Replies

1. 
   coonass | Jan 06, 2003 06:01am | #1

   tony,

   Air chisel.

   KK

2. 
   chiefclancy | Jan 06, 2003 06:55am | #2

   I am remodeling a bathroom and need to change the existing tile floor.  It seems the old floor is set in a thick set of concrete which is making it quite difficult to remove the old tile.  Any suggestions on removing the tile?

   Am assuming this is a mud floor floated over wood joists, etc (i.e., not tile over a slab). What I usually do is take my least favorite circular saw and put a carbide blade in it (should run around $20), and then set the depth of the blade to no more than 3/4 of the thickness of the floor. I then cut the floor into sections about 12" wide and lift them out with a big pry bar. Can usually take out a 5x8 bathroom in a half hour, if that. I then build up a new subfloor with plywood and backerboard, levelling the floor in the process, before laying tile. Generally speaking it's not practical to remove just the tile, leaving the mud bed -- unless it's tile laid directly onto a slab, in which case you may not have much choice.

   I have considered going over the top of the tile by placing down new back board screwed into the concrete and then the new tile.  Is this reasonable?  Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

   You would be adding a minimum of 1/2" or so height to the floor, which may impact your fixtures, door clearances, transitions, etc. You can lay tile directly over existing tile, without backerboard, assuming the existing installation is solid and free of cracks. See TCA handbook (www.tileusa.com) for a detail and specs.

3. 
   andybuildz | Jan 06, 2003 12:40pm | #3

   Tony,

        What Andy L said about going over the existing tile is right. Personally if the height isnt a huge factor then I'd scuff up the old tile if its glossy and thinset the new tile directly over it after cleaning the floor thoroly. I'd use the liquid latex additive into the thinset rather then water as it makes the thinset much more adhesive like. It becomes very sticky. Just  be sure the existing floor is down solid first. I've done dozens of floors like that without a hitch.

   Have fun,

           Namaste

                     Andy

   "Attachment is the strongest block to realization"
   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   DavidBarDov | Jan 06, 2003 02:49pm | #4

   I agree.  The simplest way is simply to glue with thin-set on top of the old tiles.  If they're not high-glaze tiles I don't think you need to scuff them up.  You may run into problems with adjacent flooring, though (like in the hall or entry), and have to cobble up some sort of reducer.

4. 
   FrankTate | Jan 06, 2003 09:22pm | #5

   Tony,

   When I took out the tile shower pan in my bath remodel, I took a deadblow hammer and systematically pounded the crap out of it.  Then took a wrecking bar and started prying at the cracks.  Once I got a good chunk out it was a simple matter of breaking the mortar bond loose from the subfloor with the blade of the wrecking bar.  Sweep it into 5 gallon buckets and haul it away.

   Yes, I am a DIYer, however, this is the methodology recommended to me by a remodeler/GC friend.  Hope it helps.

   Frank
5. 
   andybuildz | Jan 06, 2003 10:26pm | #6

   Tony,

        If you decide to gut the floor heres a tip. If you're on the second floor or even the first floor and you don't have dozens of buckets to carry the debris out in. Use "contractor" garbage bags. 3 Mil...best thing invented since the hammer....I mean nail gun. They hold an enormous amount of weight and it keeps the dust to a minimal. If I'm on the second floor I lower them with a rope out the window and have a helper untie the bags from the rope. Save tons of time and dust in the house..

   Love them contractors garbage bags

                                         Namaste

                                                   Andy

   "Attachment is the strongest block to realization"
   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   john31136 | Jan 06, 2003 11:14pm | #7

   Andy,

   What method do you use to scuff up the original tiles.