Removing Ceramic Floor Tile With Reciprocating Saw

Simplify ceramic tile grout removal by using a carbide grit blade in a reciprocating saw or an oscillating tool as a grout removal tool.

Removing ceramic floor tile with reciprocating saw.

Tools you ll need to remove ceramic floor tiles. Reciprocating saw or less ideally a circular saw cold chisel. Tile that s attached to cement backerboard needs the same kind of treatment as tile stuck to plywood. Cut the plywood underlayment out and remove it along with the tile.

If the underlayment is plywood use a reciprocating saw and 12 inch 30 5 cm wood cutting blade to cut through the plywood. Your handyman removing a ceramic tile tub surround with a multi tool. Both speed up this tough tedious chore. Use a long handled floor scraper to scrape away tile fragments and any old adhesive residue.

Floor scraper which features a broom type handle with an angled steel head attached for removing flooring. After all the tile is removed you may need to smooth the subfloor with a sander. Use a recip saw with a carbide grit masonry cutting blade and work in one small area at a time. Once one tile is out you can smash away and most times the force of the impact with take the thin set up with it making floor prep that much easier.

The qep grout grabber and remover is a single edge cutting attachment meant for any reciprocating saw. For ceramic tile set in adhesive chip away the tile with a masonry hammer and cold chisel. If the tile is adhered directly on the subfloor you will need to break it back by hand instead of removing pieces of tile along with the underlayment. The kit also comes with two replacement blades for extra longevity.

Once you ve finished the cut work your flatbar under the underlayment and rip it up tile and all. By positioning a chisel under a tile you ll be able to loosen each one and remove the floor. Removing tile attached to cement backerboard. Floor tile removal is an invasive but sometimes necessary task.

The biggest issue initially is the tile needs somewhere to expand to when shattering and removing some of the grout gives it the space it needs. With a 1 16 blade thickness you can use this tool in tile spaces from 1 8 to 1 2 wide. When you want to install new tiles replace chipped tiles or just access the subfloor beneath you must.