In order to remove ceramic tiles from your bathroom floor, you will need the following:
- Protective eye-gear.
- A bandana or mask to cover your mouth, preventing dust from entering your lungs.
- Rubber gloves.
- A chisel and a hammer.
- A grout saw (looks like a paint scraper but has a diamond shaped head).
- A sledge-hammer.
- An old towel.
- A hand-scraper. If you have the funds you could rent a power-scraper.
- A dustpan and brush
- A vacuum cleaner.
- A pry bar.
- A flashlight.
- An all purpose liquid soap.
- A scrubbing brush.
- A sponge.
- A dry mop.
Steps to remove your old bathroom tiles:
Step 1:
Put on your protective eye-gear, rubber gloves and bandana or mask.
Step 2:
Begin by removing the grout between your tiles with your grout saw, chisel, and hammer. Removing your grout first makes it easier for you to remove one tile at a time. Remember to sweep up all broken pieces of grout with your dustpan and brush as you go along.
Step 3:
Once you have removed your grout as best you can, cover your tiles with your old towel. Use sledge hammer and strike a few blows to the centres of each of your tiles to loosen them and break them up. The towel should prevent tile pieces from scattering around the room.
Step 4:
Use your chisel and hammer to knock your tiles away from your cement floor. Keep your chisel as straight as possible (roughly a 140 degree angle); preventing yourself from making holes in your cement. For stubborn tiles, you may have to resort to using your pry bar.
Step 5:
Once all of your tiles have been lifted, use your hand-scraper or power-scraper to level surface of your cement floor.
If you have wooden or prefabricated floors you may discover mesh or backer board underneath your tiles. Backer board is used to strengthen the surface area upon which tiles are laid. Therefore, it is commonly used on wooden flooring and prefabricated flooring. It may be glued to your floor or attached with nails, tacks or screws.
The mesh can be removed by using a pry bar. If the backer board still looks as though it is in good condition you will not need to remove it. However, if it is in bad condition you will need to remove it, also with your pry bar.
Scrape all uneven surface. This is where a flashlight comes in handy; lay down and examine each area of your floor with your flashlight positioned parallel to the surface of your floor. Look for any bumps, and level them.
Step 6:
Sweep up all excess debris with your dustpan and brush. Vacuum your floor; there should be no dust or fine tile chippings what-so-ever left behind.
Tip:
Choosing your new bathroom tiles is the first step you should take when planning a bathroom remodeling project.
