Removing Tiles, Skirting Boards etc

Shuntstick · 20-09-2007

Don't know if this is the correct place for this thread but I was just wondering, if you are asked to price a job and just for example it's a bathroom that's already tiled (maybe a badly done DIY job) and you have no idea how those tiles have been fixed, maybe they have been concreted to the wall prior to grouting. Do you have your customer take the responsability of removing the tiles and re-plaster the walls and any impefections that could arrise because of what may be under those tiles and the same with skirting boards in the same way before you do the job?

I am not a builder, plasterer, carpenter or a plumber and would not want to undertake those jobs.
I am (I feel) competent at tiling but never having taken a course I obviously have not got a lot of the knowledge and skills you guys have to undertake a lot of tiling projects and must do a lot wrong with the ones I have done, but I am going to do a course soon to hopefully change career and this was just something I was wondering about and how you guys get around it if you only do the tiling?
Sorry if it's a bit long winded.

**Fekin** · 20-09-2007

It's always far better to remove old tiles first carefully so you don't add too much damage to the wall substrat behind, then inspect the walls ones tiles are off and decide what prep work would be required before starting to re-tile.

You can tile over tiles, but the propper way is to remove old tiles first, then you know for sure you are not going to find the new tiles coming away from the walls because the old once are doing.

The estimate I went out to the other day was a full bathroom re-tile.

Customer said he wanted tiling over old tiles which had been painted.

I said the old tiles need to come off first, then any prep work that may need doing has to be done, then I quoted for the re-tiling.

You can never really give a propper quote before you know what you going to be tiling onto, so thats why I estimated the job like I did, as in good walls and all tiles removed and prepped first.

Shuntstick · 20-09-2007

Fekin, do you or any one else do tile removal? at an added cost obviously.
And how do you charge for something like removing tiles? by the metre or by time consumed?

I once removed tiles from a around my bath (splash surround) in my old house and my father in law told me to use one of those little butane gas burners. I put the flame to the center of the tile till it cracked or popped and then tapped it out with a hammer and chisel, is that the way you guys remove tiles or is there some kind of standard trade tool?

**Fekin** · 20-09-2007

Yes I will remove old tiles, charge at day rate.

I wouldn't be bothering heating each tile up for it to crack though, lol, just a good old brick bolster and hammer, or wide chisel.

**TonyJ** · 20-09-2007

funny this thread has come up. I am just about to do a tiling job (on Monday) for a good friend (obviously not making much out of it) He's done some good favours for me in the past. The bathroom has only been tiled half way, with old tiles left on the other half. I have the same problem in how to get old tiles off. I was going to use brute force and use a 4" bolster, being careful not to try and damage the substrate underneath. Look forward to hearing the experienced guys veiws.

Tony

**Fekin** · 20-09-2007

I think you've got it in one TonyJ.

I normally use a 4" bolster, if I can get just behind the lip of the tiles, if I can't then a chisel, but just tap away at them, don't go in with brute force otherwise you could take away large chunks of the plaster behind.

shaunykieron · 20-09-2007

i've tile over old tiles before but i've alway made the customer aware of the dangers , fkin is right you can't price a job up . untill you know what your tiling on too, thing is you could take the tiles off quite easily in some case's they'll just pop off.

however witch as happened to me i've managed to get all the tiles off and the wall looks ok ' but then i tapped on it and found it had blown i told the customer it needed to come of and be re-plastered .i made them aware of this firstly so it was fine. but obviously more costly . just always cover you back.....

shaun

**TonyJ** · 20-09-2007

Thanks for your reply fekin. If you do take away some plaster,do you fill it using your addey or do you use some kind of filler.

Tony

**Fekin** · 20-09-2007

Depending on the amount you end up taking away really.

Theres different rapid setting renders you can skin over with that dry out within 24hrs and can then tile on too, or you can always get away with using a polyfilla, but that will take longer to set.

If you end up having a full wall where the plaster has to all come off, you don't need to replaster, just board it with new plasterboard, prime it then tile it.

Shuntstick · 20-09-2007

Originally Posted by Fekin

I wouldn't be bothering heating each tile up for it to crack though, lol, just a good old brick bolster and hammer, or wide chisel.

lol, it did take me a good Saturday afternoon to remove them all and I only had a little filling to do as they mostly came clean away.

**versatilene** · 20-09-2007

I use a good decorators scraper to knock tiles off, the good quality ones professional decorators use that have steel all the way in the handle. They are strong and nice and thin but you can tap them with a hammer. That gets most (DIY tiles) off except the well stuck ones, then its a bolster.

uug197h · 20-09-2007

I started removing some tiles this week the bathroom was half tiled and i used a bolster and just 1 tap got the full wall of tiles off and the plaster right down to the brick had to plasterboard half wall the customer offered to pay for the boarding as soon as i told her but not all customers are like that they expect you to stick with the quote, so i add on what it will cost if it needs boarding or plastering then if the extra work is not needed the customer is happy i may lose some jobs like that but i dont lose money

**devonmark** · 20-09-2007

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SAFETY GLASSES ON....you only get one pair of eyes.

**Ric** · 20-09-2007

charge a day rate of about 150. i have a mate who only touches jobs that are ready to tile onto! depends if you want to do prep work!! get an apprentice if not!!!!!!!

**lm tiles** · 20-09-2007

Use a 4 inch bolster and dont go in to heavy handed . Start by breaking one then get your bolster in under the lip of th tile and tap away the tile often come off nearly whole :less mess to clean up; make sure the bath has plenty protection , and most important WEAR SAFETY GLASSES . Happy Hitting

GazTech · 20-09-2007

Originally Posted by Shuntstick

lol, it did take me a good Saturday afternoon to remove them all and I only had a little filling to do as they mostly came clean away.

If I may plz..interject..just got this far...in this thread S.S. would like to personally thank....all the crap tilers who have gone before me...........who put the tiles on.. that I had to knock off ! and bugger ! but fair play ....to the good tilers who have gone before me .......who have made gut,back to brickwork and re-instate.....best and worse scenario....Gaz

**TonyJ** · 21-09-2007

just a note to Gaz. your 'diamond tools 4 all tiles' link does not work.

Tony

**Fekin** · 21-09-2007

I always estimate my jobs first, say either you remove the tiles first, then I can inspect the walls behind and give a propper quote, or I can remove first then the above.

Or quote straight off the bat for tiling on good flat wall that need no prep work.