Tile is one of the most common construction materials. Despite being relatively inexpensive, tile is one of the most expensive delicate materials to handle. Because it can be cut, scraped, dove-tailed, etc., it can be tricky to determine how to remove tile.
Many tools are available for cleaning and removing tile. Some are simple devices such as a brush and liquid product; others require specialized tools such as power drills or track-type feet. Regardless of the type of tool you choose, make sure it is safe and certified before using it on a live surface.
Power drills can put out enough power to penetrate even the thickest of tiles.
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Power hacksaw
Another way to remove tile that is larger than a hand grenade is to use a power tool. You will need a regular power tool, because the standard battery-operated ones do not work.
Power tools have buttons that you must push in and pop out in order to use them. These can be very useful if you have a hard time using a knife or scissors!
But what kind of power tool? Most places that install new tiles do not suggest a power tool, so just pick one that looks the most professional, if that’s what you want.
One thing to watch out for is whether or not the power tool isadjustable. Some can be dangerous if used on an unstable surface.
Manual chisels
A very old school method for removing tile is to use a dull chisel. The chisel should be sharp enough to cut through paper, but not too sharp to injure your hands.
The easiest way to use a chisel is to hold the handle with one hand and, with the other, gently slide the chisel into the tile. Then release and try cutting!
This can be done in one pass or in successive passes, depending on how deep you want to go. After each pass, let the tile stand for a minute before attempting another piece.
Some contractors will not recommend the use of a hammer because of the risk of breaking a piece off and going through an adjoining piece. A displaced nail or two will do the same job!
When working with thick tiles such as those used in bathrooms and showers, it is recommended that you put some effort into being gentle.
Hammer and chisel
Having a quality pair of hammer and tile removing tools is a must. If you do not have either of these, you can spend all day trying to chip away the tiles or grooves that hold them in.
Some people recommend the pocket knife approach instead, but that requires more effort to retrieve it when needed. Either one is a great help!
Chipping away the tile is the best way to start, and can be done by using a credit card size piece of tile and chiselting down the base until just an edge is left. Then using a hammer and an appropriate size chip you can start on the new surface!
Once that is done, move on to cutting out your pattern or template.
Dead blow hammer
An alternative tool for removing tile is the dead blow hammer. This tool is similar to a nail bar but is smaller in size and designed to be held against the Tile with a small amount of pressure.
Dead blow hammers were first introduced as a way to break up large pieces of tile that are stuck together. The nail bar can be used as it is, or it can be inserted into the dead blow hammer for the latter version.
When inserting the hammer into the tile, make sure there are no bottoms left behind. If there are, then you will need to use a different tool to remove them-the chisel bit or drill bit!
The dead blowhammer can be useful when trying to get some pieces of tile loose that were stuck together.
Demolition hammer
The second tool that can be used to remove tile is the demolition hammer. This tool can be used on most types of tiles, including vinyl.
Many vinyl tiles are not compatible with the hammer. When removing the tile, be careful not to break any of the pieces off as it is being removed.
The demolition hammer is typically mounted on a long, thin metal rod called atilet. This allows you to easily remove several tiles together without having to replace the whole tile system.
Be sure to use enough force with the hammer to break the Tile, but not so much that you hurt yourself or cause any damage to other structures members.
Cordless drill and tile cutter
When doing a large project such as a large private home or a new residence, it is important to have tools that are able to handle the job. Many times, less professional workers do not have these types of tools.
A cordless drill is one of the most common tools used for tile removal. While this tool can be used without, its best use is with a power supply and disk. The power supply and disk are connected in order to perform an operation such as cutting through the back of the tile.
When doing very small projects (like replacing some small pieces of tile) it is better to have a tile cutter. A good cordless drill must be used with a quality power supply and disk. The disk should be used for cutting through the bottom half of the tile.
Jackhammer
Another tool that is great for removing tile is the jackhammer. You can get one at most hardware stores, or at a home improvement store called Jackhammer.
The jackhammer is a tool that looks like a large, heavy hammer but with a chisel-like disc on the bottom. When you tap on a surface with this tool, it creates a hole that can be filled in with another item such as adhesive orrinmentadine.
It can take some time to learn how to use the jackhammer, so don’t tap too hard or you will damage the tile. Instead, use a moderate level of force and measure your distance between taps.
Rotary hammer
With Rotary Hammer, you can remove tile very precisely. You can use it on all kinds of tile, including porcelain and vinyl. The only way to try this out is with a Rotary Hammer!
Rotary hammers were invented for removing marble. Instead of using a regular hammer that goes straight down, a Rotary Hammer has a round handle that turns as it is attacked.
The nail or chip is pulled up and away from the wall. This happens more slowly and more carefully. With Rotary hammers, your grout does not break when it is hit by the hammer.
Another advantage to using a Rotary Hammer is that you do not have to be very accurate with the turn of the handle.