Kimberly Ripley is a freelance writer and published author from Portsmouth, N.H. She has authored five books and hundreds of articles and short stories. Her work has appeared various publications, including "Parenting," "Writer’s Digest," "Vacations" and "Discovery Travel." She studied at the University of Maine and later pursued her writing studies through numerous classes and workshops.
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Tile FlooringSUPPLIES
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Crowbar
- Face mask
- Electric sander
- Plastic tarp
- Masking tape
Overview
Ceramic tiles adorn the walls and/or floors of kitchens and bathrooms across the country. Complementing most any decorating style, they are fairly durable and affordable, too. While some homeowners choose to leave the same ceramic tiles intact for decades, others like to change things out on a regular basis. This necessitates the removal of the ceramic tile, and this is one job where doing it yourself can save big bucks.
Step 1
Tarp and tape off the doorway of the room where you'll be working. Removing ceramic tile can be messy work and the dust will spread quickly throughout the rest of the house.
Tap the center of the ceramic tiles with a hammer. If this doesn't cause them to crack or break, try the action again, using a hammer and chisel. Repeat as necessary until all of the tiles have a piece or two broken from them.
Step 2
Remove the remainder of the tile pieces with a crowbar if they don't lift easily with the hammer and/or chisel. Slip the end of the crowbar underneath the broken piece of tile and pull from the wall or floor as needed. Repeat the process until all of the tiles are removed.
Step 3
Slip a crowbar under the ceramic tiles and pry to remove.Sand the remaining grout and adhesive from the wall or floor using an electric sander. Wear a face mask while doing this, as inhaling the dust from these adhesives isn't particularly good for one's lungs. Vacuum or thoroughly sweep the area after finishing the sanding process.
Step 4
Clean the wall or floor with a product like Jasco Adhesive Remover or a similar product to be certain that all traces of adhesive are completely removed.
Wipe down the walls or floor with a basic all purpose cleaning solution dissolved in water, or simply use soap and water. Dry the area thoroughly with an old towel or rag.
Step 5
Dispose of the broken ceramic tiles according to regulations provided by your city or town for waste disposal and recycling.
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