If you're trying to preserve them for reuse elsewhere, removing ceramic tiles is a time consuming job.If your tiles are only chipping off in small pieces, you may need to use power tools or use a hand chisel.
Step 1: Drop cloth can be used to protect the floor.
There are unnecessary objects in the room.To protect them from tile flying, cover them with a drop cloth.Put painter's tape over the drain.Drop cloth over any part of the floor you plan to keep.Before you continue, make sure the bathroom is clean.
Step 2: If necessary, remove the toilet.
The shutoff valve on the water supply line should be turned off if the toilet is covering the tile.Once the tank and bowl are dry, flush the toilet with a hand-operated pump and sponge.Attach the tank with a wrench.The tank and the toilet should be put away.Remove the tank and bowl at the same time.You may need to rock the toilet back and forth to break the caulk.There is a wax ring between the base of the toilet and the drainage pipe.The wax ring is very sticky, so you may want to wear gloves.To clean the base of the toilet, use a rag soaked in mineral spirits.When you re- install the toilet, you will need to replace the wax ring.A wax ring that comes with an extension can be used to retrofit your toilet.Plug the hole with a rag after removing the toilet.
Step 3: Put on safety equipment.
Wear heavy-duty gloves, wraparound safety goggles, and long sleeves to protect yourself from tile pieces.Dust masks are used to protect against dust from tile.You should wear a hat, pants, and boots.If old tiles and mortar are found to be contaminated with the cancer-causing substance, it's a good idea to hire a professional to remove them.Lead dust is created when tiles use lead glaze.One tile removal project is unlikely to cause dangerous exposure, but to be on the safe side, wash your skin and clothes after you finish the project.If you expect to be exposed to lead dust again, buy a rated mask.
Step 4: The first tile needs to be broken.
To break apart one tile, use a sledgehammer and chisel.The subsurface can help determine your approach.Before you make a decision, read through the rest of the section.If you want to preserve as many tiles as possible, you need to cover the center of the tile with masking tape and drill several holes through it with a drill bit.The number of flying pieces will be reduced.
Step 5: Don't remove the tiles if you want to.
You can save money if the material beneath the tiles is in good shape.This method is slow and can cause some damage, so use your best judgement.Remove the tiles with a pry bar and strike the base of the knife with the hammer.Another option is an electric chisel.Use a floor scraper or a putty knife to remove the glue from the floor.If the tile only breaks in tiny pieces, or if you want to maximize the chance that it comes out intact, you should remove the grout lines first.You can use a handheld grout saw, a carbide blade fitted onto a rotary grinder, or a utility knife with several spare blades.A little heat from a blow dryer or heat gun may help.
Step 6: Saw through wood.
Remove a row of tiles.Fit a saw with a long blade to cut wood or masonry.To free it from the floor beneath, cut into the side of the substrate at a low angle.The material can be lifted with a bar.The floor beneath may be damaged by cutting through cement board.The slower way to break through the cement board is with a hammer.You can use a pry bar to remove the cement board from the floor.
Step 7: The mortar bed needs to be removed.
A thick mortar bed was used to install floor tiles from the 1960s and earlier.In shower areas, mortar beds were usually installed in areas where the floor was sloped for drainage.If you can afford it, you should replace it now since it's a pain to remove and will likely cause cracks in the mortar.Most mortar beds are made of sand mixed with a small amount of Portland cement and are easy to break up.Before you start, shut off the house's main water valve.A water pipe may be damaged by removing the mortar bed.Break through a small area with a chisel and sledge.A chisel bit from a tool rental company can be used to chisel around a chunk of mortar.Caution should be used when approaching the base of the bed.You can complete the job by chiseling the mortar from above by using the hammer between the wood and the bed.
Step 8: You should protect yourself and your surroundings.
Wear wraparound safety goggles, work gloves, long sleeves, pants, and a dust mask.You can protect the bathtub, shower floor, or any other fixture with a canvas drop cloth.Put painter's tape over the drain.
Step 9: Consider tearing apart shower walls.
The shower tiles are usually installed over the wall.If the substrate is a material like drywall, it's probably going to be destroyed even if the tiles are removed piece by piece.Remove the rounded tiles from the edge and top of the shower with a hammer and chisel.The edge of the tiles can be cut with a utility knife.If possible, cut along the edge of the wall studs.The best tool for this job is a reciprocating saw.Pull away large sections of the wall with a pry bar.The nails holding the drywall in need to be loosened.The back wall of tiles should be removed by breaking them in a horizontal line with a hammer.
Step 10: Instead of tiles, chisel them away.
The method allows you to save some tiles for reuse.Use a utility knife, a grout saw, or a rotary grinder to remove some of the grout from a long line.Place a chisel against the edge of a tile, almost flat against a wall, and tap with a hammer.The tile will pop out if everything goes well.If it doesn't budge or if a small piece chips off, remove the grout from the sides and try again.The easier it is to remove the first tile.An electric chisel can be used to speed up the job.
Step 11: Remove glue.
Remove the glue with a hand scraper or a putty knife after chiseling away tiles.To make the mortar softer, soak the tiles in water.