How to Remove Tile From a Basement
- 1). Put on safety protection before beginning, including safety goggles, gloves and a dust mask. Removing old tile is messy and dusty, and shards of tile can cut hands if not properly protected.
- 2). Place the chisel at a 45-degree angle to a grout joint on one of the tiles. Hit the end of the chisel hard with the hammer, pushing the chisel away from you as you do so. This will break the first tile free from the mortar bed and concrete below.
- 3). Chisel out a row of tiles to give yourself some space. Place the end of the pry bar beneath the edge of one of the next rows of tile and begin to push and pull the tile free. Old tile and mortar should come up fairly easily from the cement.
- 4). Take another pass at large, remaining chunks of mortar with the hammer and chisel, prying them up from the concrete. Be careful not to place the chisel at anything other than a 45-degree angle, as this could cause the chisel to begin to chip away at the concrete as well.
- 5). Scrape away any remaining adhesive from the concrete, using the 6-inch razor blade. Do this as many times as necessary to ensure a level surface ready for receiving fresh flooring.
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