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Removing tiles from a concrete floor can seem like a daunting prospect to many. In fact, few realise that this can be a job you do yourself. It’s actually relatively simple. With the right tools, protective gear and a bit of the right know-how, you can make this job a breeze. This skill can be useful for applications such as prepping a floor before putting down linoleum or laminate flooring.
In this article, we’ll go over the best way to remove a tiled floor and everything you’ll need to complete this job from start to finish. We’ll cover the preparation and execution, the tools and protective gear you’ll need and how to go about this big job.
Before we get to the doing, we need to go over the tools you’ll want to source and the protective gear you’ll need to have on hand. Without the proper tools for the job, you run the risk of hurting yourself or someone else or accidentally damaging the area around your workspace. We recommend hiring these items from us at Hirepool - that way, you don’t have to worry about storage, and everything is always in tip-top condition for your job. Unsure what you need for your particular project? Consult your local Hirepool branch for information on the best tool for your tile removal job.
A walk-behind floor stripper is a tool that we only recommend for medium to large tile removal jobs. The machine is a push-along device with a frontal blade, allowing for rapid removal of tiles, linoleum or any kind of floor-adhesive layering. You need to ensure the blade attachment is the right sort for the job, and read the operation guide thoroughly before use.
This is a power tool used to break up the tiles and remove them from the adhesive surface. Small handheld breakers are available to hire in both corded and battery options. These tools have several detachable blades, all with different demolition applications. Be sure you’re using the right blade for the job to avoid accident or injury.
The easiest way to remove tiles is to ensure you’re using the right breaker blade for the job. These blades come in many different forms such as chisel and hammer among others. The best way to know which is right for your job is by consulting your local Hirepool expert. We’ve outlined the different types of breaker blade below for your reference.
A hand held hammer can be used for the initial breaking of the demolition surface. Using a swift downward motion, hit the tile in the centre with a hammer to break the first tile and remove carefully, leaving appropriate space to get underneath with the chisel tool.
The chisel breaker attachment is a flat-ended insert for the tile breaker, quite a bit larger than a regular hand chisel. This tool is used to slide underneath the loosened tiles and separate them from the adhesive sticking them to the floor. This is especially necessary when the tiles have been stuck down with excessive amounts of glue or resin.
A shovel is necessary for cleaning up the broken pieces of waste tile debris after the breaking is completed. Larger is better, ideally with a strong flat blade.
A floor tile scraper is used to remove any smaller pieces of tile and adhesive after the breaker tool has been used. The tool has a sharp, flat blade with which to scrape off excess adhesive. The purpose of this is to make the surface under the tiles as smooth and free of debris as possible.
Hirepool Tip: When removing tiles with any of the above attachments, it’s a wise idea to hook up a wet/dry vacuum to remove mess and suck up harmful silica dust from the work environment.
It is very important not to skip this step, as a failure to adopt the appropriate safety procedure could result in serious injury. The following list of safety gear is highly recommended for this job, especially when using a walk-behind floor stripper.
Covered boots/foot protection
Earmuffs/hearing protection
Gloves/hand protection
Full cover clothing
Helmet/head protection
Glasses/eye protection
Facial shield
Face mask that covers the mouth and nose. Depending on the covering or adhesive being removed, a P2 rated or better mask is recommended.
Preparation is key for jobs like this. Taking cautionary measures in advance prevents unforeseen accidents such as damage to nearby household items, chipping/damaging the floor underneath the tiles and injury to yourself or other people. Follow these simple steps to properly set up your equipment:
Before beginning your job, make sure the space you’re working in is prepared and free of any items that could get in the way or be damaged. Lift appliances and furniture off the floor, make sure there is no glass nearby and advise any other inhabitants of the property that the work is taking place.
Put on your protective gloves, footwear, eyewear, helmet and covered clothing. Cover any nearby surfaces to avoid mess from dust and debris.
Starting from the entrance to the room, lift up any trim or edging around the top of the tiles. This will allow you to quickly and easily break the tiles without any unnecessary tangling or obstruction. When all of the edging/trim is removed, make sure it is disposed of appropriately and out of the way to continue with the job.
Make sure the correct breaker blade is attached to your equipment. Throughout the job, switch between the hammer and chisel attachment as needed to achieve the optimal result. We recommend using a hand held hammer first to do the initial breaking, then switch to the chisel blade to get underneath the tiles to separate them from the glue/adhesive. Change between a flat chisel and a tile blade as needed.
Now that you’ve prepared the space, you’re ready to start with the removal of the tiles. Remember to go slowly and keep your hands and feet clear of the breaker blade at all times. Put on your hearing protection so as to prevent hearing damage.
Take the concrete breaker tool and make sure the correct blade is attached. Position it in between the tile and the concrete or sub-flooring below it. After stripping away the edging/lining of the tiles, there should be a gap near the entrance of the room for you to start breaking the tiles.
When the breaker blade is wedged slightly below the tile, turn the breaker on, holding steady with both hands. As you start to slowly apply pressure to the breaker, it will begin to break the tile and pull it up from the adhesive. Use the breaker at a low angle and push the breaker tool underneath the tile allowing the tile to break on top as it comes away from the floor. Repeat this process throughout the space, changing breaker blades as needed. Don’t get too close to the edge of in-built appliances such as sinks, toilets etc - the tiling in these areas need to be carefully removed by hand later.
After the tiles have been broken and separated from the floor adhesive, it’s time to remove the broken debris from the space. Take your shovel and, starting at the outside of the room, scoop up the broken pieces of tile and relocate them to an appropriate container. Work your way across the room until all of the larger pieces are off the floor. When done, dispose of the tile pieces responsibly.
With a hammer and chisel, return to the tiling near the toilet, sink or any other appliance and remove it by hand, taking care not to scratch or damage the appliance. If there are any residual pieces of adhesive stuck to the floor throughout the room, you can use the scraper to remove those too.
For medium domestic, commercial or industrial tile removal projects, consider using a walk-behind floor stripper instead of a breaker tool. This is a much larger piece of machinery, but it will make your job a lot easier than if you were using a breaker tool. Consult a Hirepool staff member for information on which tool is best for your job.
Before the job is complete, it is necessary to grind the floor and perform a final cleanup of the space. Use a concrete floor grinder and vacuum to remove the cement-based adhesive go over the rough parts of the sub-floor, removing any grit and remaining pieces of tile adhesive. After this is done, vacuum the floor and surrounding surfaces to get rid of dust.
If you’re in need of more information such as which are the best tools for this job or the cost to remove a tile floor, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. The Hirepool team are experienced, knowledgeable and always willing to advise on the best tools for your DIY job.
You can easily book gear online using Hirepool’s booking system to get started today.
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High Demand Product: We suggest making a booking for this item in advance.
