Removing Tile: How to Demo Your Bathroom with Less Mess

If you’re planning on renovating your bathroom, you’ve probably considered saving a few bucks by handling the demolition yourself. While it is hard work, it’s usually worth it if you have a friend to help and a weekend to spare. Since tile removal is often one of the messiest components of a bathroom demo, we’ve highlighted the key steps to taking out the tile while cutting the clutter.

Prepping Disposal

Before you start removing the tiles, you’ll first want to make sure you’ve planned disposal. For a bigger job, you can line any nearby hardwood flooring with builder’s paper or Ram Board, and cover carpets with a drop sheet — this will keep you from denting or scratching the floor as you carry out debris. Heavy-duty garbage bags will also make it easier to remove tile shrapnel without leaving sharp edges exposed. Garbage can be driven to your local dump or thrown out in a rented disposal bin for larger projects.

Dust Management

Another important preparation step is managing dust and ventilation. In the bathroom you’re renovating, you’ll need to cover any vents so that dust doesn’t enter your HVAC system. You can cover the vents with builder’s paper and painter’s tape, and cover smoke detectors with a plastic bag or dust cover. You’ll need to wear an appropriate breathing mask, like an N95 or a P100 respirator, as well as gloves and safety glasses. If your bathroom has a window, it will be helpful to create negative ventilation by using a box fan; this will maximize air flow and keep dust down to a minimum. Dust can also be mitigated by wetting the floor with a spray bottle or mop.

Now that you’ve done the prep, you’re ready to start removing the tiles. Since the floor is the messiest part, you’ll usually start with the bathtub and wall:

Bathtub Tiles

When removing the tiles from a bathtub frame, you can mitigate mess by bypassing the tiles altogether. Just jam a pry bar behind the plywood and remove the whole piece at once, skipping unneeded shrapnel and dust. If the nails or screws won’t budge, use a reciprocating saw or bolt cutters to cut through them.

Wall Tiles

If your drywall is being removed with your tiles, then your job will be a bit easier. You can break through the drywall with a crowbar and remove sections of the wall at a time. However, if you need to retain the drywall, you can start by cutting the grout around one tile, then removing it with a hammer and chisel. Wall tiles will usually come out easier than floor tiles and will often not require power tools.

Floor Tiles

Floor tiles are the most difficult tiles to remove, as they’re usually installed with stronger adhesive. As a general rule, the better job the installer did, the harder it will be to remove. Some floors will only require a hammer and chisel and can be broken or pried up one tile at a time. However, for more stubborn tile floors, you’ll need an SDS Drill with a chisel bit, which can be bought or rented from your nearest hardware store. If your tiles are firmly fused to the ground, then this tool will save you hours and be well worth the extra cost. You'll use it to get underneath the tile, so that it breaks into larger pieces. Make sure to break the tile in the same direction as its mortar ridges, then remove the mortar until the drill is flush with the tile’s subsurface.

After you’ve completely removed the tiles, decluttered, and swept, your surfaces will be ready for a contractor to come and finish the job.

A great tile removal job is nothing without the right tiles to replace them. Contact our team today to find the best options for your new space.