How To Lift Ceramic Floor Tiles Without Breaking Them

Place a suction cup in the middle of the tile and thread twine through the hole.

How to lift ceramic floor tiles without breaking them.

If you want to remove the tile without breaking it drill a hole through the center of the tile with an abrasive diamond drill bit being sure to use the lowest speed setting on your drill. If the adhesive is rubber based as many are these days i found heat to be a very good method to lift the tiles. Then use a thin putty knife or paint scraper to gently lift the tile. As you pry the tile make sure that you pull on the twine very cautiously.

You must be careful about storing the removed floor tiles as well. Tap the end slowly with a rubber mallet until it is worked under a tile. Pull on the twine as you carefully pry the tile from the floor. Repeat these steps until every tile has been removed.

Place a suction cup in the center of the tile and thread twine through the protruding hole. Tap the chisel lightly with the hammer until the tile loosens from the floor. Also dip the drill bit in a little water throughout the process to keep it wet so it doesn t overheat. Ease a flat bladed screwdriver or similar tool under the edging strips and gently pry them free from the tiles.

Slide the tip of the chisel under the edge of each tile with the chisel positioned as close to parallel to the floor as possible. Remove the rest of the tiles too in the same manner. Clean the grout out as others have suggested and then get a heat gun to heat the tile to about 120 degrees c.