How to Remove Bathroom Tile From a Concrete Floor

Break one tile to remove it, then pry up the rest.

Removing bathroom tile from concrete is the same as removing tile from any other subfloor. In all cases, the focus is on removing the tiles and underlying mortar without damaging the surface under the mortar. Removing tile from a concrete floor clears the way for a new floor covering or allows you to return to a sealed concrete floor. Although removing tile is a demolition project, it requires much less smashing and breaking than other projects.

Things You'll Need

• Work gloves
• Protective goggles
• Small sledgehammer
• Cold chisel
• Wide chisel
• Metal floor scraper
• Heavy-duty garbage bag

Instructions

1. Put on your work gloves and protective goggles.

2. Place the point of a cold chisel on a tile located in the center of your bathroom. Tap the chisel with a small sledgehammer until the tile cracks into pieces.

3. Remove the pieces of broken tile from the floor. Place the broken tile in a heavy-duty garbage bag for disposal.

4. Place the tip of the cold chisel on the grout and tap it with the sledgehammer to break up the grout surrounding the space left by the broken tile. Try not to damage the adjoining tiles.

5. Place a wide chisel under the edge of a tile adjoining the new space in the floor. Hold the wide chisel at a 30-degree angle and tap it with the sledgehammer.

6. Continue breaking up grout and prying up tiles until the entire bathroom floor is clear.

7. Hold the blade of a metal scraper at an angle to the floor and push it across the floor, scraping up any remaining mortar from the concrete floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear work gloves and eye protection when breaking and prying up tiles.

References

• "Stanley Complete Tiling"; Ken Sidey; 2004