How to Take Old Tile Off the Floor

Old "hard" floor tiles like ceramic or porcelain are laid to last -- and difficult to remove once they're down. The tiles are set in thinset, a form of cement. Then grout, another form of cement, is pressed between them. Even if they're cracked and damaged, those tiles are a chore to remove. This project calls for a straightforward approach: breaking up the tiles and scooping them out. Don't skip the safety precautions, as ceramic shards are as sharp as glass.

Protective clothing, gloves and goggles
Heavy canvas tarp
Large sledge hammer
Wide shovel
Plastic trash can
Heavy iron floor scraper

Instructions

- 1
  Dress in protective clothing with long sleeves, long pants, heavy work gloves and goggles.
- 2
  Spread the canvas tarp onto the center of the floor. Fold it twice to create padding.
- 3
  Swing the sledge hammer forcefully to the floor, onto the center of the canvas, to break the tiles at the middle section. The folded tarp should keep the flying shards to a minimum.
- 4
  Remove the tarp. Take up the shattered tile pieces with your shovel and throw them into the plastic trash can.
- 5
  Lay the tarp back down and repeat, hitting the floor into pieces section by section. Work your way over the whole surface, getting it all up. Clear out the broken flooring frequently to prevent it from piling up.
- 6
  Scrape the surface thoroughly with your metal floor scraper to take up the remaining mortar or grout.

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