
Mark - will do.
big/scary/crazy/Bob would make the drive .....
then ... just before the big demo ... you'd get to hear the "OK Men... we are entering into battle" speech!
I've heard the speech ... my job was to just cut a check when they were done ...
I swear I felt like killing something when he was done!
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Ah but Jeff - when we were yakking at RF - it was 'bout my POS fireplace issue and THAT's when "big scary Bob" name's came up.
"I swear I felt like killing something when he was done!"
Er...was that when he was done w/the speech or...with the job? (Cuz not sure what kinda endorsement yer giving him with a line like that! LOL!
(The fireplace/mantle issue truly does deserve a new thread though so...let's not hijack this one...)
Mark, I got a plan..told Mizshredder this...take a 2 by whatever, an place it on the cab floor, next to the side panel. Another 2 by whatever against the top @ the side, now swipe the jack from yer car..another 2 by whatever as a post..follow?
Just crank up the top, the screws will give.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Yeah, but which ones?
Well...some would say all my screws are kinda loose anyway...so what the heck!
<Hmmm... jez reread that. Whatever! Go ahead dudes - have a field day with THAT line>
ROAR!
Well, I haven't read all the posts, so some one may have suggested this ansqwer to your post title Q.
80lb electric jackhammer will do it in about 2 minutes with minimal rental fees.
G,D,&,R
SamT
Sounds like a bad plan for the cabs....
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!
I'll let ya know if it yanks the cabs with it, right outta the slab...
Let me know if the bases stay put and the boxes come apart... Will ya..
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!
Fer sure. But I'm not gonna do my tile/island project til I get back from S.A....so it'll be a coupla weeks.
Darn, I was figuring the counter project was good for five or six war stories. You know, stuff like sending a piece of broken tile flying through the glass door on your wife's new oven. Things like that.
There is no such thing as "too many tools".
Now... if I could just get my wife to repeat that phrase!! LOL
That said... a grinder is a GREAT investment. Use it all of the time... and to think I resisted at first.
Metabo has a really good refurb deal, if you have an industrial supply company near. I picked up mine for about the same price as a new makita.
When I built the house I had an open account at the local lumber yard boy was that dangerous. At the end of the month the wife would say holy xxxx what did you buy this month... Well I needed it for this specific task, ended up with a whole shop full of tools. But that was over 10 years ago and most of those tools have long since worn out or at the very least need to be upgraded. Home projects are great for that.SYSOP[email protected]
Use a good quality 3 inch chisel edge paint scraper like the painters use. (they make these with a slight angle to the handle)
Start at one corner under the counter and use a hammer and work your way around. If there is no screw it will pass through. If there is a screw it will cut right through it.
This also works great when removing siding.
Edited 8/30/2004 12:05 am ET by ARROWSHOOTER