Need company to demo ceramic floor, and install new ceramic floor.

[sacabeans]

Currently my floor is ceramic on top of vinyl. As there is no way to remove the ceramic without damaging the vinyl all will need to be removed and presumably concreate board put down before new ceramic laid.

Anyboady have a contractor that can do this?

[mike002]

I just removed ceramic tiles that were installed on top of vinyl tiles glued on concrete. Vinyl tiles cracked when I smashed ceramic tiles.

[stealth]

Are you sure you arent up to it (demo-ing)? Did it last year,its not rocket science. 2 guys can do it in an afternoon or less.
Hammer and a chisel and a dust mask gets you going, and try and tarp off the room to minimize dust.
And get a rhino bag or dumpster for disposal.

[mike002]

One afternoon to demo and install???

[boyoflondon]

One afternoon to demo and install???


Demo yeah .... it shouldn't take you more then a few hours depending on the size of the room.

Install will vary depending on your pace/skill/time you put into it ...

[stealth]

One afternoon to demo and install???

Sorry, meant demoing.
Install is longer although depending on size of room, pattern, number of cuts and drying time, might not take much more than a weekend. But of course more tools and skills are needed. From the sound of the OP's post, he's prob not up to it...but anyone can save a few bucks by doing their own demoing.

[sacabeans]

Thanks. I might try the demo myself. I was worried that the vinyl would crack and cause a problem. I checked with home depot and they said it shouldn't be a problem because they are applying a leveler over top anyway. (they mentioned that they would not remove the vinyl if I hired them).

I have borrowed a tile chisel so I guess I can start from there. Can someone tell me how 'clean' the removal needs to be? After removing the tiles how much of the thinset underneath needs to be removed? At worst I can hire HD to do the install at $4.25 square foot after everything is removed.

I am demoing the kitchen cabinets too so I will just dispose of them all together.

[stealth]

Thanks. I might try the demo myself. I was worried that the vinyl would crack and cause a problem. I checked with home depot and they said it shouldn't be a problem because they are applying a leveler over top anyway. (they mentioned that they would not remove the vinyl if I hired them).

I have borrowed a tile chisel so I guess I can start from there. Can someone tell me how 'clean' the removal needs to be? After removing the tiles how much of the thinset underneath needs to be removed? At worst I can hire HD to do the install at $4.25 square foot after everything is removed.

I am demoing the kitchen cabinets too so I will just dispose of them all together.

Floor needs to be pristine so none of the bumps disrupt the new tiles from sitting flat. Pretty much no thinset remaining that would alter the height of the floor.

[98vtec]

Thanks. I might try the demo myself. I was worried that the vinyl would crack and cause a problem. I checked with home depot and they said it shouldn't be a problem because they are applying a leveler over top anyway. (they mentioned that they would not remove the vinyl if I hired them).

I have borrowed a tile chisel so I guess I can start from there. Can someone tell me how 'clean' the removal needs to be? After removing the tiles how much of the thinset underneath needs to be removed? At worst I can hire HD to do the install at $4.25 square foot after everything is removed.

I am demoing the kitchen cabinets too so I will just dispose of them all together.


Wear gloves!!! When you pick up the broken tile, you will cut yourself if you're not wearing gloves.. My hands were a mess after my demo..

[sacabeans]

I just talked to a handyman in my neighbourhood and he recommended that the vinyl come off too. He said as the house ages the vinyl may pop a corner and that could cause a crack in the tile.

[mike002]

I would remove vinyl tiles and install and screw down cement boards to the floor. That's the best subfloor for ceramic tiles, unless you have concrete floor already???

[leeo]

What about Snapstone flooring in a bathroom? Sounds easy enough to install but anybody actually ever use it?

[sacabeans]

I would remove vinyl tiles and install and screw down cement boards to the floor. That's the best subfloor for ceramic tiles, unless you have concrete floor already???


So I tore out my base cabinets yesterday and got a better look at the flooring. It appears the previous owner laid plywood on top of the vinyl floor and laid the ceramic on top. I believe this should be easier to remove and then I can follow the same method when laying the new tile. I was thinking that I could use a circular saw with a concrete blade and cut through the grout and plywood. I hope that, with the use of a flat shovel, can make it easier to get the floor up.

[Drthorne]

a concrete blade won't cut plywood. Canadian Tire has Jobmate 7-1/4" carbide circular saw blades for $3 that work great for demo work. they will go through the grout line, thinset and plywood in one pass but it's very dusty. Get 3 or 4 of them and they will get you through it

[sacabeans]

a concrete blade won't cut plywood. Canadian Tire has Jobmate 7-1/4" carbide circular saw blades for $3 that work great for demo work. they will go through the grout line, thinset and plywood in one pass but it's very dusty. Get 3 or 4 of them and they will get you through it

Thanks. I will try that.

[sacabeans]

Well, the guy who put down the plywood did a good job and put screws in every foot or so...

Any ideas how to get through the screws? I think a reciprocating saw would be ideal but I do not think I can get it under to cut the screws. I shovel and brut force does work but it is a bit back breaking.