Discuss Removing Old Tile Adhesive From Floor in the UK Tiling Forum area at TilersForums.com.

D

dfuk121

We've started lifting the ceramic kitchen floor tiles ready to start laying the new ones (ceramic also). The problem we've got is getting the old adhesive up. Picture attached :hurray:

P1100310.JPG

The adhesive has a cement quality to it as it is hard. We've tried cold chiselling it, grinding it, hitting it repeatedly with many a blunt instrument but nothing happens. At best a few specks break off.

I think we need to lay self levelling concrete but wondered if there are any suggestions for getting the old adhesive up thus lowering the overall height of the SLC layer?

In terms of the shopping list, I believe I need to coat the floor (once ready) with BAL bond SBR Primer and then lay a layer of SLC, with Concrete Levelling Compound - Level IT one HDB being recommended elsewhere on this forum. Does this sound about right?

Removing Floor Tile Adhesive
  • Use an SDS Drill to pound away at the bulk of the adhesive that's on the floor. Most should come up in chunks.
  • There are tools like the Fein Multimaster (bosch do one similar) that can then use the oscillating head to grind away the rest
  • Some use a chisel and hammer
  • Wear Goggles and Safety equipment
  • Make sure doors are closed to the rest of the property
  • Open windows and any external doors to aid ventilation

P1100310.JPG



Tiles that have been stuck to floors for a long time can be some of the hardest material to pull away from the sub-floor. They may have been down for a very long time, and if they have, clearly the adhesive and tiling practices were spot on. There's nothing worse than going into a new job and seeing a floor with tile such as quarries and then needing to get them off the floor.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
D

davemul

Get ready for some pain, that is all I will say!

I had exactly the same. Tiles laid on TOP of lino... I started with a hamer and chisel and nearly broke my wrist in two!

I invested in an SDS drill and armeg chisel bit.. it took off the adhesive but I was left with the sticky residue from the lino to chisel up.

took me 3 solid days and my hands/wrists still ache! Make sure you use a mask, goggles and ear defenders if going my route.

All to save a few mm in floor height aswell!
 
D

dfuk121

I take it its a concrete floor under the old adhesive?

I sincerely hope so ;-)

As far as I can see, the entire ground floor was covered in lino. We've got laminate in the living room that's coming up soon, and I know there's lino under there. The lino is brittle and under this is black tar looking adhesive. Under this I believe there is solid concrete. Definitely not a suspended floor.

What I might do then is (SDS) chisel off the adhesive to get a level, if sticky, surface. I'd then lay SLC. Would I need to prime the floor before laying SLC?

Any brands of primer and/or SLC that have been tried and tested?
 
K

kruger

Just done my bathroom and i had the exact same floor,tried a bosch sds 3 with a tile removel bit.didnt even touch it.ended up with a hilti tango drill with a chisel bit.did the job but took two days and get some full ear protectors!!!!!
Someone told me after all they do is cut the floor out and lay some new down.
 
D

dfuk121

Someone told me after all they do is cut the floor out and lay some new down.

From what I gather, if the floor is wooden then it's usually replaced if it's got tile adhesive stuck to it as it takes far longer and more effort than the value of replacing the floor.

We've got concrete floors so I've followed the advice of @davemul and bought and SDS drill and the Armeg tile attachment. It slows me down on using a crowbar to remove the tiles but it's a breeze on the adhesive. Floor is looking good already. Just need to finish it and apply a skim of SLC. Happy days.
 

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Removing Old Tile Adhesive From Floor
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Which tile adhesive brand did you use most this year?

  • Palace

    Votes: 5 4.2%
  • Kerakoll

    Votes: 11 9.3%
  • Ardex

    Votes: 7 5.9%
  • Mapei

    Votes: 32 27.1%
  • Ultra Tile

    Votes: 15 12.7%
  • BAL

    Votes: 31 26.3%
  • Wedi

    Votes: 3 2.5%
  • Benfer

    Votes: 2 1.7%
  • Tilemaster

    Votes: 19 16.1%
  • Weber

    Votes: 18 15.3%
  • Other (any other brand not listed)

    Votes: 13 11.0%
  • Nicobond

    Votes: 5 4.2%
  • Norcros

    Votes: 3 2.5%
  • Kelmore

    Votes: 2 1.7%

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