hi im new to BT so please be kind…
Im preparing to install a solid hardwood floor in a kitchen that currently has 12 x 12 porcelain tiles installed. wall to wall. (meaning they were installed first, then the base cabinets and island base. My question is how do I remove tiles under the island and base cabs, or do i use a a 4″ grinder w/ a diamond blade and cut tiles off flush at cabinets? If there is backerboard glued /screwed down, is that gonna be difficult to remove? i hsve only installed hardibacker. never tried to remove it….Any and all suggestion s are welcome.. thank you !
Replies
If time is a consideration.........
Remove the cabs and start over.
A grinder under the toe kick will be a horrible job. Porcelain tile is no picnic. If you "could" get a decent cut and were able to break it loose within a 1/4" or so from the kick, you could then build out the kick to cover the junction of wood to cab.............
Man, let me know how this turns out.
Here's one reason to place the finished flooring up to the cabinets, rather than underlaying it under the whole shebang.
You might be able to get a die grinder or toe kick saw with a diamond blade under there, but my stomach churns at the thought of attempting this. Might be better to simply smash the tile somehow. Or remove the cabs. At the very least, see if the back of the kick is removable. (Some are, some aren't.)
Unless you installed the tile yourself, you have no idea what's under it or how it's attached. Could be mud, could be some sort of backer, could be lightly attached or could be screwed down every 4 inches on top of thinset.
TILE REMOVAL
I agree.....e the thought of using a dry diamond blade to cut the tile flush with the toe kick doesnt soud too pleasant. There is about 17 linear ft of base cabinet with a standard toe kick. The island is another story: there is a kick on one side; about 5 linear ft. but the other 3 sides are finished with the 1/8" paneling over 3/4" particle board with melanine on yhe inside, and no kick. As far as what is beneath the tile, what ever it is about 1/4" thick, because right now this tile is installed adjacent to 3/4" solid hardwood and is generally at the same ht. ... I say generallly, because in some areas it's slightly higher, in others , lower, probably due to fluctuations in the thin-set. As far as removing the island, I'm assuming that it was screwed to a cleat that has been screwed down to the subfloor and then the paneling applied over the particle board, thus hiding the screws....Removal of the base cabinets doesn't seem possible ,unless I want to remove the granite counter top and 4" back splash. The inside of all the base cabinets are all seamless- no access to anything , except where it is screwed to the wall at the top. I reallydon't want to get involved in removing the granite...
thanks. mark......