How To Remove Ceramic Tile Adhesive From Concrete

The mastic will soften making it easier to remove with a scraper.

How to remove ceramic tile adhesive from concrete.

Use a 3 4 or 1 in. Removing tile from concrete will require you to use your strength to the fullest because you have to knock the tiles out instead of them coming out without any real force. Masonry chisel and a 2 lb. Use the second pass to remove the majority of the mortar leaving only the hardest remnants on the surface of the concrete.

You can further soften these sections with a non smelling chemical adhesive remover. In the past some professionals were using the so called cutback mastic adhesive to hold tiles. To remove excess mastic after the tiles have been removed soak several cloths in water and lay them. This material used asbestos which is quite hard and potentially dangerous to remove from any concrete base.

So removing it is going to involve a lot of water. How to remove different kinds of adhesive. Use chemical adhesive remover. So where do you start hammering up the tiles.

Simply soak up a lot of absorbent cloths or paper towels in water and cover the mastic with them. On the third pass remove these hard remnants reducing all the mortar to dust. To do that you will need that hammer we talked about. Graze with a sharp blade.

Some common products can easily remove mastic from the concrete floor without using chemicals. On the first pass level the surface removing any sharp protrusions. The handle is long enough so you get good leverage to scrape with. Chip the grout along the grout lines use a ball peen or masonry hammer and cold chisel to tap the pieces free.

To be specific you should use 2 lb maul. Some adhesive will stick to the concrete even after mopping. Some lubricants can also be very helpful. Work the chisel under the tiles forcing them loose.

Make sure you get plenty of extra razor blades they get dull fairly quickly. Scrape off as much as you can. Always wear safety glasses when removing ceramic tile. Strike the face of stubborn tiles to break them up for easier removal.

Remember mastic is soluble in water. Step 1 chiseling up tiles. Work the chisel between the tiles and the concrete hammering them up with a 2 lb. Use multiple passes to remove the mortar.

Start at a broken tile or between tiles where the grout has loosened. Mastic is not water resistant and it will dissolve and disintegrate when in contact with water. In some cases the only way to tear out the ceramic tile is with heavy equipment such as a jackhammer or air chisel. Follow the instructions on the bottle and allow the adhesive to soften.

Another round of mopping should remove the remaining glue.