How to Remove Tile Floors With Mason Chisels

Always wear eye protection and heavy gloves when removing tile.

Removing a tile floor can be a tedious task, but working with the proper tools can minimize the effort and time required to complete the job. When tile covers a concrete floor, you need a specially designed tool called a mason or masonry chisel to lift it without breaking the pieces apart. You don't need to soften or dissolve the grout and adhesive first. You can effectively pry the tile off the floor with the chisel. Although you can also use a chisel to remove the leftover mortar, a floor scraper makes this otherwise arduous task fairly straightforward.

Things You'll Need

• 2-pound hand maul
• Floor scraper

Instructions

1. Insert the tip of a 3/4- to 1-inch mason chisel into the center of any one grout seam with the chisel pointing straight down.

2. Strike the end of the mason chisel with the hand maul to drive the chisel into the grout seam.

3. Tilt the chisel at a 45-degree angle pointing toward the side of one tile piece.

4. Strike the chisel with the hand maul to drive the chisel underneath the tile to lift the tile off the floor. Note that you will most likely have to strike the edge of the tile several times while moving the chisel in small increments along the length of each piece to lift the tile off the floor.

5. Remove all the tiles by driving the chisel underneath the tiles with the hand maul. Remember to move the chisel along the length of the tile in small increments and to strike the chisel at each point.

6. Remove any mortar residue from the underlayment with a floor scraper. Push the blade of the scraper towards the residue at a 45-degree angle.

References

• Ten Pound Books: Home Improvement Guide; Ken Fund
• The Family Handyman: Remove Ceramic Tile From a Concrete Floor