Tile removal woes

Valiceemo · Post by **Valiceemo** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 12:51 pm

I am having a new kitchen fitted mid May, and thought id get a head start on prepping...

Trying to get the current tiles off and its turning out to be nightmares.

Im hoping someone can either offer some good tips, or point out my stupidity in doing a bad job.

The tiles seem to be all one piece, kind of like a carpet, with some sort of mesh backing.
Having taken away some grout, i can see this.
And there feels to be about a 2.5in gap between brick work, and the front of the tiles.

I was hoping to get them off in good nick, to allow me to sell / give them away for re-use (save the planet and all that)

Is there a knack or technique to getting these types of tiles out?

If it has to be a destructive method then so be it, but i need to get them out ASAP, so i can plan for plastering, and get a spark in before the kitchen fitters.

Thanks in advance

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:06 pm

can't comment on the tiles but you need the spark BEFORE and AFTER the plasterer

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 2:08 pm

Two things, forget trying to save the tiles you might get four whole if you are lucky. Secondly, buy one of these https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb653 ... 240v/6846h it will have them up in no time. The best £60 you will ever spend.

DWD

Valiceemo · Post by **Valiceemo** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:21 pm

Managed to get a few out.
Looks like paper over the brickwork, and plaster / plasterboard
Is it best to go right back to brickwork?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:00 pm

That looks like you have been hacking away with a club hammer. If you had one the SDS drill chisel action will minimise damage if you hit the tile edge and often the vibration alone will break the tile free without causing damage to the substrate. If the tile is really stuck on, gently go under the edge but let the tool do the work. The object is to minimise making good.

DWD

Valiceemo · Post by **Valiceemo** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:49 pm

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 6:00 pm That looks like you have been hacking away with a club hammer. If you had one the SDS drill chisel action will minimise damage if you hit the tile edge and often the vibration alone will break the tile free without causing damage to the substrate. If the tile is really stuck on, gently go under the edge but let the tool do the work. The object is to minimise making good.

DWD

The area I've butchered was getting the first tile out. I had few options other than brute force.
I think I can probably get the majority of clean, as you say, but ill probably go for a booster chisel.

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:48 pm

Valiceemo wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:21 pm Managed to get a few out.
Looks like paper over the brickwork, and plaster / plasterboard
Is it best to go right back to brickwork?

IMHO, I know it's a lot of work but you started it, take everything back to brick/blockwork and have it replastered, start again.

As Neelix says, also plan out your electrical requirements at this stage and get the electrics properly in place. Yes, costly, but given that the finished job will last your time in the house, get it right and you won't regret it..

Look at it as (for example) £2,500 spent now, over 25 years, is £100 a year, two quid a week.

Valiceemo · Post by **Valiceemo** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:12 pm

arco_iris wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:48 pm
Valiceemo wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:21 pm Managed to get a few out.
Looks like paper over the brickwork, and plaster / plasterboard
Is it best to go right back to brickwork?
IMHO, I know it's a lot of work but you started it, take everything back to brick/blockwork and have it replastered, start again.

As Neelix says, also plan out your electrical requirements at this stage and get the electrics properly in place. Yes, costly, but given that the finished job will last your time in the house, get it right and you won't regret it..

Look at it as (for example) £2,500 spent now, over 25 years, is £100 a year, two quid a week.

Yeah, this would be the ideal solution for sure. But £2500...!?...
Is that a likely cost? For both even 2 complete walls?

arco_iris · Post by **arco_iris** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:26 pm

Did say "for example".

Have not seen your house/job.

Eastern European might do it for a grand, top notch pro. £5k, who can say............

:dunno:

Razor · Post by **Razor** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:34 pm

Personally I would try to get the tiles off clean but if they're well fixed just rip the lot off and reboard. It's far quicker in the long run

Valiceemo · Post by **Valiceemo** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:12 am

Razor wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:34 pm Personally I would try to get the tiles off clean but if they're well fixed just rip the lot off and reboard. It's far quicker in the long run

To be honest, I'm hoping they will come off clean, to try and save a bit of money on plastering.
As I've got some time t oplay with, I'll try...
See how I feel after a few hours of careful, archaeological type extraction

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:16 am

Look at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKR7FwIDEEU

DWD

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 12:54 pm

You can get the 80mm cranked chisel bit off eBay for £7. So the drill (or borrow an SDS) and bit will cost £77, the job will take an hour instead of days and if you are careful the wall will not be wrecked.

DWD

Valiceemo · Post by **Valiceemo** » Fri Mar 17, 2023 1:11 pm

Thanks @dewaltdisney

Will definitely look into this. I'm sure there is a tool hire place local to me, so that's an option also.