Ceramic tile removal

Q: What’s the best way to remove ceramic floor tiles? The tiles in the kitchen, hall and powder room of our 9 year-old house are chipped, cracked and in need of replacement. I want to remove the ceramic and install laminate flooring, but I’m worried about damage to the stucco ceiling in the basement below. Contractors have also warned us about the dust, noise and dirt that will arise from tile removal. Trouble is, these existing tile floors are already 3/4-inch higher than neighbouring floors. Is removal going to be as bad as we‘ve been warned? Are there other options we should be aware of?

A: A: Yes, removal of your existing ceramic tiles may be pretty traumatic, but maybe not. It all depends on how well the tiles are fastened and how careful your contractor is. The fact that your tiles are cracked is actually a good sign. It shows that they may not be fastened very well. If this were my situation I'd try tile removal in a small area, just to see how it goes. Dust can certainly be controlled using zippered plastic covers over doorways and stand-alone dust filters to clean the air within work zones. This is just a matter of good work practices by your contractor. You needn't endure dust everywhere. Of more concern is the fate of the ceiling underneath the tiled floor. If the tiles can be removed by prying them up (as opposed to bashing downwards with a hammer), I expect your ceiling will be okay. But even if you do find that the job proves too risky, you can always fill in the area where a few tiles have been removed using wood or mortar. Installing a floating laminate floor over existing tiles only increases overall height by about 3/8-inch, which isn’t too bad. Although second best, this approach is still worth considering.