Removing Bathroom Floor Tile Mortar

After you have chipped away at the tile and mortar cut the old subfloor into small sections with a circular saw equipped with a carbide blade.

Removing bathroom floor tile mortar.

Gently use a scraper or razor blade to work unusually thick areas. Hit the tile in the center with a hammer. Pay special attention to areas that may have excess mortar such as grout lines on a tile floor and grout joints on a tiled backer board. If the old tile was laid on underlayment cut through the underlayment and mortar but not the subfloor.

The edges of broken tile can be very sharp so work carefully and cover surfaces with a drop sheet for protection. Test old tiles and mortar for asbestos and if asbestos is found hire a professional to remove the tiles safely. Pry up the sections with a pry bar. Chisel through tile surfacing and the mortar bed in a small section using a cold chisel and hammer.

Break up the first tile with a hammer. One tile removal project is unlikely to cause dangerous exposure but to be on the safe side ventilate the bathroom to the outside and wash skin and. Even modern tiles often use lead glaze which creates lead dust during removal. Make sure to apply pressure to the areas with the thickest layer of thin set.

Spray the area with the vinegar and wipe down with the sponge.