How To Remove Tile Mortar From Hardwood Floors

Let the mortar cure then grout and seal the joints.

How to remove tile mortar from hardwood floors.

Use a hammer and chisel to break the tile from the center and work toward the edges. Put the tile in place and twist it back and forth to spread the mortar. The difficulty behind removing the tiles lies with the glue that was used to hold them in place. Chip out a single row of tile down the length of the floor and another row across the width with the intersection of the two rows somewhere in the middle of your floor.

It should come up fairly easily. Pry upwards on the broken piece of. A dremel or equivalent multi tool with the grout removing attachment is easiest to use. This will expose the plywood underlayment.

Press the blade into the grout joint turn the machine on and let the grout vibrate into powder. Depending on how easy the tiles are to pry up you may need either a crowbar or chisel and hammer to pop the tiles off the floor. Spray the area with the vinegar and wipe down with the sponge. If the glue has a very strong hold you may even need to cut the tiles and pry them up piece by piece to get them off without damaging the flooring underneath.

So we have to get all the mortar off the plywood before the flooring company comes to install the new flooring monday morning. Tap the tile down with a flat board and mallet. Then use a big flatbar or similar demolition tool to pry up chunks of mortar and tile. Some thinset mortar can be removed by using a chipping hammer with a scraper attachment.

He did say we only had to get up the high pieces. If the tile is stuck to plywood the strategy is a little different. Make sure to apply pressure to the areas with the thickest layer of thin set. We are going to replace the tiles with a high end armstrong linoleum.

Remove the grout around single tiles with the oscillating tool. Use a grout saw to cut all the grout loose around the perimeter of the tile you wish to remove. But if the mortar is stubborn you may have to go directly to the big tools. Gently use a scraper or razor blade to work unusually thick areas.

Pay special attention to areas that may have excess mortar such as grout lines on a tile floor and grout joints on a tiled backer board. I use the kitchen a lot and ceramic tiles are very hard on your legs.