Help with Flooring Removal

[Dave Siegel]

I am back working on our bus and have decided to re-do the floors. We have carpet in the living, marble tiles in the kitchen area and bath area, and back to carpet in the bedroom. The carpeting will be a relatively easy pull up, but I started this morning pulling up the marble tiles, the tiles come up easily with a chisel and hammer but I used a flexible mortar applied right to the plywood subfloor and that is where my problem is. How do I get up that mortar remnants?

Any ideas will be entertained.

Thanks,
Dave Siegel

[Hobie]

That glue, hopefully, will be water soluble.  Soak it with a wet towel, then try a hand floor scraper ( 4" razor blade type).  Patience, strong arms will get'r done.

[Seayfam]

Your in for a lot of work and some Rosie palms. I did that in my bus and used a sharp wood chisel. Dampen the floor and scrape scrape scrape. I was replacing it with a different tile, so I didn't worry about getting it all off. I just laid my new mortar down thick and proceeded to tile. Looks great and hasn't popped in four years.

[JRandall]

Its messy, but there are hand-held floor grinders that are used to remove the residue of mortar and quickset.  Dusty....but will be completely removed.   

[Dave5Cs]

Dave you can rent hilti with a tile and thinset remover blade. It is like a roto hammer but doesn t spin. Makes life a lot easier.

Dave5Cs from Galaxy S III

[Geom]

Since it's under whatever new floor you'll be replacing it with, can you just sand it down somewhat sort-of level, then put whatever new flooring on top?

I would think this would be particularly easy if you're putting down carpet all around. Just put down the pad on top of the mortar set, and the carpet on top of that.

If you're putting down new tile, you may want to see if the new thinset can/should be placed on top of the current stuff.

Also check this youtube video out. It might be useful.

How to remove thinset

[Debo]

Any ideas will be entertained.

Air chisel dialed way back with a sharpened flat blade? I've used mine like that. Worked good for me.

[Seayfam]

I used the air chisel also. It did great for the larger stuff then I cleaned it up with the hand chisel. I tried the grinder and even a belt sander and it worked really good, I just couldn't stand the mess it was making. Within just minutes of using them the bus was so dark I couldn't see. I also have heat tubing running through out my whole floor, so I really didn't like using the power tools.
Good luck

[Seangie]

Dave,

I used a grinder to get up the left over pieces of glue/mortar/mastic on the subfloor in our bus.  Went through it like butter.

Just gotta be careful cause the grinder will go through the wood too.

It does make a mess so wrap everything up.

-Sean


www.herdofturtles.org
1984 Eagle Model 10S

[Len Silva]

I have noticed at the store recently, though I haven't tried it, scraper blades to go in a Sawzall.  Might help.