If you follow us on Facebook & Instagram, you know we’ve been working on little projects for our guest bathroom redo.
I posted an inspiration board forever ago, and we’re just now getting to working on that space. While some of the original inspiration stuck, some just didn’t fit or work with my personal style, so I switched things around in my mind…which is what I love about design!
It started with painting the cabinets…and they are beautiful! After that, I painted the walls white and let it sit for a while. After white walls & washed gray cabinets, the beige ceramic tile was just screaming at me in a not so good way.
And one day, well, I just started painting them…
Okay, okay.
Probably not my best DIY idea. But I just didn’t want to replace the tile. I loved the pretty coral-pink (mixed with Chalk Paint), and I love the way it paired with the gray cabinets.
But…I let it sit a while to see how I felt about it.
I didn’t like it with the grout showing. I didn’t love it painted solid.
I didn’t love solid shower curtains…
I didn’t love patterned ones.
It was just not working for me in. any. way.
I had thoughts of painting a stencil on the floor, and I think that would have helped, but we decided since it was a tiny bathroom, there was a much better option.
So (Matt) pulled his demo goggles (or sunglasses) out, and began busting up said tile.
He also got the hankering to film a quick how-to video for those of you thinking about removing tile (this was a first for us!). This is not a fluffy, music-y video, by the way. This is a hardcore, sometimes blurry, kid chattering, how-to.
You have been warned.
You’re welcome for the kiddie chatter.
It really wasn’t so bad.
For me, that is.
Matt has a few thoughts on this:
- Start with the right tools
- He LOVES the chipping attachment on his reciprocating saw & said it was definitely the way to go to remove the thin-set.
- Buy some knee pads.
- Buy extra chipping blades.
- Wear a mask (he did not do this & is still hearing about it)
- Book a massage when finished.
We also put out a call for help on Facebook on which tile to put down, as we loved both so much!
Stay tuned to see which one we chose & let us know if you try busting up your tile…may the patella gods be with you.
Go Matt! Go! I love the comment “We are going to need a broom.” Grayson is a very insightful young man.
Funny how you can learn from your mistakes like this! Thanks for sharing.
The layout is almost identical to our guest bathroom – which I totally loathe (don’t know about you and yours?)! There’s not much one can do with a tiny bath with a shower over it – but to joosh up the space I think a new floor will go a long way to improving the look of this room. Matt was brilliantly informative in his video, so many thanks winging his way from Oz! Now I only need to convince the hubs to give it a go!! Wish me luck. heather x
I will sure tell him, Heather!! He was cracking me up! Yes, you guys can totally do it!
🙂
shaunna
Thank you for always making me feel like I can accomplish these projects!! My husband is not a DIY guy so it’s all ME when it comes to projects. Can’t wait to see your finished product!!
Well, thank YOU! Definitely go for it…not bad at all! And we are using the mesh-backed tile, so we didn’t even have to rent a tile saw.
🙂
shaunna
Great How-To video! I guess even DIY-ers like us can’t be too impulsive, huh? Thanks for sharing! ^_^
Look at Matt. Star quality right there!!
Lol, yep. He is Mr. video, alright!
😉
shaunna
I love your blog site- always the cutest posts. It kinda reminds me of my husband and myself doing home projects.
I tore up the tile in the kitchen and the vinyl in the laundry. Getting the mastic/thinset off was a nightmare. I chipped it all off by hand and it took FOREVER ! My friend used the jackhammer attachment on my multi-purpose tool and ruined the kitchen floor. There must be 100+ “divots” in the concrete 🙁 Getting read to tear up the diningroom ( 17×13 ) I watched a video where they took a masonry bit and drilled 2-3 holes in each tile then hit it w /a hammer and the tiles broke into pieces and came right up. Will definitely try it that way this time. I know straight vinegar eats grout so maybe it will eat thinset too. I’d spray it w/hot vinegar and get it saturated and let it sit for a while before trying to chip it up.
You can always cut away some of the grout, and use a sledge hammer on it.
The biggest issue initially is the tile needs somewhere to expand to when shattering, and removing some of the grout gives it the space it needs. Once one tile is out, you can smash away and most times the force of the impact with take the thin set up with it making floor prep that much easier.
Another suggestion (though this only more or less applies if the original tile installation wasn’t that great) is to use a flat bar/pry bar and a hammer and simply leverage them out. This is hit or miss, and either works really well, or does nothing but chip the tile, and send tiny shards everywhere.
I had a hard time ripping up my tile so I got help from America’s Best Bath. They did a great job! Check them out here http://bit.ly/1kilZf9
Nice and wonderful pictures. It’s really good .Thanks for sharing.
We are in the midst of a bathroom makeover & I am so nervous to rip out the old tile! Thanks so sharing the video 🙂
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