Removing ceramic tile floor question

[Dukester]

We have ceramic tile as for the floor in our kitchen and washer/dryer area put in by the previous owners. While I like tile floors, a white one with light colored grout is not our favorite with 2 big dogs that like to traipse through everything; combined with white cabinets it is too much white.

I know there is no easy or quick way to remove the tile floor, but my question is, will it be possible to get the mortar removed and level to such a degree to allow us to put in down a wood floor, or even another ceramic tile? Is there another option?

Cheers! Duke

[RayV]

Taking up tile is not a huge project, installing the new stuff can be.

What is under the tile? Plywood, concrete slab, cement board.

The constant scraping/clicking of the nails on the tiles or wood would drive me crazy. What about linoleum?

[Dukester]

Plywood. So you think getting the plywood smooth enough for a new floor will not be that big of a deal?

Agree; when we used to have 3 dogs it was "loud". I'd go for linoleum, but my wife would not. She had the fun job of peeling linoleum off of the kitchen *walls* from the people before us. They used it as a backsplash for the counters.

[RayV]

You can put tile over plywood if it is level (coplanar) but it would probably be better to put down cement board. When I redid my kitchen I had two layers of plywood so I pulled up the top layer and put down cement board to lay the tile on.

I've never pulled tile off of plywood before but I doubt you will end up with a surface stable enough for tile when you are done. If the plywood peels apart (delaminates) you should cover it or remove it.

See what Dean Johnson and the flavor of the month have to say:

[Newfie]

I have removed ceramic from just about every surface. I use a air-power chisel, crow bar, hammer, square top shovel and a good sturdy brick and mortar hand-held chisel. Basically get a starting point - you may do this by working out some aggression on the floor by pounding a tile with the hammer until it breaks - pull out the pieces. Now use your air chisel on the edge of the adhered tiles to pry them up. Use the crow bar ones they are started and where your air chisel wont reach. They come up quite easily. Once your tiles are all up you are left with small piles of adhesive all over your floor. Use your air chisel to remove the large ones and your brick and mortar hand held to remove small ones. I then have a steel short square top shovel that I rub over the floor to remove any missed adhesive. The floor usually turns out pretty smooth. But to be sure it is smooth before laying new tile, I skim coat it with leveling compound or even tile adhesive. If needed I will lay backer board. It seems time consuming and a lot of work but honestly with the right combination of tools, I can clean a 12 X 12 room of ceramic tile and have it ready for new tile in less than 8 hours.

Good Luck!

Dukester wrote:

[hallerb]

jus remove the plywood, its not as stable as cement board, so if it gets wet it can ruin a nice tile job