removing ceramic floor tiles

[shopper]

How difficult is it to remove ceramic floor tiles.
Wanting to revamp the kitchen, and need to get rid of the horrible tiles put down by previous owner, but can imagine it would be a nightmare of a job.
Im considering just putting vinyl over the top, but would prefer them not to be there at all.
Any suggestions please.

[woodchopper]

I removed Chinese slate tiles from my kitchen a few weeks ago - used a lump hammer and bolster( cold chisel ) took me a total of 2 days to remove them and prep the floor for the tiler - some were easy to remove and came away clean - others not so easy and alot of adhesive/grout stuck to the floor - just takes time and patience.

[shopper]

Thanks for your answer. It sounds as bad as I thought.

[carrust]

Why not tile on top of them?

[johnnyedge]

If you decide to put vinyl over them you must glue a 3mm sheet of ply over the existing tiles first in as big a piece as you can, any joints in the ply must be filled and sanded flush. The reason for this is to prevent the shape of your old tiles showing through your new vinyl in about 3 to 4 weeks, also, it gives you a warmer floor to walk on. Make sure you degrease your old tiles first, the glue I would recommend is Gripfil, this comes in a tube and you apply it via a skeleton gun the same as used for silicon etc. (God help the person that has to get the ply up in years to come). To glue your tiles use tile to floorboard adhesive, (available from �Topps Tiles� if you have one near you). The only down side to this is that you might have to plane some timber off the bottom of any doors that open over the tiles. Good luck.

[Hairyplums]

Yep, me and you woodchopper, me and my mate removed tiles from my bathroom floor, Plenty of beer and patience, is the key...worth the time, dont tile over, shopper, that is just wrong....

[shopper]

thanks for you answers. Think they will have to come up.
Was considering vinyl because it is not too thick, anything else would be to high.

[sharkymoran]

Hire yourself one of these fellas, �36.50 a day, a day should cover it. Trust me it's worth it, I was the poor muppet who helped Hairyplums with his floor and the tightwad repaid me with a few tins of beer and a sore back for a fortnight. But then he did help me fix my roof so mustn't grumble.

http://www.hss.com/g/2159/Floor_Tile_Removal_K it.html

[SHP]

I'd leave the old tiles in place provided they are sound and screed over the top using a self-levelling compound. These are available from DIY stores but it takes a bit of practice to get it smooth!