Ceramic Tile Removal Tips

Preparation

• Removing ceramic tiles involves lots of flying shards of sharp, broken tile. Take everything out of the room that will go, including floor trim and the toilet if it's a bathroom. Fragile fixtures that can't be removed, like bathtubs or built-in cabinets, should be protected with multiple layers of newspaper taped over them with masking tape. Put on thick jeans, a long-sleeve shirt, heavy canvas gloves and goggles.

Tile Removal

• Use a hammer and chisel to get started, chiseling at the weakest grout line you can find. The grout will break easier than the tiles themselves, so concentrate your efforts there. Get under the tiles as best you can, hammering at the mortar underneath that holds them to the floor. Stop periodically to clear out broken tiles so they don't get in your way.

Mortar Removal

• Getting rid of the mortar that held the tiles in place may be your toughest job. Use a razor scraper on it, tapping it gently with a hammer as needed, taking care not to gouge the underlayment. Get as much of it up as you can with the scraper, then take a belt sander to it, scouring the entire floor in a consistent direction with 60-grit sandpaper. Continue sanding until the underlayment is smooth and free of mortar.