Tile removal

[DIY Diva]

I am trying to remove kitchen tiles (approx 100 years old) that have been stuck to the walls with what looks like concrete.
Some are falling off really easily while others are not budging. I'm using a hammer and bolster and was hoping for some tips to make this arm aching job a bit easier.
Cheers

 

[Gazzer]

Compo fixed by the sound of it (sand and cement) No easy way for that. Is it leaving the cement on the wall or are you removing that too.

 

[Ian]

Unless you can get hold of a mechanical breaker, then its a good old back-breaking job! Most hire places will hire out such a tool for a reasonable day rate.

 

[DIY Diva]

Thank you both
The cement is staying on the walls though it has holes everywhere. Plan is to get walls skimmed after I have finished the destruction!
Think I will look into a mechanical breaker before my arm falls off!

 

[Gazzer]

Try and get a smaller breaker as some of the big ones will tire you out as quick as the hammer and chisel.

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

hiring a breaker as per the advice above is always a good option or alternativley you can always buy a sds drill to keep and use in the future something of this nature is a reasonable sds drill at a good price......you will ofcourse have to buy the drill bit for it as well.
hope this helps

chris

 

[TilerJames]

any small chipping/kango hammer drill will do...

 

[terrygrant]

A pnumatic drill with rotostop fitted with a scutch chisel bit like this one from screwfix 50887

http://www.*************/prods/5088...lus-Chisels/Armeg-SDS-Plus-Scutch-Comb-Chisel

or if you dont want to spend that much I find these work really well

http://www.*************/prods/5986...DS-Plus-Wood-Chisels/SDS-Wood-Chisel-Set-5Pcs (dont but the really cheap ones they do though as they simply snap at the shaft.)

I find they work much better than the standard chiseling tips because they can deliver the blow to the junction between the tile and the bed very precisely resulting in a much higher sucess rate in removing tiles and leaving backing in place. You do have to keep resharpening the tip though.

Of course the easiest way to remove these tiles is to get someone else to do it for you

Good luck

Terry

 

[terrygrant]

Looks like I cant post the links.......I am sure you can find screwfix.co.uk and the item numbers are 50887 and 59864

Terry