How to Remove Ceramic Tiles: Tips and Tools You Need to Know

As homeownership becomes increasingly challenging and expensive for Quebecers, renovation emerges as an attractive alternative to enhance the value and functionality of one's property.

Often, the first step in these renovations involves removing old ceramic tiles in the bathroom or kitchen, as these key areas significantly boost the property's market appeal. Let's explore the steps to do this efficiently.

Essential preparations

Before you start, gather all the necessary materials, including:

Personal protection: wear safety glasses, gloves, a mask, ear protection, and knee pads.
Hand tools: hammer, cold chisel, angle grinder, pry bar, industrial vacuum, protective tarps.
Power tools: industrial vacuum, drill, angle grinder or a hammer drill with a flat chisel can be useful for larger areas or more challenging removals.

Step 1: prepare your workspace

Clear the room: remove all furniture, appliances, and objects to prevent damage and ensure your work is not obstructed.
Protect surrounding areas: cover countertops, cabinets, and adjacent surfaces with tarps to prevent chips.
Seal the area: if possible, isolate the room with a tarp to reduce dust spread throughout the house.

Step 2: check the existing ceramic

Before you start removing the tiles, check the ceramic to see how it was put in place.

Sound tapping: tap different areas of the tile to detect weak or detached parts.
Installation type: check what type of adhesive was used; the most common are cement-based or epoxy adhesives.

Step 3: take the tiles off the wall or floor

Wall ceramic removal

Find a starting point: pick a corner or edge of the wall where it will be easier to lift the tiles.
Create an opening: with a cold chisel and hammer or a hammer drill with a flat chisel, create a gap between the first tile and the wall. Continue this process tile by tile.

Floor ceramic removal

Start at a corner: with a hammer and chisel, lift the first tile.
Work methodically: remove the tiles one row at a time. For big or tough areas, you can use an angle grinder or an electric hammer drill to make the job faster.

Step 4: clean up residues and prepare the surface

After removing the tiles, there may be residues of glue, mortar, or other materials:

Scrape off residue: use a manual scraper to get rid of any leftover glue, mortar, or other materials.
Level the surface: if there’s stubborn glue or mortar, you might need a scraper or grinder with a diamond disc to remove it.
Industrial vacuum: some grinders can connect to a vacuum, but if not, remember to vacuum regularly to keep the area clean.

Pro tip: pour water on the mortar to keep the dust down.

Step 5: repair and smooth the surface

To ensure a durable and aesthetic installation of the new tiling, make sure the surface is wellprepared:

Repair Damage: fill cracks, holes, or other imperfections in the wall or floor using an all-purpose drywall compound. Then apply a multipurpose primer, which will enhance the surface's performance and adhesion.

Pro tip: after sanding and applying a primer layer to the damaged surface, add one or two layers of leveling compound to make it even smoother and provide a clean new work surface. Self-leveling concrete works great when changing flooring.

Tips for better efficiency

Work in sections: remove the ceramic in small sections to prevent too much dust.
Appropriate tools: pick the right tools for the job to avoid damaging the floor or wall underneath..
Check the subfloor: make sure the subfloor is in good shape and level before putting in new tiles.
Be careful with the hammer drill: if you think there might be underfloor heating or plumbing installation like hot water, cold water or PVC drains be careful. A wrong hit could damage them and lead to expensive repairs.

For more tips on choosing the best tools, materials, and coverings, feel free to contact our experts.