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A heavy-duty floor scraper and a floor with tiles partly removed

Overview

Removing floor tiles is a basic renovation job that anyone can do. We'll show you how to lift up the tiles and scrape the glue off the subflooring. Plus, there's a few tips on the best tools to use to make the job easier.

Steps

1Remove the floor tiles

Cover any surfaces you need to protect with a drop sheet.

Then, pry the tiles off the floor by driving the bolster blade underneath them with your mallet. In this case we are starting with an exposed edge, so getting under the tiles is easy.

A person wearing protective gear using a hammer and bolster to lever up floor tiles

2Scrape off the floor tile glue

Use a heavy-duty floor scraper to take the bulk of the glue off the floor. As you get closer to any edges you want to protect, switch to a smaller paint scraper. That way you can control the length of your strokes more.

Continue until all the glue is off the floor.

To make the job easier, keep sweeping up as you go.


A heavy-duty floor scraper and a floor with tiles partly removed
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.