Replace ceramic tile flooring

we have a kitchen that is about 300 sq ft. the floor is 8 in sq. ceramic tile that is 12 yr. old .it was put down on top of 1/4 in. underlayment that has been screwed to the sub floor . we want to take it out and replace it with a bamboo flooring . what is the best way to remove the tile ?

Manual Labor...You will have to break up the tile, haul it out, and then remove the sub floor and start from there...if they glued down the sub floor you will be having even more fun...


Lotsa fun for ya...

Heavy duty floor scrapers, sledge hammers, chisels. Lots of noise and dust. If you find an easier and less messy way to do it...patent the idea! Good luck.

The subfloor will obviously not be smooth enough to put any new flooring over. You can come in with a concrete grinder to smooth it down...which will make the mess in step 1 look like a tea party! Plan on taking up the 1/4"

tile

What is under the subfloor, concrete or wood? You will have to scrape or break the tile, then deal with the subfloor depending on how badly it is damaged and whether it can be removed easily.

I just did this in a small bathroom. We rented a Hilte TE-505 for the tile. Its like a small electric jack hammer. Cut through the tiles like butter. Then we rented a cement grinder to remove the old grout. Worked great, but generated an incredible amount of dust. Thats even with the shop vac attached to the vacuum port.

Whatever you do, don't scrimp on the respirator, safety glasses and ear protection. The grinder throws chips like bullets and screams like a banshee in heat.

BASSALE said:

we have a kitchen that is about 300 sq ft. the floor is 8 in sq. ceramic tile that is 12 yr. old .it was put down on top of 1/4 in. underlayment that has been screwed to the sub floor . we want to take it out and replace it with a bamboo flooring . what is the best way to remove the tile ?

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If you are going to replace your flooring then you just need to follow these simple steps:

1. Hit the tile with a hammer in the centre. The edges of broken tile may be very sharp, so work carefully and cover the surfaces for protection with a drop sheet.

2. Use the chisel to chip the rest of the tile. Place the cold chisel at the edge of the tile in the grout line, and start chipping it. Repeat steps 1 and 2, until several tiles have been removed.

3. Break up multiple tiles at one time and remove with scraper from floor.

4. Remove the mortar from the underlayment by hammering.


Removal of the underlaying adhesive can be a challenge. Seek to melt the adhesive with a heat gun and then remove it with a big knife for putty.

It would have better if you could could tell us whether the sub floor is wood or concrete, but here are the general steps you can use to remove the tiles.

1. Remove the grout around single tiles with the oscillating tool. Press the blade into the grout joint, turn the machine on and let the grout vibrate into powder.
   
   
2. Pry upwards on the broken piece of tile to remove it from the floor. Work from the center out to the edges of the piece for best results and to avoid damaging surrounding pieces. Tap the chisel with the hammer to work it between and underneath broken segments to pry them up section by section, and use the other broken segments as leverage. Slide the tip of the chisel under the next broken piece after the first one is removed if more than one piece is broken.
   
3. Scrape the thinset mortar off the surface of the concrete board underneath with the floor scraper. Cut through the concrete board with the oscillating tool. Pry it loose with the hammer and chisel. Pry up the nails. Scrape the wood floor clean with the scraper.

How to remove tile

1. Break up the first tile with a hammer. Hit the tile in the center with a hammer
2. Use the chisel to chip out the rest of the tile
3. Break up multiple tiles at a time and remove with floor scraper
4. Remove the mortar from the underlayment by hammering.