Removing floor tiles is HARD WORK!

[Streetcar]

Many old tile and adhesives have asbestos as a ingredient. You may want to test your tile and adhesive

 

[kidr]

I've seen tile removed with a heat gun to soften glue. Tile peels right off.

 

[newbury]

Reads like an excuse to buy an SDS-Max hammerdrill.

 

[shaeff]

Reads like an excuse to buy an SDS-Max hammerdrill.

I've got the Harbor Freight unit and have to admit, it's actually pretty nice. Makes quick work of punching through 10" concrete walls when drilling holes, and with a pointed jackhammer bit on it breaks up concrete very well.

Voted: would buy again.

 

[BHD]

I bought a used palmer floor striper, off ebay for $100, and have done a number of floors, for me and my extended family, sure beats a hammer chisel or putty knife, the tayler unit is nearly the same machine.

what would take a day or two with a hammer and chisel can usually be done in 30 to 45 mins, or less,
(my DD spent two days in there old bathroom with a hammer and chisel, and I did her kitchen about 4 times the size, in about 30 mins),

well worth it to rent or even to buy if you have a lot to do, IMO

I have seen an attachment for saws all, kind of a large putty knife attachment,
reciprocating saw scraper, - Google Search

 

[Dadnatron]

HF Compressed Air floor scraper

 

[radioman]

ok -- first off -- from personal experience -- stay away from reciprocating saws with scraper blades attachment. it has too much movement for my liking and when it does strike - sometimes it works sometimes it just jars you right back. you have to use a right balance of angle, speed, and watch what you are doing . no too dangerous.
i have used the harbor freight mini jack hammer with flat blade -- it works, but its also tedious. i used bosch sds bulldog -- it doesnt have the movement like the harbofrieght one but its lighter, smoother and softer. still tedious. those OLLLD tiles on concrete are a BEAR. you cant heat them up and then pull since concrete would suck up so much heat like heatsink it just a waste of gas. if it was on wood subfloor. if it was the newer tiles yeah comes right up with some heat.

whatever you do -- its breathing protection time since it must be one of those old tile before 80s and they use nasty stuff. IF you got a weekend of free time and you can rent a floor scraper, you can stand up ad abuse the heck out of it since its old tiles on concrete. otherwise you will be on your knees all day using a hammer drill type with flat blade. done it several ways and -- my vote is ... rent. :2cents:

 

[Steppenwolfe]

If that vct is down that good, you should consider going over it. Most flooring adhesives, and thinsets will now adhere to vct.

 

[turnkey4099]

Rent an electric floor tile remover.

+1. When they did my remove and replace they used one of them. Piece of cake. Operator didn't even break a sweat.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Linoleum over plywood I do in two stages. Big heat gun to remove most of it then wallpaper steamer to remove remaining backing paper and glue. Easy to do.