DIY 101

[AlphaOmega]

As you may have guessed from my posts over the years, my DIY skills are fairly mediocre. My knowledge is so bad that in some cases, I'm reluctant to ask.

Obviously, there's Google. And the very helpful people in various stores who get paid to put up with inane questions.

But in some cases, advice differs and it's not always clear which is the best solution.

I'm hoping that this thread may be helpful for others who are similarly ignorant, so I'll kick off with this:

1. I've just moved and the house needs new flooring. In the kitchen, there are ceramic tiles. The flooring specialist nearby has said he can fit a new floor and remove the tiles, but he also said tile removal is an easy job so I'm tempted to give it a go when I have an hour or two to spare.

Presumably, chisel, hammer and some elbow grease are all that's needed? Then I guess I should paint the skirting boards before the new floor is put in. Toying with underfloor heating but it seems a little unnecessary.

2. I think the previous owner had a dog as there is a distinct smell in the carpets upstairs. As a precaution, I've set off smoke bombs (not the ones you used to make in the chemistry lab when you should have been revising, these are designed to kill any bugs), I've had the carpets deep cleaned professionally and I've washed the walls with disinfectant but there is still a whiff. I'm hoping it's not me.

Assuming it's not me, the carpet specialist thinks that changing the carpet and the underlay should do the trick. Just wondering if there is anything else I can do to remove the smell. Apart from moving again.

TIA

[Jeremy67]

1) Yes I did this a year ago with about 30 sq. m of tiles, took me about 2-3 hours. You need a club hammer and a good wide bolster 50 - 75mm and a narrow cold chisel for any fiddly bits. Toolstation are cheap for this stuff. Eye protection essential, ear protection a very good idea and you may want to wear a mask. Get the bolster at a shallow enough angle and most should lift with ease. Your floorer will proably put down leveling solution to cover the mess of tile adhesive which will remain but try to get rid of the worst of it with the hammer and chisel.

2) A second clean may get the last of it out, wait until the carpets are thoroughly dry before passing judgement. Or:

[reggie747]

Chisel, hammer and some elbow grease and EYE PROTECTION as is mentioned above.
Either manually or hire a small jack hammer for the day and leave the elbow grease in the tin.....

[Vanguard]

Hire a Kango from a local tool hire place to get the tiles up, it will make light work of it and be far more fun, as has been said wear eye protection

I'd just replace the carpets and underlay as that should definitely cure it and you'll also then have lovely new carpet that will look and smell great.

[Saint-Just]

Hire a Kango from a local tool hire place to get the tiles up, it will make light work of it and be far more fun, as has been said wear eye protection

I'd just replace the carpets and underlay as that should definitely cure it and you'll also then have lovely new carpet that will look and smell great.

This, both points.

[AlphaOmega]

1) Yes I did this a year ago with about 30 sq. m of tiles, took me about 2-3 hours. You need a club hammer and a good wide bolster 50 - 75mm and a narrow cold chisel for any fiddly bits. Toolstation are cheap for this stuff. Eye protection essential, ear protection a very good idea and you may want to wear a mask. Get the bolster at a shallow enough angle and most should lift with ease. Your floorer will proably put down leveling solution to cover the mess of tile adhesive which will remain but try to get rid of the worst of it with the hammer and chisel.

2) A second clean may get the last of it out, wait until the carpets are thoroughly dry before passing judgement. Or:

Thank you. Appreciate the detail.

Love the vid.

Chisel, hammer and some elbow grease and EYE PROTECTION as is mentioned above.
Either manually or hire a small jack hammer for the day and leave the elbow grease in the tin.....

*nods*

Understood.

Hire a Kango from a local tool hire place to get the tiles up, it will make light work of it and be far more fun, as has been said wear eye protection

I'd just replace the carpets and underlay as that should definitely cure it and you'll also then have lovely new carpet that will look and smell great.

I'm up for some fun - sounds like a good idea.

And don't forget robust hand protection too. An ex-colleague very nearly sliced a finger clean off removing tiles when a razor-sharp shard decided to bite back.

The docs managed to save the finger but it was never quite the same again and it took him months to get back to work.

Thanks, I'll get some sturdy kit.

- - - Updated - - -

This, both points.

That's a decision then.

[Mr Nuttington]

And don't forget robust hand protection too. An ex-colleague very nearly sliced a finger clean off removing tiles when a razor-sharp shard decided to bite back.

The docs managed to save the finger but it was never quite the same again and it took him months to get back to work.

[Kingstepper]

If you buy an SDS drill make sure it can operate in hammer-only mode.

[Kingstepper]

I take the opposite view. If I have the time I’d prefer to take a day and save few hours of professionals prices.

In this case it’s only really labouring so not difficult.

[Matt8500]

As above buy an SDS drill, you can usually find a deal with a few useful bits included. Really useful tool once you have one as makes light work of lots of jobs! If drilling make sure you have a good grip with both hands, as most don’t have a clutch (don’t ask how I know this, but the black eye lasted a while...)

Also as above glasses, gloves and ear protection essential.

Satisfying job to DIY

[AlphaOmega]

^I'll get myself some hazmat gear and an NBC suit.

[P9CLY]

The floor tiles I assume will be going straight in the bin,and if so hardly anything you really need to think about in terms of DIY skills here,rip them up and throw away.

Removed my kitchen tiles in an hour or so,cleaned up and fitted the wood floor over the next few days.

[AlphaOmega]

^Yes, the tiles are an acquired taste*. They'll be going in the bin.


*Unless the 70s porn set look floats your boat.

[P9CLY]

^Yes, the tiles are an acquired taste*. They'll be going in the bin.


*Unless the 70s porn set look floats your boat.

I wouldn't invest heavily into anything otherthan an hammer and chisel first.They may just pop up very very easy,if not then decide what else may be needed,you will soon know what is required after the first few tiles.

[Saint-Just]

Lol. I think I have witnessed this before. Could have been in a mirror.

[eagletower]

me too

"it will be easy they'll come off in once piece"

tiles chips away into thousand of piece. Leaving a bumpy surface behind which needs to then be levelled.


I'd pay the the bloke to remove them. Then he can't moan at you about the state of the surface you leave him.

[Matt8500]

Just about right. Step 2a is make a brew and wonder around looking business like as you contemplate your manliness.

[Michael 38]

Get a sds drill and a special angled tile removal chisle attachment, used one to do bathroom tiles the angled bit takes the tiles off without digging holes in the floor

[AlphaOmega]

Lol. I think I have witnessed this before. Could have been in a mirror.

me too

"it will be easy they'll come off in once piece"

tiles chips away into thousand of piece. Leaving a bumpy surface behind which needs to then be levelled.

I'd pay the the bloke to remove them. Then he can't moan at you about the state of the surface you leave him.

Just about right. Step 2a is make a brew and wonder around looking business like as you contemplate your manliness.

I can see I'm not alone in the DIY wilderness.

I've been using Lidl's 'Parkside' range of electrical tools for many a year now and highly recommend them. £ for £ they'll cost you less than A.N.Other manufacturers and they come with a 3-year guarantee.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-New....c100010.m2109

R

Thanks. There are a few items I'll need to buy so your link will be very useful.

I'd guess those saying "get someone in" to do it!,also aren't into DIY.The job you've asked about really isn't difficult by any stretch of MY imagination........really it isn't.
The tiles will come up easy or not so easy,the not so easy ain't hard either.And when removed you just chisel the remaining adhesive away.And what I will say is,you will feel a lot better in that you've tackled a job you were going to pay someone else to do........what you CAN do too.

So you hit your hand with the hammer maybe!,I worked on a quarry getting stone out of the cold hard ground in winter!,and then went on to dress same.

I hit my hand many times,it hurts,you keep going.......I still have a tiny piece of the nicker (chisel) that sheers of the nicker as it curls over as the lump hammer hits it!!.

Get a sds drill and a special angled tile removal chisle attachment, used one to do bathroom tiles the angled bit takes the tiles off without digging holes in the floor

Thanks both. I am going to give it a go.*

















*Unless the quote comes in under the price of a G10.

[Saint-Just]

An added issue, which will hit you after you’ve started: rubbles.
It makes a mess, and depending on the area there could be a lot of it.
If you’re getting a lot of things done, hiring a small skip may be useful. If not, rubbles bags (don’t overload them, they get really heavy).
If you have curtains in the new house that you will throw away, dampen them and cover as much as you can, you’ll create a lot of dust and the curtains will catch a lot of it.

Get rid of the rubbles bag by bag, it allows you to see your progress and keep a clear work plan.

[AlphaOmega]

^Hadn't thought of that SJ. A skip - although expensive - makes sense as I will have whiffy carpets to bin as well.*

*Unless I stick them on SC with the following description:
Dog-friendly carpets for sale
Luxury carpets for the discerning buyer. Lovely colour and only mildly stained. No low ballers.

[P9CLY]

^Hadn't thought of that SJ. A skip - although expensive - makes sense as I will have whiffy carpets to bin as well.*

*Unless I stick them on SC with the following description:
Dog-friendly carpets for sale
Luxury carpets for the discerning buyer. Lovely colour and only mildly stained. No low ballers.

Local tip will accept all you've mentioned,you load the car or whatever,you unload car,or alternative you pay for a skip and also fill the skip.

Skips are great for much bigger jobs etc,anything that will go into your car is the better option,assuming your "average" family vehicle and not a Bugatti veyron.Ive always done it that way and a quick vac after if needed,but never did because I was careful.........my car,a Qasqui.

[AlphaOmega]

I've a Testarossa for visits to the tip - anything bigger and I get my batman to do it in the Bentley 4.5 litre.

(Thanks P9CLY, a skip shall be ordered as I'm only running a hatchback at present.)

[P9CLY]

I've a Testarossa for visits to the tip - anything bigger and I get my batman to do it in the Bentley 4.5 litre.

(Thanks P9CLY, a skip shall be ordered as I'm only running a hatchback at present.)

Technically the "hatchback" is a skip on wheels.........lol.

[ralphy]

Local tip will accept all you've mentioned,you load the car or whatever,you unload car,or alternative you pay for a skip and also fill the skip.

Not all 'recycle centres' aka tips will accept DIY materials for free, ours certainly don't: they charge.

R

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Local tip will accept all you've mentioned,you load the car or whatever,you unload car,or alternative you pay for a skip and also fill the skip.

Skips are great for much bigger jobs etc,anything that will go into your car is the better option,assuming your "average" family vehicle and not a Bugatti veyron.Ive always done it that way and a quick vac after if needed,but never did because I was careful.........my car,a Qasqui.

Ours now charges for ‘building materials’ by weight.

Cheap enough if you have a few sacks in the boot, any more than that then a mini-skip might be better and less hassle.

[xellos99]

Ours now charges for ‘building materials’ by weight.

Cheap enough if you have a few sacks in the boot, any more than that then a mini-skip might be better and less hassle.

Its free where I live still. Otherwise people fly-tip it all over the place and leave the area in a right state.

It is wrong that they make you pay, in my opinion it should be free for all UK wide

[Saint-Just]

^^
This really depends on the type of support they were laid on and the adhesive used. It can be very easy, when every tile you lift starts lifting the ones around it. It can also be a bastard where you chisel every bit of the tile off the support.

[mickylall]

A tiled floor laid by a professional using the correct adhesive should be a massive bastard of a job, I've smashed dozens up and you can always tell the ones that have been done by a pro. Don't underestimate it just because a few people got lucky with theirs. Out of interest why are you painting the skirts before laying a new floor? Aren't you fitting new ones once the tiles are down?

[AlphaOmega]

Out of interest why are you painting the skirts before laying a new floor? Aren't you fitting new ones once the tiles are down?

*tries to appear knowledgeable, fails*

Historically, I haven't been great at removing skirts.

*waits for incoming joke*

Should I remove the skirting at the same time as removing the tiles then?

[mickylall]

Definitely, if they come off ok you can re-use them just sit them on top of the finished tiles and it will look a far better job

[AlphaOmega]

^Thanks.

[Andyg]

*tries to appear knowledgeable, fails*

Historically, I haven't been great at removing skirts.

*waits for incoming joke*

Should I remove the skirting at the same time as removing the tiles then?

If the tiles are under the skirting then you might not have a choice. If not then I would leave in-situ, put down the new floor and mask, sand and apply whatever finish you want.

[hogthrob]

So, removing skirting boards ... where the top of the board meets the wall, run a stanley knife along the join to cut through the paint - it'll save a lot of mess.


Now, back to the tiles. Here is the experience of Canadian YouTuber AvE, who as you may know is a pretty handy fellow (contains some ripe language)

[P9CLY]

^^
This really depends on the type of support they were laid on and the adhesive used. It can be very easy, when every tile you lift starts lifting the ones around it. It can also be a bastard where you chisel every bit of the tile off the support.

100% agree it can be a bastard,but remember,If you as a "Man" thinks it beyond you!,it will only be another "Man" you will be paying to do what you can do too.

That was always my point.

Id be the first to leave the country on my private jet if major building work was needed at my mansion,but I'm an average Joe who doesn't mind doing a little DIY,and it can save a huge amount of money by doing it.

Just a thought,I'm 60 and always did and have put my hand to most jobs around the house,I'd guess many in their 30's and certainly many much younger could even tackle a light bulb or change a plug!!.Id guess a fair few "professional" people are pretty much useless in the DIY dept,but very good at the profession they have chosen,and I know many that fit into that description because I've done some very low level DIY for Freinds,eg putting shelves up,and wall papering!!.

I didn't say ALL Professional People mind!.I speak from experience of some I know,and IMO.

And having said all the above,I'm happy it keeps the wheels of employment turning for others doing work that some won't at least try.

[Saint-Just]

If the units are good enough just buy new doors. Much better than an amateur paint job.