How to remove old floor tiles on balconey

Attempting this first time. Watched some clips on how to etc.

Any wisdom from the seasoned DIYers?

Basically my understanding is use one of those big chisel-ma-jigs and a hammer to get the tiles off. Then use scrapers to take whatever adhesive is left until the concrete subfloor is as clean as possible.

Is that basically correct? Any tips/traps etc

TIA

 

It's a lot of work to remove old tiles/mortar, most of the time we just tile over the top. You can try this product from Ardex but your balcony needs to be suitable for the additional weight and tiles in good condition.
http://cdn.ardexaustralia.com/pdf/spec tool/SRO900.003 - Tile over Existing Tiles.pdf

 

I used one of these in a recent bathroom renovation but I had a concrete slab under the floor tiles. Check your substrate, you could damage it with this tool but I imagine you will re-sheet it and tile over it again. I then used a diamond cup grinder piece on the end of a drill to smooth down any chunky bits remaining.

Ozito 900W SDS+ 3J Rotary Hammer Drill Kit - Bunnings Australia

 

Pdf doesn't seem to open mate. With tiling over the top, do you need to make sure the bottom tiles are down firm? Can you waterproof over old tiles then tile on top? I was actually thinking to do that. Then some guy from airtasker messaged me this, " You cannot waterproof over tiles and no one will give you a certificate because it doesn’t meet Australian standards so they can’t give it". Is that correct?

 

Yes I'm getting qualified guys to waterproof the balconey and then put new tiles. Was just thinking to get rid of the old tiles myself. Not really to save much money, just something new to try. Didn't seem too hard when I conceived the idea.

 

It's not much fun lifting tiles, huge amount of waste and then you have to grind the glue right down. This was the last time I'll do it...
Just check there's no loose tiles, tap a few places, it shouldn't sound hollow. I would avoid airtasker all together and find a decent tiler with experience. We subcontract all that out now so I'm not sure of their process to waterproof etc. I'm not sure what state your in but you shouldn't need a certificate because no one is coming to inspect.

 

Hubby has something similar to this, but much bigger. Removing tiles is not fun.

 

Then you need to put your back into it with a wheelbarrow or buckets to move the waste to the skip - much less fun than the demo.

It only becomes harder if the waste goes through common property.

 

Yes

 

It's strata property mate so will need certificate.

 

Not fun . Hammer them off . Remove the waste . Then grind back to level surface .

 

How long did that area take to do?

 

2 days from memory . Maybe 3 . I hired a guy to remove the tiles , then got a concrete grinding company in . The grinding was only a few hours .

 

Thank goodness the area is only 6sqm.

 

ok I've decided screw it, just paying for the lot. Cbf scraping off tiles for some ' new experience'

Got total quote to take off old tiles, screed, 2 costs of waterproofing then lay tiles 600 by 600, all rubbish removed for $1800.

 

6m2?! See if you can borrow an electric Jackhammer off a mate. You’d have them up in under 30 mins (max)!

Let tiler grind and screed. $600 supplied and fixed tiles for the balcony, tops.

 

It's actually a little larger I've realised. Also, need to use cement to create a rectangular hob at one end. Still waiting on 2 quotes.

I doubt any of my mates have jackhammers...

 

or have times available to do small jobs in these booming renovations time in Sydney?

 

A half decent tiler charges around $600-$800/ day just for labour.. considering this will likely take a couple of days and there will probably be an offsider to help + waterproofing .. this price is reasonable (even assuming that tiles are not included in the price).