After 75 years, our current kitchen/dining room floor consists of joists, then hardwood (nailed directly to joists, no subfloor), then 5/8″ plywood, and then the current flooring – 8″ ceramic tile.
We want to install either a laminate wood or linoleum (Marmoleum) floor. We have been told we can just use leveling compound over the ceramic. If we do that, we will have 3+ floor layers and the doors and thresholds will need to be adjusted.
At what point should we be tearing some of the layers out? Won’t floor weight become an issue? Should we at least tear out the ceramic tile? If we should remove the tile, how difficult is this? Is it mainly a lot of sweat and hammer swings or will these tiles be really difficult to remove from the plywood underneath?
Gretchen
Replies
Now would be a good time to quit piling on more plies IMO.
You can rent a demo hammer with a wide chisle bit, get down on your knees to get a low angle and have at it. Will not take long to clear a room of tiles. Getting clean to ply wood wil depend on whether the thinset is well adhered. You might leave a layer of residue and float floor levelor over that
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It is definitely time to get rid of the tile. Don't even think about putting another layer over it.
OK, Here I go! Usually I would never comment on something like this, I'm a chiropractor for one thing, and Piffin (he who knows all, really, he does!) has already commented. I had a similar situation in my foyer. Plywood that was nailed to the hardwood floor with ceramic tiles on it, a reducing strip to transition to the living room floor. I removed the strip and started prying between the hardwood and plywood under tile. I bought a 4 ft crowbar and had at it. The prying broke many of the bonds of the tile to the plywood, grout popped out and I was able to cut the stuff into more manageable pieces and remove them. I had a hardwood floor underneath that I was NOT trying to save, and eventually took that out also, putting in backerboard on the subfloor and tile on that. The tile was at the same level as the hardwood floor of the living room when it was done. Hope this helps.
Kevin
PS I was younger and stronger when I did it, something to consider.
After only 4 posts, I think you're getting the idea, tear out the old flooring. Think of it as an opportunity to level out your floor finishes. I always tear out to either the original sub floor or, in extreme cases, the joists. Level and build up to existing floor, no beveled transition, no squeaks,solid job.
First, hand demo some of the tile, especially in regions that may have seen a lot of water. Check out the plywood you find there. If it's in good shape, go with the demo hammer as Piffin recommends. If it's delaminating or rotting, get under it with big bars and get rid of it.
Before you do the test demo, tap on the tile with your fingertips and listen to the sound. Is it solid, or loose and hollow? That'll give you some clue as to what you might find under it.
-- J.S.
Besides, here is your chance to salvage some hardwood flooring for possible use as patches elsewhere!