Removing ceramic tiles can be a hard job, especially if they have been there for a long time. The job is a bit easier if the tiles are adhered to a cement board. Originally, some years back, tiles were set into the cement and when they set the cement and the tile were one unit. Then came this board which is a layer of cement applied to a wood board and the tiles were laid on this.

Electric Knife

The tools you will need to remove the ceramic tile are as follows: a 3 inch putty knife with a stiff blade; a small hammer, a flat garden spade and an iron pry bar. For your safety, you should wear wrap around safety glasses to avoid getting flying particles in your eyes; medium to heavy leather gloves to save your hands from scrapes and cuts; and a shirt with long sleeve or a sweatshirt.

Electric Knife

We will assume that your tile is adhered to a board attached with cement and proceed from there. Do not try to remove the tiles from the board with the intention of saving it. It would be very hard to do this successfully and cement board is fairly inexpensive so the cement board should be removed with the tile. Do not start the removal from the center of the ceramic tile. Find an area where the tile and a different material meet.

To remove the cement board and the tile together you will first have to remove some of the tile and the board separately. Take edge of the putty knife and set it into the grout surrounding the tile and remove that grout. When the grout is removed try to pop the tile off. You can use the putty knife by placing it under the tile and striking it. The tile will either break or come off. Remove a few more tiles that way. At this point the cement board should be obvious. Strike it with the hammer until it is broken and remove it. Continue this way until all of the tile and cement board has been removed.

Remove Ceramic Tiles

Electric Knife