Removing ceramic floor tiles in preparation for the installation of brand new ones is actually a very easy task. With simple tools and safety equipment, even regular people can accomplish the job, saving a lot of money in the process since there is no need to hire professional help anyway. Here is a simple guide on how to remove old ceramic tiles easily and without too much hassle.
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Tools
The tools needed to actually remove the tiles are all pretty simple that they are often found in any regular garage. One important tool is a hammer; use this to break up the tiles so they are easily pried off the floor. Breaking the tiles with a hammer is so much fun that it can actually make the entire chore worth the while.
Another tool needed for removing ceramic tiles is a tile scraper. There are two kinds of tile scrapers, the power scraper and hand held one. The only difference between the two is that the power scraper has a long broomstick handle, this is to give the user enough force and leverage to gouge tiles off the floor. It is recommended to get both the power and hand held tile scraper, seeing as the hand held is better at getting the smaller pieces of tiles along the edges of the wall and in the corners.
Breaking and removing tiles is sure to make quite a mess, which is why a garbage can and a shovel are also needed. Use the shovel to pick up all of the larger broken tiles and place them in the garbage can, this is a lot safer than using bare hands to pick up the sharp, broken tiles.
Safety Equipment
Since the chore involves breaking tiles and handling sharp equipment, proper safety gear is also a must in this DIY project. Safety glasses or goggles are a requirement since breaking the tiles using a hammer will cause bits of ceramic flying out in different directions, and if one happens to make contact, especially in the eyes, it will hurt a lot.
Work gloves are also needed in this tile removal project. Tile scrapers have sharp edges, so does the broken tiles, which is why handling them needs the utmost care. Using heavy work gloves not only protects the hands from getting cut by those sharp edges previously mentioned, they also provide extra grip enabling the person to use tools like the tile scraper with ease.
Dust and other forms of debris will also be present in the air when removing tiles; this is why there is a need for face masks. The small dust and small clay particles floating in the air after breaking and removing ceramic tiles are harmful when inhaled, they can cause different respiratory illnesses, most common of which is asthma attacks. Also prevent the inhalation of the airborne particles by wearing a respirator; a ventilation fan can also help in removing the hazardous particles from the room.
By using proper tools and equipment, it is easy to make short work of removing ceramic floor tiles, it can even be fun.
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