Removing Tile Adhesive With Power Tools

Stripping Compounds

• Stripping compounds are widely available for tile mastic. Like paint thinners and paint strippers, mastic stripping compounds are generally liquids or gels that coat and soften old tile adhesive. Softening old mastic prior to scraping greatly reduces the time and effort required to complete large-scale projects. Mortar removal compounds exist, but are more expensive and less readily available than mastic stripping compounds. Mortar removal compounds usually soften mortar by chemically reacting with and dissolving the mortar's cement.

Walk-Behind Floor Stripper

• Walk-behind floor strippers or "scrapers" consist of a cubical, wheel-mounted body attached to a waist-high handle. The body contains a motor, which powers the rotation of sharp-edged scraper blades. The blades protrude from the bottom of the body. The blades continuously scrape and scoop mortar as the machine crosses a floor. Usually powered by an internal combustion engine, walk-behind floor strippers quickly remove thick, stubborn layers of tile adhesive. Although they are expensive to purchase, walk-behind floor strippers are available for rent at home-improvement stores and equipment-rental yards.

Angle Grinders

• Like handheld circular saws, angle grinders are portable power tools that spin circular blades. Unlike circular saws, angle grinders' blades are perpendicular relative to the tool's body. This blade position allows the tool's operator to press the blade's face flush against floor and wall surfaces. Angle grinders accept floor scraping attachments and abrasive grinding discs. Floor scraping attachments convert the tool's rotary motion into a back-and-forth action that runs a sharp-edged scraper blade across tile adhesive. Diamond-coated grinding discs attach directly to an angle grinder's standard arbor and are suitable for removing both mastic and mortar.

Handheld Rotary Tools

• Handheld rotary tools fit within the palm of a hand. One end of a handheld rotary tool rapidly spins, similar to a power drill. Handheld rotary tools accept a variety of drilling, cutting, sanding and grinding attachments. Diamond-coated grinding discs are available for tough stripping jobs, such as removing mortar or mastic. The grinding tools rarely exceed a few inches in diameter. Because of their size, they are unsuitable for large projects, but ideal for adhesive removal in tight spots, such as corners and room edges.

Asbestos

• In older homes, tile mastic and vinyl floor tiles often contain asbestos. Asbestos is most common in homes constructed before the 1970s. However, if you have any suspicion that your flooring or adhesive contains asbestos, you should not attempt to remove the flooring or scrape the adhesive. Asbestos is most harmful when it is airborne, so you should leave the floor intact until you receive a professional assessment of the project's safety.