removing ceramic floor tile

[Guest]

hey, sorry about the stream of new topics today but I'm looking into a house that needs a facelift ... some stuff I've handled before, some not.

One thing I'd like to do is change out the ceramic tile, wrong color and too small for my taste.

The tile is installed on slab. So is this a hellish project to remove it and get the surface ready for new tile or flooring?

Anyone know someone who would do it?
I have a tilelayer but he would rather not be the tile destructor ...

[Carey]

Kathy, It depends a lot on how the ceramic tile was laid in the first place. We have removed tile twice, once at a church that popped up fairly easily, and once on a small hallway that was a bear to get up. both were adhered with thinset.
For the hallway we ended up renting a small jackhammer type thing with a wide blade (sure wish I could remember the real name..) & it still took a while & a lot of care not to take up the slab surface (a few dings are o.k., but you don't want to really damage the slab surface)

[Brad W]

You can install new floor tile over existing. Check door and cabinet heights to make sure everything will fit. You'll have to rough up the finish of the old tile to get the fresh thinset to adhere.

If you'd rather remove the old, hammer and chisel works pretty well for smaller jobs. You can also use a power or air chisel, either can be rented. Purchase price on the air tool is about $300. Either way WEAR SAFETY GLASSES please.

[Brad W]

Hi Kathy, yes it's ok to lay over. But do a test patch in an inconspicuous place to make sure you can get the thinset to adhere to the existing glaze. For instance, go into a closet or pull out the frig or range, rough up the existing tile with a sanding block, spread on some thinset, and slam down a tile. Wait a week and see what it takes to tear it up - you'll have your answer.

And do a walkthru considering the added height - look at everything. For instance, you'll probably need to double up on the toilet waxrings, assuming you don't tile up to the edge of the toilets.

And trimming off the bottoms of doors is no big deal, at least not compared to busting out a house full of floor tile.

Don't know what your situation is in the kitchen, but consider removing and replacing the cabinet toekick trim. Much cleaner look than trying to cut and fit tile up to the edge of the cabs.

Have fun, and remember the safety glasses.

[Brad W]

Just to be clear - not suggesting you start in a closet, but use an inconspicuos spot to test your method. The job itself should begin center of the largest room.

Congratulations to a selftaught son; I admire that.

Half inch lift is nothing. I lifted some of the slab floors in my house an inch and a half to get to level, and never noticed it.

Agree on the large tiles. The big 18 inch are a challenge to put down, but well worth the foot factor.

[Fishboy]

Brad,
I'm laying slate tile on my concrete walkway that takes a 90 degree arch from the front door to the driveway. I would like to cut the tiles on wedges to have them take this 90 degree arch, but am in a bind to figure an easy way to lay out the cuts to get the angles right. Are there any tricks to smoothly and cleanly take a 90 degree turn with tile?

Thanks for any advice,
Brian

Mahalo nui loa,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[Brad W]

Aloha Brian, I love templates. Butcher paper, pencil, ruler, tape measure, compass, bottle of chardonnay, ERASER; it's part of the fun.

Somewhere on line there is a schematic for your particular dimensions, one that would give you the cut size of each tile, but, that's cheating. My advise - go with the chardonnay.

And this might be a case where you'd want to pre-cut all the tiles and lay out the whole job before sticking anything down. Then pay particular attention that your spacing is spot-on.

[Fishboy]

Brad,
I like your advice! The curve is somewhat irregular, so I had expected that I'd lay out the tiles and number them before putting them down.

One other question, since we're talking tile. I saw a turtle inlay some time ago on the floor of a store in California. I was so impressed I took a picture and have now made my own template so I can create my own. The hardest part was getting everything symmetric, but using things from around the house I think what I've created is pretty good. I also saw a layout of a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in my local tile outlet last week. Pretty cool, but I don't think many people would want a fossil on their floor. My question is, is there much market for inlays or figures like this?

Thanks, nice chatting with you,
Brian

Mahalo nui loa,
Brian and Mary
Lynnwood, WA\Discovery Harbour

[Brad W]

I'd bet there's a book out there, or a chapter in a book, that specs out a bunch of different tile inlays.

My stuff is pretty nuetral because I like the more subtle tones, and to appeal to a broader range of prospective buyers. Skeletal remains get me going, but might not work for everyone. Today's kid's bedroom is tomorrow's den. Area appropriate theme designs might have a better chance of appealing to the masses.

I couldn't tell you what the demand is. I know they're a very popular option in tiled pools. Imagine holding your breath long enough to tile a pool bottom - impressive.