Removing Ceramic Tile

By: John Garcia | Date Posted: October 31, 2022

Ceramic tile removal isn’t particularly difficult to accomplish. Ceramic tile may be readily removed from the floor or the wall if you’re familiar with a simple approach. Depending on where you are, we use different methods. It’s because the wall and floor tile removal technologies are not the same.

Hand tools are used to remove ceramic tile from a plywood subfloor in this example of tile removal. The process is mostly the same if you use cement board as the base. You should always break up the ceramic tiles first before attempting to remove the titles. Even though we are working with hand tools, numerous power instruments can make the process much easier. As long as the tile is laid on top of an already solid mortar base (e.g., a concrete slab), a hammer drill or roto-hammer with a spade bit is highly recommended. You can rent hammer drills and roto-hammers from tool rental shops or home improvement stores. Using a hammer drill on a plywood or cement board underlayment can result in extensive subfloor repair work, so be prepared.

Removing Ceramic Tile

The removal of tiles generates a lot of dust. Your house or office’s ventilation system may suffer if you don’t tape off the area where you’re working using plastic sheeting to keep dust from escaping. ​​​​​

You must use a dust mask when demolishing tile. You should also wear eye and ear protection and heavy-duty gloves. Hammering and chiseling can cause shards of tile or mortar to fly into your eyes, causing significant injury. Tile pieces can be dangerously sharp when broken, so wear long sleeves when demolishing this area.

When removing ceramic tile from a floor, a lot of debris can be generated, especially on larger ones. Consider renting a dumpster to dispose of the waste.

Instructions

Prepare the Work Area

To avoid damaging other items in the room, spend some time setting up your workspace before you begin working.

Use a flat pry bar and hammer to remove everything molding, trim, door frames, and doors that will impede the tile removal. As a result, they won’t be harmed or contaminated by dust during the razing process.

Line heating ducts with plastic sheeting and open doors to keep dust at bay. Dust from tile demolition can move through the house if it isn’t properly contained.

Find a Starting Point

A good place to start is at the edge of the floor, near a doorway. You’ll need a sledgehammer to break up the tile in the grout lines, so put on a dust mask and goggles.

When working with porcelain tile, more attention must be paid. A piece of glass can be sliced in half by the edges.

Separate Tiles With Floor Scraper

After pounding at the tile, identify a place where you can get the floor scraper under it to pry it up. As you pry more tiles, you will have to do less hammering, which speeds up the process.

Pry the adhered tile fragments off the subfloor with a floor scraper. They should come off with a little force. This job can also be accomplished with a flat shovel. Face-up and face-down floor scrapers are both viable options, so give both a whirl. This task can be made considerably simpler if it is applied correctly with this tool.

Remove all the tiles in the room by pounding and scraping at the same time.

4. Remove Adhesive and Grout

The thin-set glue and grout that is still attached to the underlayment may necessitate the use of a hammer and masonry chisel. You want to get the floor as smooth as possible after removing the tile layer, but this depends on the scope of the work and the needs of the new flooring. If you’re going to be installing new flooring, you’ll need a smooth underlayment, and these tiny tools can help.

5. Remove Underlayment (if Necessary)

Cement board or plywood underlayment may need to be removed at this stage, depending on the condition of the current flooring and the needs of the new flooring. Remove and replace the old underlayment if it is damaged or if the new flooring requires a different type of underlayment.

Cut the underlayment into manageable portions using a circular saw and a blade set to the same thickness as the underlayment. Sections of the underlayment can be unscrewed or pried up for removal once they have been cut.

6. Clean Up

Debris can be removed by using a scoop shovel and a broom. Debris can be contained for disposal in sturdy contractor garbage bags. You may need to arrange for the transportation of this material to a designated construction waste disposal site if you don’t meet local disposal criteria.

To finish cleaning up, use a shop vacuum to remove any remaining dust.

Ceramic tile can be used on the floor or the wall of a bathroom, a kitchen, or any other room in the house. Ceramic floor tiles and ceramic wall tiles have made our area more user-friendly, but we must remove them for various reasons. We discuss tile removal from concrete, walls, and ceramic floors in this context. When it comes to removing ceramic tile, it’s best to keep it a secret. To quickly and easily remove your ceramic tile, use this procedure. Let’s have a look at the old, cracked, soiled, broken ceramic tile removal process. Tiles can be removed with the help of this article.

Removing Ceramic Floor Tile

No products found.

1. FILA EPOXYOFF, Epoxy Grout Haze Remover, Effectively Removes Epoxy Residue, The Product Can Be Applied on Vertical Surfaces, 1 QT

FILA EPOXYOFF, Epoxy Grout Haze Remover, Effectively Removes Epoxy Residue, The Product Can Be Applied on Vertical Surfaces, 1 QT

Specifications:

  • Usage: Tile, Glass, Grout
  • Item Form: Gel
  • Brand: FILASurface Care Solutions
  • Surface Recommendation: Tile, Stone
  • Scent: Almond

Ceramic and porcelain tile, glazed quarry tile, and glass mosaic are all nonabsorbent surfaces that can be treated with EPOXYOFF Epoxy Grout Haze Remover. Biodegradable cleaners easily remove organic stains like grease, alcohol, and coffee. To remove even the toughest embedded filth and epoxy residue, the product’s gel-like consistency ensures that it sticks to vertical surfaces for long enough to do its job.

Conclusion:

Since 1943, FILA has been concerned with the beauty of surfaces.

Our fundamental belief is that surface care directly affects the well-being of the spaces and people who inhabit them, thus, we are unshakable in our dedication to adopting innovative methods and materials to sustain surfaces throughout time.

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Pros

  • Good product. Removes urethane grout residue easily!
  • Easy to use
  • Very happy with the results.

Cons

  • The smell of this product is horrible
  • Not great to remove epoxy grout

2. Pool Blok PB-12 by US Pumice, Pumice Stone for Cleaning of Pools, Tiles, Will Remove Lime, Rust, Stains from Pool Tiles Grout, 5.75×2.87×2.87 (1)

Pool Blok PB-12 by US Pumice, Pumice Stone for Cleaning of Pools, Tiles, Will Remove Lime, Rust, Stains from Pool Tiles Grout, 5.75x2.87x2.87 (1)

Specifications:

  • Product Dimensions: 2.75 x 2.75 x 5.75 inches
  • Item Weight: 6.7 ounces
  • Manufacturer: United States Pumice Company

Removes Lime And Carbon Build Up – Get your swimming pool tiles clean and ready for the summer. Works where chemicals fail. Removes rust, mineral build-up, lime stains, and hard water stains deposits from ceramic tile with ease

Conclusion:

Safe for most pool surfaces, including tile, grout, concrete, and gunite. This Pumice Pool Tile Cleaning block will help your swimming pool regain its shine again. Rubs out deposits without harm to ceramic tile or pool plaster. Will not upset the pool PH balance, Safe around children and pets

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Pros

  • This product is soft and easy on your tile.
  • Good product to get rid of mineral stains on the sides of the pool.
  • This product arrived before the time it was promised.

Cons

  • It did Not Remove Light Calcium Deposits
  • It seems like a scam

3. Rejuvenate Scrub Free Soap Scum Remover Shower Glass Door Cleaner Works on Ceramic Tile, Chrome, Plastic, and More 24oz

Rejuvenate Scrub Free Soap Scum Remover Shower Glass Door Cleaner Works on Ceramic Tile, Chrome, Plastic, and More 24oz

Specification:

  • Specific Uses For Product: Tile, Shower, Door, Glass
  • Brand:  Rejuvenate
  • Surface Recommendation: Tile, Stone
  • Item Volume: 709.76 Millilitres

Rejuvenate Scrub Free Soap Scum Remover Non-toxic Non-abrasive Cleaning Formula – Spray and Rinse for Streak Free Finish on Glass, Ceramic Tile, Chrome, Plastic, and More – 24 Ounce. Made in US

Conclusion:

Rejuvenate Scrub Free Soap Scum Remover Non-abrasive Cleaning Formula – Spray and Rinse for Streak Free Finish on Glass, Ceramic Tile, Chrome, Plastic, and More. Effective to use on glass, ceramic tile, fiberglass, natural stone, plastic, chrome, and porcelain

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Pros

  • The smell is not so strong that I can’t stand it, and it is certainly powerful in removing soap scum.
  • Throw all other products away!! This is the one that works!!
  •  It has a nice, fresh smell, and it works really well.

Cons

  • It had a good scent but did not work. 
  • This product ruined my tiles

4. Sheiner’s – Stone and Tile Cleaner Concentrate, Concentrated Cleaner Compatible with Ceramic Tiles, Granite Stone, Slate Tile, Travertine Laminate, and Other Concrete Surfaces, 1 Gallon

Sheiner’s - Stone and Tile Cleaner Concentrate, Concentrated Cleaner Compatible with Ceramic Tiles, Granite Stone, Slate Tile, Travertine Laminate, and Other Concrete Surfaces, 1 Gallon

Specification:

  • Specific Uses For Product: Tile, Shower, Countertop
  • Item Form: Liquid
  • Brand: Sheiner’s
  • Surface Recommendation: Floor
  • Scent: Bluebell

Keeps Your Home Pristine – This marble and granite cleaner is an effective shower tile cleaner, porcelain cleaner, and quartz countertop cleaner and polish. It acts as shower mold, mildew remover, and tub and tile cleaner, removing oil stains on concrete.

Conclusion:

No Chemical Stench – All our non-toxic cleaning supplies leave a gentle and light, refreshing scent on your cement floors and tiles. This all-around laminate floor cleaner and limestone cleaner doesn’t give off any unpleasant chemical odor.

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Pros

  • A pleasant smell leaves floors really clean
  • This product cleans wonderfully. 
  • Really great for big expanses of tile floors, like bathrooms.

Cons

  • Horrible product.
  • Without ingredient information, that’s dangerous 

5. IT JUST WORKS! Grout-Eez Super Heavy Duty Tile & Grout Cleaner and whitener. Quickly Destroys Dirt & Grime. Safe For All Grout. Easy To Use. 2 Pack With FREE Stand-Up Brush. Clean-eez

 IT JUST WORKS! Grout-Eez Super Heavy Duty Tile & Grout Cleaner and whitener. Quickly Destroys Dirt & Grime. Safe For All Grout. Easy To Use. 2 Pack With FREE Stand-Up Brush. Clean-eez

Specification:

  • Specific Uses For Product: Grout cleaning, tile cleaning, tile and grout cleaning
  • Item Form: Liquid
  • Brand: Clean-eez Cleaning Products
  • Surface Recommendation: Tile

Used by Professionals: Grout-eez tile and grout cleaner will remove grease, dirt, and stains from ceramic and porcelain tile and grout. It is a Heavy duty professional strength product. There are 3 reasons: Why Professionals love Grout-eez 1. Easy to use. 2. Fast to use. 3. The most important one is it Works!! Grout-Eez Is Not To Be Used On Natural Stone!

Conclusion:

Saves you Hundreds of dollars: Grout-eez is the easiest and Best grout cleaner on the market today, Guaranteed! By using our Grout-eez cleaner, you won’t have to pay a professional to do it.

No products found.

Pros

  • This is an excellent product
  • Best product I’ve ever used for cleaning grout effortlessly
  • We highly recommend this product.

Cons

  • Not for really dirty grout
  • Do Not waste your money

Thank you for reading!

John
 

John is the founder and chief editor of Homienjoy. With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, John is passionate about helping homeowners confidently tackle their projects. Holding a civil engineering degree and working as a contractor, project manager, and consultant, John brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Homienjoy community.

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