Any Advice From the Floor Guys
 

I am starting to tear up my bathroom which had marble flooring. I have done ceramic tile before and it seems like they used way more thinset than what was needed here. It seems to be cracking off in little bits as I get my pry bar to get underneath of it instead of the entire tile coming up. Any suggestions here? Will I be able to get up that thinset off of that cement board? I was almost thinking that I will need to cut up all of that cement board too and replace with new for the tile I am going to put down.

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I recently did a similar job and instead of trying to chip away (how I initially started) I wound up cutting the floor into 12x12 inch section with a circular saw down to the floor joists then took it out and laying a whole new foundation in the room.

That's gonna be a bitch chip away. It will still be a PITA on the edges but in the long run it saved me time and money.

I'd just go all the way down to the joists/subfloor and start it over again. Might as well in case something's slipped your notice and got wet and rotten.

So I just did this to the whole kitchen and it was a freaking nightmare. I went and bought 3 Multi-Tools from Home Depot like this - with the horizontal blades....

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...6-20/204463218

Made the job a heck of a lot easier.

LMAO My dad abuses the **** out of that. It's his solution to damn near every problem now.

I'd recommend the same unless you want to hire Superturtle's Dad. :)

What is that? What does it do?

Can I just use a circular saw to cut that into 12inch squares? That won't hurt the circular saw at all(with the right blade)? I know it will be dusty as hell.

****! Just found out my son posts on CP

I'd do that. Set your depth on the saw and go. Yes the dust will be awful!

I prefer Five Guys.

Rotary hammer set on jackhammer motion ONLY.

https://www.cpooutlets.com/on/demand...1255vsr-rt.jpg

Flat shank.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...uPKWQ&usqp=CAU

It takes time, but it will work.

Get gloves so you don't cut the hell out of your hands. Only fill the trashcan 1/3rd full or it will be too heavy to dump.

The rotary hammer does a jackhammer motion. Let it do the work, don't force it. You'll figure it out after some practice.

I've never seen anyone able to remove tile without chunks of the cement board coming with it. I've always replaced the cement board when replacing tile. And with that being the case I would think just cutting up the entire sub floor would be your best bet. The only extra cost would be the plywood, and the saved time & frustration of trying to chip up that floor one square inch at a time, would be well worth it IMO

Also, get a grinder and cut all the screws they used for the cement board flush with the subfloor.

Don't try to pull them, it's not worth the time or frustration.

Yeah, you aren't saving the cement board.