How To Lift Ceramic Floor Tiles Without Breaking Them

Pull on the twine as you carefully pry the tile from the floor.

How to lift ceramic floor tiles without breaking them.

Tap the end slowly with a rubber mallet until it is worked under a tile. Slide the tip of the chisel under the edge of each tile with the chisel positioned as close to parallel to the floor as possible. Remove the rest of the tiles too in the same manner. You can remove tile fast in a remodel job and this is how to do it and save the tiles too.

If you want to remove the tile without breaking it drill a hole through the center of the tile with an abrasive diamond drill bit being sure to use the lowest speed setting on your drill. Place a suction cup in the center of the tile and thread twine through the protruding hole. Ease a flat bladed screwdriver or similar tool under the edging strips and gently pry them free from the tiles. If the adhesive is rubber based as many are these days i found heat to be a very good method to lift the tiles.

Also dip the drill bit in a little water throughout the process to keep it wet so it doesn t overheat. You must be careful about storing the removed floor tiles as well. As you pry the tile make sure that you pull on the twine very cautiously. Remove the putty knife place it along the next edge and repeat until all sides are complete.

Tap the chisel lightly with the hammer until the tile loosens from the floor. Pry them away from the tiles rather than toward them to minimize the risk of damaging. Repeat these steps until every tile has been removed.