Thread: removing tile adhesive

I have hired a Floor stipping machine in the past. Bit like a wide blade that has a motor that vibrates the blade. If the old adhesive is rubber based such resaflex then its a XXXX of a job no matter what you use.

Ian

Mate
What are you going to put back down?
If tiles and the old adhesive is cement based and that hard to shift it must be stuck well, so why waste time chipping away, just go over it with your next lot of tiles.

Maybe an acid etch with hydrochloric acid and a wash down wit H2O but usually only if it is fairly smooth.

If the finish is rough on the concrete or old tile adhesive it will give you a better mechanical grip to the substrate. All the better.
Cheers
Hagus

hi steve i'm a tiler and believe me you don't want to just leave it and re-tile over the top of it - it'll be 10 times harder to get a good job at the end.
the easiest way for a diy'er is to use a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder with a diamond blade available at bunnings for as little as $100.
sprat a little water down first to try and hold the dust but it's going to get dusty.
tip: a good job is all in the prep i.e. floors and walls as flat as possible
jason

Hi, I'm a Tiler by trade.

You pretty much need mechanical help or it will take forever by hand with bolster and hammer. A mini jack hammer or rotary hammer drill with the stop hammer function is what you need. Depending on the type of adhesive used previously it can be very hard and slow work. You may not need to remove all of it. As long as its not flakey or too lumpy you can often just tile over the top of it all, once you have gotten rid of most of it. Don't worry about it chipping away the slab, the new adhesive will cover that.



edit, just got pipped by Jason in responding! Two mottos to live by, "If in doubt, grout!" and "Why use a hand tool when you can use a power tool!"

cheers Ben.

I've just about finished a reno, half the house is re-tiled (big sigh).
Pop down to the hardware & get yourself one of those cheap Ozito jackhammers, about $70 from memory. It comes with a 40mm wide chisel which, with just a little practice, you can easily skim the adhesive off the concrete without burrowing divets in it. If you're only doing the kitchen it won't take long at all. As the tradie's have said, do take the time to get the surface as smooth as you can, it's much better to trowel the adhesive on the floor than butter each tile.

If it's a concrete/ceramic tile type adehsive then as above, grinder, jackhammer.

If it's rubberised adhesive ......small amounts of petrol, 1 sq foot at a time and burn it.

Just do small patches, and have an extinquisher handy.

Wear a mask and ventilate the area well.

When it's finished just wash with water.

Originally Posted by ladas

If it's a concrete/ceramic tile type adehsive then as above, grinder, jackhammer.

If it's rubberised adhesive ......small amounts of petrol, 1 sq foot at a time and burn it.

Just do small patches, and have an extinquisher handy.

Wear a mask and ventilate the area well.

When it's finished just wash with water.

I like the idea... But sadly onsite, I think that may break a few OH&S laws!!!

and it probably still won't remove it all.

Originally Posted by Ben_R

I like the idea... But sadly onsite, I think that may break a few OH&S laws!!!

Yes but if he's doing it by himself to his own property ...........

When OH&S stop me doing things myself to my own property I will then realise we are in a totatiltarian police state, give up and go live in a hut on a beach in some asian or african country.

Or if you want to be a complete in your application to OH&S then get a tile/rubber adesive burner - they are on wheels with a fixed burner and you just roll over the affected areas......

Does exactly the same as small amounts of petrol, but takes longer, and it meets the OH&S requirements