Removing Floor Tiles Without Breaking Them

[unclebilly]

^^^ totally agree.

It it was going to come up in one piece, it would have had to have been installed poorly to begin with. If it was installed poorly 20 years ago, in a high traffic area like an entrance, it would already be cracked.

In my first house, my kitchen was retiled right before we bought it, within a month the tile started to crack. By the time I replaced it, the tile was cracked in all of the traffic areas. It was put down with small dabs of thin set and came up easily. Most of the tile in the non traffic areas came up without breaking. I don’t think you are dealing with this.

[unclebilly]

It’s probably cheaper to retile the entire kitchen than to pull up tile in the entrance, replace it, clean the tile from the entrance, then put the tile back down in the kitchen.

[fintstone]

I have done this, but it was challenging. I used muriatic acid to soften/remove the grout and was eventually able to get under them enough to free them. Some of the older materials comes up better than the newer ones. The tiles were much smaller than yours though.

Where I have needed to only save one or two, I was able to break/cut out some surrounding tiles and gradually chip away at the mortar underneath to save a few.

[look 171]

How old is the house David? On the older houses, they hack up the joist and pour a bed of motar on it over 1x6. If its original to an older house (1920-30s) it will be a bear to take then out without damage. but then in those days, tiles were smaller

[DavidI]

The tile is set on a slab and I only need about 10 of the 40 or so tiles intact. I'm going to remove the grout and use an oscillating multi-tool to get underneath each tile. I have nothing to lose, but thousands to save.

Wish me luck!

[look 171]

Originally Posted by DavidI

The tile is set on a slab and I only need about 10 of the 40 or so tiles intact. I'm going to remove the grout and use an oscillating multi-tool to get underneath each tile. I have nothing to lose, but thousands to save.

Wish me luck!

That may be the best way. Once the first tile comes out, the rest becomes easier. Just think, you have 10 out of 40 chances Good luck. Let us know how it goes

[herr_oberst]

How about a long, thin blade on a variable speed sawzall? Make the shallow initial pass with the multi tool and then gently, gradually get under it with the SA

https://www.amazon.com/EZARC-Pruning-Reciprocating-Lifetime-12-inch/dp/B07X471T34/ref=asc_df_B07X471T34/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385272107002&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16946504836736007025&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061079&hvtargid=pla-820926574511&ref=&adgrpid=78829231656&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Vearter-Reciprocal-20Inch-Concrete-Cement/dp/B09DJVGN79/ref=asc_df_B09DJVGN79/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=563715124049&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16946504836736007025&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061079&hvtargid=pla-1595104617042&psc=1

[dad911]

Freud DS0930CGX Carbide Grit Reciprocating Blade, 9" (Single)

I would try to get under it with a long masonry blade on a variable speed sawzall, like the above. The oscillating tool will only reach in an inch or so.

Edit: herr_oberst beat me to the punch, while I was seeing if there was a blade available for sale......

[fintstone]

Try this:

[gregpark]

There you go! Heat!
and a little patience.
Totally makes sense, heat expands the tile breaking the bond

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by gregpark

There you go! Heat!
and a little patience.
Totally makes sense, heat expands the tile breaking the bond

From the sound of him knocking on the tiles, it sounded like it was ready to pop up by itself.

I wonder if dry ice would help someway?

[fintstone]

Heat might work/help. I know my tiles pried up pretty easily by gently tapping a long putty knife under them after I removed the grout and soaked them pretty good in the muriatic acid. I mixed it a bit stronger and applied it much more heavily than I would normally use to clean tile before sealing and then wet it again really well with water when I mopped it up. I left the mild acid and then the water on for a while. Once the grout was gone (did not hold the water out), it leeched under the tiles and the mastic failed pretty easily. There was a lot of air under the tiles due to the troweling ridges.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by DavidI

The tile is set on a slab and I only need about 10 of the 40 or so tiles intact. I'm going to remove the grout and use an oscillating multi-tool to get underneath each tile. I have nothing to lose, but thousands to save.

Wish me luck!

With those odds, I'm betting YOU can do this....
"I" would only salvage 9 ....

Good luck, take some pics, and keep us updated on the "score" .

[DavidI]

I worked my butt off removing the 20+ year old tile. Out of all the tiles, I was only able to save 1! Because they were so large (17" x 17"), they always cracked about a third of the way up. When they were initially installed, the contractor did a great job. Live and learn!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by DavidI

I worked my butt off removing the 20+ year old tile. Out of all the tiles, I was only able to save 1! Because they were so large (17" x 17"), they always cracked about a third of the way up. When they were initially installed, the contractor did a great job. Live and learn!

That sucks. Sorry about the bum results. Merry Christmas!

[fintstone]

Tough break! Merry Christmas!