Help Removing Old Tiles

[bumblefoot]

Any advice on removing difficult tiles welcome. I've got about one third of the old tiles off in my bathroom which have been there since the house was built in the sixties. Some came off relatively easy with a hammer a brick chisel but others just wont budge. I bought an sds drill and tile chisel but it doesn't do any good. It just crumbles the surface away and the bottom stays stuck like it's fused to the layer below. The tiles seem to be on about one inch of cement over a breeze block. I'm at the end of my tether. Red lots of ideas and watched loads of youtube videos but nothing works.

 

[Mark Frost]

its basically render what they are stuck to.. sand and cement.. once you get behind it, it tends to come off easier.. just keep on plugging away with the sds. If one of the other lads know an easier way then cool. If not good luck and keep on going.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

My uncle suggested elbow grease and I asked him where I could buy some!!

 

[bumblefoot]

thanks for the replies. My elbow's all out of grease.. Do you mean I should try going right back to the breeze block if that's what it is?

 

[Mark Frost]

thanks for the replies. My elbow's all out of grease.. Do you mean I should try going right back to the breeze block if that's what it is? View attachment 91789

yes i would then plasterboard the breeze block so much easier.

 

[Italy]

My uncle suggested elbow grease and I asked him where I could buy some!!

Even my uncle.

 

[bumblefoot]

Many thanks for the quick reply and encouragement. I'll give it a go. Not my first time removing tiles but never found it so difficult before...

 

[kevsalt]

dynamite always works for me ...very quick solution

 

[On one]

thanks for the replies. My elbow's all out of grease.. Do you mean I should try going right back to the breeze block if that's what it is? View attachment 91789

Jesus!
Whoever put those tiles on, wasn't messing about.

 

[On one]

dynamite always works for me ...very quick solution

I think dynamite is about right, looking at the pics

 

[bumblefoot]

I'll try and remove back to brick tomorrow but think taking the wall down or blowing it up would be easier.

 

[Mark Frost]

those tiles have been up 30+ years. Old school method of tiling.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

That is one occasion where tile on tiles would have been appropriate !

 

[bumblefoot]

Too late now and there's not enough room around the door frames and windows

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Too late now and there's not enough room around the door frames and windows

Additional moulding to architrave overcomes door frame issue.

 

[bumblefoot]

Almost killed me but one wall done. Just needs cleaning up. Then the next two wall and one wall to come down Cork tiles and black sticky stuff on the floor too.

 

[On one]

I have seen that type of walls also have chicken wire in as well........think yourself lucky!

 

[Terry the tiler]

Kick it

 

[GAZ5518]

Ahh .. The ol sand and cement fix... My ol man and his dad fixed this way... Always butt jointed.. But that's on another thread. Chopped many of these of with club hammer and bolster..use to have cut and scrapes to prove it.. As some one has already mentioned , sometimes easier to take back to brickwork and P board... (IMPO)....

 

[bumblefoot]

I've certainly got the cut and scrapes..

 

[bumblefoot]

Old cast iron bath coming out too. Just disconnected and weighs a tonne!!

 

[bumblefoot]

Old cast iron bath coming out too. Just disconnected and weighs a tonne!! Google suggests I should break it so I'll have a go!

 

[GAZ5518]

The old plumbers use to carry them on their backs .. Nutters ..( maybe that's an old wives tale ... and they all have old wives...oops)
Yes.. Take a good club hammer .. Put some ear muffs on ..close the door... And start breaking it from the overflow all the way down the centre till it breaks in half.. Then into quarters .. Wear builders gloves and be careful.. Very sharp and jagged pieces occur.. Good luck... Oh .. Put something in to stop crap going into your waste pipe ..and be careful of your water feeds, not to damage them!

 

[WetSaw]

....and goggles! Splinters of enamel can be like razors, don't be blasé about personal safety, I've got the scars from experience!

 

[bumblefoot]

Thanks guys. I'm going to put it off until next weekend. Gave it a bit of a tap and I'm going to need to get some ear defenders! Got the bath disconnected and away from the wall fairly easily but I've been struggling all day with the stuck inaccessible stopcock from hell

 

[WetSaw]

Might be a good opportunity to turn the water off at the mains and replace it then!