How to remove old tile floor to prepare for new one

Toocool100

Hi,

I wish to install a new tiled floor to the bathroom, but before I do I need to take out the old one.

As it stands the floor is built up like this from bottom to top:
Floor boards > thin galvanized sheet metal > 3/4 inch cement > 1/4 inch ceramic tile


What is the best way to prepare for new tile?

Note #1: I would prefer to not raise the floor
Note #2: The ceramic tile is exceptionally difficult to chip out

Thanks,

Scott

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oh'mike

I see two options---a 3 pound hand maul and lots of pounding---or leave it and tile on top of the existing tile.

What are you doing in there? Same layout or fixtures in different places?

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Toocool100

I am keeping the same layout, new toilet will go where old toilet went. New vanity will go where old one went.

That big square cutout you see is where the old vanity was. They put the vanity over the floorboards, rather than cementing and tiling.


Oh' Mike,

I thought about pounding the floor, but i thought that it might destroy the floorboards. Will this method be OK in this regard?

oh'mike

You must do whatever it takes---those old mud set floors are tough!

Some collateral damage may occur and have to be fixed----A hand held little diamond circular saw might make breaking that easier----Harbor Freight has a nice one for $39.00--a wet sponge slapped against the blade will prevent dust---

After the old work is removed ,the old floor will need a layer of plywood and then some Durrock.

The little saw is used mainly for cutting Durrock.

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Bud Cline

You already have the best tile-base imaginable why not fill the old vanity hole with concrete to the surface of the old tile and then install new tile over everything?

Toocool100

Oh, i forgot to mention (which i can't believe because its important). The floor is not perfectly level. there are slight "hills," very slightly, noticeable only when using a level, or looking very closely.

Would i still be able to tile over that? or should i tear it out?

Could i use a circular saw with a diamond blade, if i decided to tear it out?

oh'mike

Circular saw will work but is dusty and often the grit kills the saw.

I'm with Bud on leaving it----The 'slight ' unevenness can be corrected with thinset as you tile.

Tile over tile is an accepted practice when the original is solid and stable---your is--Why add to your job?

Clean tile---scuff the surface--(I use an angel grinder with 32 grit sand paper--two disks -back to back) --then set the new tile with unmodified thinset mixed with liquid latex--

Kerabond and Keralastic by Mapei is a good example---

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Bud Cline

In some cases the new tile will bridge some small imperfections in the old floor.

You could use some Self Leveling Compound to level the floor after filling the vanity hole with sack mix concrete.

You could use thinset as mike said I suppose but I'm thinking thinset will have a tendency to skip (over the old tile) when you try to drag it out thin and smooth for leveling.

Toocool100

Thanks for the replies, they are helpful

In addition, The tile floor as it exists right now, is perfectly flush with the marble threshold which leads into the bathroom. Tiling ontop of the existing tile would raise the floor higher than the marble threshold. Is there an easy fix to this?

Also, what about the toilet flange? If i tiled over the existing tile, I do not think it would fit under the existing flange (See picture below)

Would a flange adapter work?



Also, if i did tile over the existing tile. How could i fix the chips i made to the tile?

Note: I tried to see how well the old tile would come off. Its very difficult for the old tile to come off. (See picture below)

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Bud Cline

Possibly install a new marble threshold atop the old. Not sure without seeing it.

It doesn't have to. The new tile can be cut-around the flange.

Just patch them in with any Portland cement patching compound.