What is the best way to remove this tiling and how much to remove?
 

My wife finally sold me the idea we could redo our small bathroom.. After removing the old wallpaper, the sink and the cabinet, I am stomped with how to remove the tiling most efficiently. The picture is from where the cabinet was. It looks like I have a cement layer set in there, then there is the white material that looks like cement mortar but this one is really hard. I tried to chip with a chisel and a hammer and I feel it can take hours and my old back will not like it much.. The house was built in 1970 and I think this is the original tiling from then. We want to replace the ceramic tile with cork or bamboo tiles/planks. My questions are:

1. What is the best way to remove the tiling and the white mortar? I read a number of earlier posts that talked about an electric hammer. I am considering either that or hiring someone.
2. Do I need to remove the cement backing and how?

thanks!

A few more details-----Is this on a concrete slab or a wood subfloor---

If it's over concrete---rent a chipping hammer with a flat blade---you will have it off the floor in a hurry---

This bathroom is on our second floor and on wood subfloor. I read about chipping hammer on other posts.Will it still work?

Yep, chipping hammer will do it quickly.
I have one of these, would recommend just renting one though.
Blade will be about a 1 1/2" wide. Just tell the person at rental yard what you want it for, will set you up with what you need.

Is it set on the subfloor or is there a layer of underlayment?

If there is an underlayment---get a flat bar under it and drive it inbetween the subfloor and the underlayment and remove this and underlayment all at once---

If it's set right on the subfloor---I suggest banging on the tile with a big hammer---the tile usually bounced right off the wood---

And Yes--that chipping hammer will work---

First of all. I'm not sure about cork, but bamboo in a full bathroom is not a good plan. I would think cork isn't much better, but maybe not.

What you've got there is a basic plain old mud job. It's made like so.....

Tarpaper over the wood subfloor. Metal lath stapled over that. A mix of sand/cement about 3/4" thick placed and leveled. Then tiles installed with thinset mortar. (that white stuff).

Removed it all down to the subfloor. Start at doorway with 2 lb. hammer and crowbars. Pry it up being careful not to get violent so you do not damage the plywood. Also need wire cutters - tin snips to cut lath. Makes lots of dust. Also get leather work gloves.

Once the old mud is gone you might/should need to add more underlayment depending on condition and what you're installing. (hopefully nothing made of wood).

Jaz

Duplicate post, site acting weird last 2 days.