How to remove tiles from the floor: step by step instructions. How to remove old tiles? How to knock down old tiles

It is necessary to remove the tiles in all cases before starting to make new coatings on the walls and floor. This is the main surface preparation process. This operation is not as difficult as it might seem. The main thing is to carry out all the steps with care and be sure to use personal protective equipment.

In order to remove the old tiles, you will need: a hammer and a chisel or a puncher, a spatula, rags and film, eye protection glasses, gloves, a respirator, a steel cutter and a drill. I want to say right away that if there is a desire to save a sufficient amount of nerves and strength, then you can turn to specialists. For example, a company ZBS repair with its professional workers will help you to do all the dusty work.

How to remove old tiles. Instruction

The easiest way to remove old tiles is to knock them down with a puncher. Removal in this way is quite fast, and besides, the most sparing, because a lot of small point blows are applied with a certain force with a puncher and does not damage the surface of the wall, at the same time it is more difficult to manually apply uniform blows. Read about how to choose a hammer drill for home.

You need to start removing the tiles from the top row and gradually move down. Do not forget that all work with a perforator is accompanied by dust, so be sure to use a respirator and goggles. Do not neglect the protection of your hands - use gloves. In the event that there are things or objects in the room that can be damaged by falling fragments, then you need to cover them with a film and rags. With special care and without haste, you need to work at the points of entry and exit of pipes, as well as their fasteners. Quite often, after the old tile is removed, pieces of glue remain in its place. They also need to be removed with a perforator if they are strong and large, or removed with a spatula when they are not very strong.

It happens that there is no puncher at hand. In this case, feel free to use a hammer and chisel. The technology for performing work is exactly the same as described above, but only in this case you have to work with your own hands instead of an electric drive. This method takes a lot of time and effort, so if you need to shoot a large area, it would be advisable to still think about buying a hammer drill. If it is not possible to buy or there is no point, then remember that you need to hit with a hammer carefully, tapping the chisel with small blows, you should not beat with a swing and drive the chisel deep. Remember that with just one careless blow, you can make a hole in the wall, which will then have to be putty.

The most difficult process will be the removal of a single tile from the total mass. There is a technology that allows you to knock down the tiles and not harm the neighbors. First you need to use a spatula to remove the grout around the removed tile. After that, you need to drill several holes in the tile. These holes make it easy enough to break it without damaging the neighboring ones. Be sure to make diagonal lines crosswise with a glass cutter, thanks to which it will chip off mainly along these lines. This is preparation for removal. After that, take the hammer and chisel and crush the tile first in the center, and then start knocking down the pieces, moving from the middle to the center. Do not try to hit too hard, do not touch the extra elements of the coating. After the tile itself is removed, be sure to remove the remaining adhesive on the wall, as the newly installed tile will stick out if not removed. In fact, the question of how to remove old tiles is actually not that difficult.

Video. How to remove old tiles

Ceramic tiles are one of the most practical wall and floor coverings in the bathroom. But any, even the best tile, sooner or later needs to be replaced. Whether you decide to update the tiles or replace them, for example, with plastic panels, you must first dismantle the old one. How to remove tiles in the bathroom: what needs to be done for this, what steps to follow and what to foresee - we will consider in this article.

Ceramic tiles in the bathroom

First you need to clear the space for future work as much as possible. We take out everything that can be taken out of the bathroom. It is also advisable to dismantle the faience plumbing, since when removing the tile, a piece of it can fly off to the side and damage items in the bathroom. If dismantling is not possible for some reason, you need to cover the furniture, bathroom, toilet bowl, sink, lamps and mirrors with dense material.
It is recommended to turn off the water supply to prevent flooding if there is a risk of damage to the pipes.
It is very important to take full responsibility for ensuring personal safety. The tile crumbles and breaks off when removed, the fragments can damage the skin or eyes. Wear heavy clothing with long sleeves, goggles and gloves. Cement dust or glue residue can get into the lungs, use a respirator to avoid this.

Work plan

Make a work plan. It really doesn't matter where you start: from the floor or walls, but a clear plan of action will save you time. It will depend on whether you want to keep the tile intact or just dismantle it without saving. The set of necessary tools will also depend on this. In general, an approximate work plan might look like this:

Preparatory work;
Dismantling tiles from the bathroom wall;
Dismantling tiles from the floor;
Cleaning and leveling of walls;
Cleaning and leveling the floor;
Final work.

Dismantling with preservation of tiles

Removing grout in the joints between tiles

Here you should immediately warn that 100% saving of the tile will not work. Especially if it was installed on a cement mortar in accordance with all the rules. If the tile is held on with a special adhesive, you have a chance to get some whole tiles. To do this, follow these steps:

Treat the seams between the tiles with water using a spray gun or a regular sponge. This will help soften the seam and make it easier to remove.
Remove grout in tile joints. To do this, you can use a spatula, screwdriver, knife or angle grinder with a disc nozzle for concrete.
If the grout does not lend itself well, try aiming a heat gun at the wall for a few minutes. In some cases, this helps and it can be easily removed.
After the grout has been removed, pass the corner of the spatula into the resulting empty space and try to carefully remove the tile.
If the fragment does not lend itself, use a chisel and hammer to separate it from the wall.
You can also use special wire hooks. On two small pieces of strong wire, the ends are bent and they are brought under the empty space on both sides of the tile, after which the hooks are pulled towards themselves.

Dismantling without saving tiles

Dismantling tiles with a perforator and a jackhammer

This method is much easier, because you can not worry about carefully removing the stove and use special electric tools. To break is not to build, but there are nuances here too. Be sure to evaluate the condition of the wall under it after removing the first tile. If the wall has been leveled and the remains of glue or cement mortar are easily removed, be careful when working with a hammer drill and do not make notches on the wall. In this case, you will have less work with further repairs.

If the wall is not even, and large pieces of plaster crumble along with the tiles, you will most likely have to do a lot of work and clean the wall to a concrete or brick base.

To remove tiles, use a perforator with a special nozzle in the form of a spatula. Try not to break the tile, but act like a chisel, leading under the edge of the tile. Even if you don’t need a whole tile, it will be much easier to dispose of it than to collect small fragments. Be sure to take precautions and do not remove a row of tiles that is higher than you. For these purposes, use a footrest.

Choose a rotary hammer with an anti-vibration system and with the ability to adjust the impact force. I wish it wasn't heavy.

Dismantling tiles on drywall

Removing tiles from drywall

If the drywall has not been sufficiently processed before laying the tiles - putty and other mixtures, it is unlikely that it will be possible to remove the tiles without damaging the base itself.

In any case, you can try and remove the tiles using gentle technology - that is, with the preservation of both the tiles and the wall itself. What does the first condition - saving the tile will most likely be done without difficulty. But to save the wall will have to try.

Remove the grout, after wetting the entire area to be treated with water, using a chisel, chisel and hammer, try to separate the entire tile, starting from the top row.

If the drywall is only partially destroyed in small volumes, these areas can be puttied under the next laying of tiles.

In the case of large-scale destruction, of course, drywall will have to be removed. You can remove it immediately without first removing the tile. To do this, use a perforator to make holes in several places through which you can remove the screws. Cut out part of the wall along with the tiles with a hacksaw.

Removing one tile

There are also situations when you need to remove only one or a few tiles. If it was laid recently up to a week, then dismantling will not cause much difficulty. Clean the grout and use a spatula to remove the tiles. If the laying was carried out for a long time and it took a repair of pipes or other communications under the tiles, you will have to work a little.

The main condition here will not be the preservation of the tile itself, but the integrity of its environment. Thoroughly clean the tile joints and use a hammer and chisel. If the fragment does not lend itself, take a puncher and drill several holes in the desired tile. Then, using the same chisel, gently chip off pieces of the tile until it is removed. If there is drywall under the tile, carefully cut it along the tile joint along with the tile.

For the future, it will be useful to make a hatch for access to all communications, if they are under the tile.

Final works

It is necessary to carefully process the walls, remove with a spatula or knock down the remnants of glue and cement with a perforator. To remove glue, you can also use a grinder with a special grinding nozzle.

After the case is completed, you will have a bunch of construction debris left - do not take it out into the bins next to the house - firstly, this is prohibited by law, and secondly, it is fraught with a fine. Arrange with a management company or a special organization for the removal of construction waste. If possible, take it yourself to specially designated places.

One of the most common finishing materials is tile.

Its dismantling is very simple, but do not rush and immediately get down to business, because the tile is a fragile material, fixed with cement mortar.

Therefore, excessive dismantling activities can lead to dangerous splinters and dust.

Preparing to remove tiles

Let's look at how to properly hit the tile:

Cover the flooring with protective material (boards, rags), unless, of course, it is to be replaced.
Appliances, furniture and other household items must be removed from the room or covered, as everything will be covered with dust.
It is often necessary to beat off the tiles in the bathroom, so it is imperative to prevent construction debris from entering the plumbing.
You must not forget to take care of your safety: clothes should be long-sleeved so that there are no exposed skin. Gloves are on the hands, closed shoes are on the feet, goggles are on the eyes, and the respiratory organs must be protected with a respirator.
Tool preparation: hammer, chisel or perforator.
If the work will be carried out in an apartment of a multi-storey building, then it will not be superfluous to warn the neighbors about the upcoming noise.

Dismantling tiles from the walls - remove a few fragments

After the preparatory work, you can proceed to dismantling. This process does not belong to the category of pleasant things, so the question arises: how to quickly beat off the tile? The speed of dismantling directly depends on the quality of fastening the tiles to the wall and on the tool used. Therefore, if time plays an important role, then it is better to get a puncher with “peak” and “blade” nozzles.

The surest way to start the dismantling process is to look for "weak spots" in the tiled masonry. It is better to look for it at the top of the wall - this will reduce the risk of dangerous fragments falling. If all the tiles are held tightly, then you need to carefully break one of the cells by hitting it in the center with a hammer or a puncher's lance. Fragments need to be picked up with a sharp object. After removing a few elements, things will go faster.

How to remove tiles from a wall - remove everything

After several fragments of the tile have been beaten off, you need to try to open the hardened cement and beat the next tiles along with it. If this is not done, then you will have to do double work, because the cement must also be removed.

The further process does not present any particular difficulties. You just need to hit the chisel with a hammer, directing it at an acute angle to the wall. With a perforator, it won't take long.

If tiles are removed from a plasterboard wall, then there is a possibility that the wall itself will be damaged. Therefore, when carrying out dismantling, extreme care must be taken.

Removing floor tiles

You can beat off the tiles from the floor with the same means as the tiles from the wall. This process is safer, since the fragments do not scatter from a height, and another plus is the convenience, because you do not need to climb up to the ceiling.

There is one way to carefully beat off the tile without damaging it. A hammer drill is not suitable for this purpose. You will need a sharp knife, a chisel, a strong spatula and 2 hammers (one of them is rubber). The first tile will still have to be broken. Then remove all glue.

With a knife, you need to remove the putty between the tiles, and try to crawl under it with a thin spatula, removing some of the glue or cement. Next, with a rubber mallet, tap the tile abundantly, then work again with a spatula. Thus, it is necessary to loosen or weaken the connection of the tile with the base to the maximum. If there are signs of weakening, then you can try to use a chisel and a metal hammer.

This method does not guarantee 100% saving of tiles, but some part can be saved. To increase the efficiency and speed of work, you can use the "grinder" to remove the putty between the tiles.

Now you know how to properly beat off the tile without damaging yourself and the surrounding objects. You also know how to dismantle tiles without damaging them. Whichever method you choose, remember that health is the most precious thing and cannot be replaced like tiles, so follow safety precautions.

Learn how to replace damaged tiles, old grout, sealant and more.

Replacing damaged tiles is a very important process because damaged tiles can lead to leaks in the room, which can damage walls and floors, and can lead to mold and eventually structural damage.

Remove the grout from all edges of the broken tile (image 1). Check for electrical wiring or water pipes with a detector.

To loosen the tile, drill a few holes in it (image 2).

Use a hammer and chisel to remove pieces of broken tiles. Remember to wear gloves and goggles (Figure 3). Apply adhesive to the back of the tile with a notched trowel (image 4).

Place the tile, making sure it sits flush. Use spacers so that the distances in the seams are the same. After the glue has dried, remove the spacers and apply grout (image 5).

Applicationbroken tiles

Before we get rid of the tile pieces, let's look at a few other options. Broken tiles can be used for decorative mosaics in your home. Mosaics can be used to decorate flower pots, photo frames, and as part of flooring. If you plan on having houseplants, broken tiles can be used as drainage at the bottom of flower pots and jars.

Step 2: Grinding

As the mortar deteriorates over time, it can lose its color and waterproofing properties. Replacing the grout can improve the look of a tile quickly and at a low cost.

Remove the old mortar from the joints, being careful not to damage the edges of the tiles (image 1), clean the joints of dust and debris with a vacuum cleaner (image 2).

Caulk the seams using a spatula (Figure 3).

Step 3: Restoring the color of the grout

Where the mortar has deteriorated in terms of color but not structure, a small amount of mortar will help restore pure, light colors.

Thoroughly clean the surface with a sponge and spatula (image 1).

When the grout dries, apply the grout solution (image 2). Read the description on the package to find out how long to wipe off excess solution. Use a damp cloth (Figure 3).

Step 4: Repair the sealant

At the transitions between tiles and other surfaces, a sealant is usually applied, which can deteriorate over time. Once the sealant begins to leak water, it must be replaced.

Clean the place of the old sealant. Special scraper or spatula (picture 1).

Apply masking tape on each side (image 2). This ensures that the sealant has straight edges.

Apply sealant along the entire length of the joint, try to press deeper into the gap, and smooth with wet fingers (Figure 3). Remove the tape and smooth again if necessary.

Step 5: Removing Damaged Drywall in a Shower Cabin

If water seeps through the tile, it can damage the drywall, causing the tile to wobble. In this case, you will need to remove the damaged sections of the wall and repair as needed.

Remove any cubicle walls or shower screens before you begin so that you have full access to the tiles (Figure 1).

Use the scraper to remove the tiles (image 2).

Cut out the damaged section of drywall. Be careful not to cut hidden electrical wiring or plumbing (Figure 3).

Try not to damage the frame (image 4).

Remove all nails and screws (image 5). Dry the interior. A special hair dryer can speed up this process.

Step 6: Replacing the Drywall in the Shower Cabin

Cut a piece of moisture-resistant drywall to the size of the hole and fix it to the old frame (image 1) After that, it is necessary to coat all the slots with sealant along the edges of the board (image 2).

At the junction between the old and new wall, it is necessary to glue the reinforced tape (Figure 3).

Apply tile adhesive to the tile and wall, fix the tile, grout. Re-apply sealant at the corner joints (image 4).

Step 7: Preventing Water Seepage

In most cases, shower leaks are due to poorly sealed tile joints, or because the sealant at the joints has aged.

The gradual penetration of water can damage the wall or cause the tiles to fall off.

The situation can quickly deteriorate if left unnoticed, so check these areas regularly for damage or dampness. If you find any problems, resolve them immediately using the methods shown above.

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