Replace ceramic tile flooring

[BASSALE]

we have a kitchen that is about 300 sq ft. the floor is 8 in sq. ceramic tile that is 12 yr. old .it was put down on top of 1/4 in. underlayment that has been screwed to the sub floor . we want to take it out and replace it with a bamboo flooring . what is the best way to remove the tile ?

[Cass]

Manual Labor...You will have to break up the tile, haul it out, and then remove the sub floor and start from there...if they glued down the sub floor you will be having even more fun...


Lotsa fun for ya...

[jimbo]

Heavy duty floor scrapers, sledge hammers, chisels. Lots of noise and dust. If you find an easier and less messy way to do it...patent the idea! Good luck.

The subfloor will obviously not be smooth enough to put any new flooring over. You can come in with a concrete grinder to smooth it down...which will make the mess in step 1 look like a tea party! Plan on taking up the 1/4"

[hj]

What is under the subfloor, concrete or wood? You will have to scrape or break the tile, then deal with the subfloor depending on how badly it is damaged and whether it can be removed easily.

[Artie]

I just did this in a small bathroom. We rented a Hilte TE-505 for the tile. Its like a small electric jack hammer. Cut through the tiles like butter. Then we rented a cement grinder to remove the old grout. Worked great, but generated an incredible amount of dust. Thats even with the shop vac attached to the vacuum port.

Whatever you do, don't scrimp on the respirator, safety glasses and ear protection. The grinder throws chips like bullets and screams like a banshee in heat.