How To Remove Tiles From a Concrete Floor

If you have a concrete floor covered in tiles that you’re planning to remove, LiLi Tile is here to guide you. Whether you're refreshing your space, remodeling entirely, or making essential repairs, removing old tiles is often the first step. While it may seem overwhelming, with the right knowledge and tools, the process is completely manageable.

This guide from LiLi Tile will walk you through everything, from gathering safety gear to choosing the best removal techniques based on tile type and adhesive. If your tiles are set directly onto concrete without underlayment, expect more effort, as the adhesive forms a strong bond. Removing these tiles often requires careful chiseling or scraping to avoid damaging the concrete underneath.

But don’t worry, we’ll show you how to do it safely and effectively. From start to finish, you’ll learn how to reduce mess, avoid damage, and prepare the surface for whatever comes next. Let’s get started.

Before You Begin

Before starting any tile removal project, no matter how big or small, it’s essential to prepare properly. Having the right tools, safety gear, and a clear understanding of the task ahead can make the entire process smoother and much more manageable. Preparation is just as important for large renovations, such as a full kitchen remodel, as it is for smaller updates like removing a few scratched cement tiles. Skipping this step can lead to delays, unexpected complications, or even damage to the underlying surface. Proper planning helps you avoid unnecessary mess, reduce potential damage, and complete your project more efficiently.

Removing existing tile is often the first physical step toward refreshing a space. Whether you're updating the design, replacing damaged tiles, or switching to a different flooring material entirely, clearing out the old tile makes way for a fresh start. When done properly, this foundational step can help ensure that whatever new flooring you install will adhere well and last for many years. It's not just about aesthetics, proper tile removal sets the stage for a long-lasting, well-maintained surface that performs as well as it looks.

Know The Type of Tile You’re Removing

It’s critically important to identify what kind of tile you’re removing before you begin. Knowing the material, whether it’s ceramic, porcelain, stone, vinyl, or linoleum, will help determine the most effective and safest removal technique. For example, ceramic tiles are typically brittle and crack easily under pressure, while vinyl tiles may peel up with heat. Using the wrong method could damage your concrete subfloor, increase the time it takes to complete the job, or pose unnecessary risks.

There’s also a serious safety consideration if your tiles were installed decades ago. If you’re planning to remove vinyl or linoleum tiles that were installed before 1980, be aware that they could contain asbestos, either in the tile material itself or in the adhesive used to set them. Asbestos fibers are hazardous to human health when disturbed and inhaled, and improper handling can release these particles into the air. If you suspect your tiles might contain asbestos, it’s critical to stop and consult a licensed asbestos abatement professional. Never attempt to remove or disturb these materials on your own, specialized equipment and procedures are required to handle them safely and legally.

Prepare The Space

Before the tile removal begins, take time to properly prepare the work area. Start by clearing the room of all movable items, including furniture, rugs, artwork, and window treatments. Anything that can be relocated should be moved to a separate, protected area to keep it free from dust and damage. For permanent fixtures or built-in features that can’t be removed, such as cabinetry, toilets, countertops, or window sills, cover them securely with plastic sheeting or drop cloths to shield them from flying debris and dust during the removal process.

Remove any baseboards, trim, or transition strips along the floor edges. These components often overlap the edges of the tile and will need to be detached to access the entire surface. Removing them first will also prevent damage and make reinstalling them easier once your new flooring is in place. If they’re in good shape and you plan to reuse them, carefully label and store them for later reinstallation.

Another key step is to minimize the spread of dust throughout your home. Turn off any active air circulation systems, including your central HVAC, window AC units, and overhead fans. Dust created during tile removal can easily get sucked into vents and circulated throughout your home if these systems are left on. To contain the mess, you may also want to seal doorways with plastic sheeting and use painter’s tape to block any gaps around vents or openings. Taking these measures not only helps protect your home but also creates a safer and cleaner working environment.

Necessary Tools & Safety Equipment: What You’ll Need

Before you begin your project, you’ll need to gather the necessary equipment. Below, we’ve covered some of the essentials you might need. 

Safety Gear: 

Dust mask

Safety Glasses

Thick-padded, protective gloves

Long-sleeve shirt, long pants, and closed-toed shoes

Knee Pads

Wear the necessary safety gear for each step of the process to protect yourself from tiny shards of tile and more. 

The equipment you need may depend on the method you’re using to remove the tiles, which we’ll get into shortly. 

It’s best to start by deciding on the tile removal method you’re going to use and understand the process before beginning to pinpoint which materials are necessary for a more precise list. Nonetheless, we’ve compiled a list of some general equipment your project might require: 

Equipment: 

Mallet or sledgehammer

Pry bar

Masonry chisel

Cold chisel

Heavy-duty floor scraper

Putty knife

Utility knife

Rotary hammer with thin-set removal bit

Broom and dustpan, a shop vac, a flat shovel, and a wheelbarrow

Grout saw (if removing concrete tiles from a small portion of the area)

Hammer drill with chisel attachment (if using a method that requires it)

Hair dryer or heat gun (if needed to heat the adhesive glue)

Mop or wet-dry vacuum

Concrete grinder/handheld angle grinder (consider reaching out to a professional if these tools are necessary)

Identify How The Tiles Are Attached To The Concrete Floor

Before you start removing tiles, it’s essential to understand how they’re affixed to the concrete subfloor. This will help you choose the most efficient and least damaging removal method. Some tile installations are floating or click-in-place systems, which means the tiles aren’t glued down. These are the easiest to remove, simply slide a thin pry bar beneath one edge and gently lift upward. The tile should release without much effort.

However, if you try that and the tile doesn’t budge, your flooring is most likely glued down. Two common adhesives used are thin-set mortar and mastic adhesive. Determining which one is present will help you select the right removal approach. Use a chisel or pry bar to scrape around the edges of a tile. If you uncover a sticky, gummy substance underneath, your tiles are probably held in place with mastic adhesive. This type of adhesive can often be softened with heat and removed with less force.

If there’s no gummy texture and the tiles are very firmly fixed in place, they’re likely attached with thin-set mortar. Thin-set is a cement-based adhesive that forms a rock-hard bond with concrete and requires more aggressive removal techniques, usually involving chisels, rotary hammers, or floor scrapers. Knowing the difference before you begin can save time and reduce the risk of damaging your concrete surface. Taking this step also helps you plan your tool use and workload more accurately, so you can move forward confidently and efficiently.

How To Remove Mortar Set Ceramic Tiles

Below, we’ll cover two methods for removing mortar-set ceramic tiles. 

Method 1: Remove Tiles With a Masonry Chisel

If you’re only removing tiles within a small portion of the space, you’ll require a grout saw. A grout saw allows you to grind away at the tiles’ surrounding grout for removal. By doing so, you help to protect the surrounding tiles from damage. If you’re removing the entire floor, you don’t need to worry about this. 

Step 1: Locate Starting Point

You may want to start somewhere with loose grout or create a starting point by holding your cold chisel perpendicular to the face of your tile and fracturing it by hitting it with the sledgehammer. 

Step 2: Remove Tiles

You’ll get the best results with a masonry chisel around 2.5cm wide. Insert your chisel between the concrete floor and the tile. Lay it at an angle of around 45 degrees and use the sledgehammer or mallet to force it down, raise the tile edge, and break the bond with the floor. 

Use the chisel to pry the tile section and remove it altogether. Continue until your job is done. 

You could also use a flat shovel or floor scraper by beginning at your starting point, sliding the floor scraper under the attached tile remnants, and prying it away from the subfloor surface. 

If any tiles are particularly stubborn, you can strike them with the chisel to break them and make removal easier. Remove the broken pieces to clear enough room for you to continue working on more tiles safely. You’ll alternate between scraping and hammering as you continue to uncover the entire space. 

Ensure you’re careful while moving away tile shards, as their edges can be sharp and can cut through gloves, particularly porcelain tile. 

Method 2: Remove Tiles Using a Hammer Drill

If your ceramic tiles have been embedded deep into the thin-set mortar, you may have some difficulty removing them using the above method. A hammer drill with a chisel attachment can make removal easier and faster. 

Step 1: Find Your Starting Point

You’ll find your starting point in much the same way as you did for the previous method, or create one using a chisel and mallet. You could also use your hammer drill.

Step 2: Remove Tiles

Attach your chisel tip or floor scraping attachment to your hammer drill and set it at an angle on the starting point you’ve identified or created. Turn it on and move from one tile to the next until you’ve removed them all. Doing so will help to loosen up the mortar, saving you the effort of scraping it away later. 

Your hammer drill will work similarly to a jackhammer, delivering quick hits using the chisel, breaking through tile and grout, and transforming the floor into debris that’s easy to remove. While this is still challenging work, it’s much easier than removing tiles individually with a masonry chisel. 

How To Remove Vinyl Tile

Linoleum flooring or vinyl tile will require a different removal method, as these tiles are pliable and aren’t going to crack like ceramic tiles will. Here’s how you can remove them: 

Step 1: Pry Up a Corner of the Tile

Pry up a single tile’s corner with the help of a putty knife. If there isn’t a loose corner, you might need to use a utility knife to cut through the tile. 

Step 2: Lift the Tile

You’ll want to slip your floor scraper or putty knife beneath the tile and lift it away. If you’re met with resistance, use a heat gun or hair dryer to soften the adhesive glue. Doing so will make it easier to scrape up the tiles. 

Removing Tile Adhesive

So, you’ve successfully removed the tile from your concrete floor. congratulations! That’s no small task and marks a major milestone in your renovation project. However, while the most visible part of the job is done, the work isn't quite over yet. Before you can move on to installing beautiful new flooring or any of the latest flooring trends, you need to deal with what’s left behind: the adhesive. Tile adhesive is often stubborn and time-consuming to remove, but it’s a necessary step if you want a clean, level, and durable surface for your new installation.

Depending on how the original tiles were installed, you might be dealing with adhesive stuck to a backer board or underlayment, or the adhesive may be bonded directly to the concrete. If your tiles were installed over an underlayment like cement board or plywood, the easiest and most effective route is to remove the entire underlayment. This allows you to bypass the effort of scraping and grinding adhesive, and instead start fresh with a bare subfloor. However, many tiles, especially in older homes, are installed directly onto the concrete slab without any underlayment. In those cases, you’ll have to remove the adhesive itself, which can be a much more involved process.

The method you’ll use to remove tile adhesive depends on the type of adhesive applied during the original installation. Two of the most common adhesives are mastic, a sticky glue-like substance often used with vinyl or ceramic tile, and thin-set mortar, a cement-based compound frequently used with heavier or floor tiles. These materials behave very differently and require different techniques and tools to remove effectively. Below, we’ll break down how to handle both, so you can prep your floor properly for the next stage of your project.

Removing Adhesive Mastic

If your tiles were installed using mastic, the removal process is a little easier than dealing with thin-set. Mastic is a softer, tar-like adhesive that can often be scraped up with hand tools. Start by using a long-handled floor scraper, a putty knife, or a wide chisel to pry up the glue. Work in sections, applying firm pressure to lift the mastic from the surface. If it’s especially stubborn, you can pour hot water over the area and let it sit for several minutes to soften the adhesive. This helps loosen the bond and makes scraping more manageable.

For tougher jobs, consider using a commercial mastic remover. These products are designed to chemically break down the adhesive, allowing for easier removal with a scraper or putty knife. Be sure to follow all safety instructions when using these solutions, as they may contain strong chemicals. Open windows, wear gloves, and use eye protection while working. With patience and the right tools, mastic can be cleared off to reveal a clean concrete surface ready for resurfacing or reinstallation.

Removing Thin-Set Mortar

Removing thin-set mortar is a completely different task, it’s much more demanding. Once it cures, thin-set hardens into a concrete-like material that bonds aggressively to both tile and concrete. That means you won’t be able to just scrape it off. Instead, you’ll need to chip, grind, or break it up using forceful tools. Start by using a masonry chisel, floor scraper, or rotary hammer fitted with a thin-set removal bit. These tools help dislodge the hardened mortar, tile by tile, or section by section.

Expect this process to be loud, dusty, and physically intense. As you chip away at the thin-set, it will create fine dust and flying debris. Protect yourself with goggles, a dust mask or respirator, and heavy-duty gloves. If you're dealing with a large area, you might also want to wear knee pads and ear protection. Work methodically and take breaks as needed, the job can be tiring, but it is crucial for achieving a smooth, level surface.

Using A Concrete Grinder

If you’ve tried scraping and chiseling but still have a stubborn layer of adhesive or leftover thin-set, your best option may be to use a concrete grinder. This tool can grind off remaining mastic or mortar and help smooth out the surface of the concrete slab. For edges, corners, or tight spaces, follow up with a handheld angle grinder to finish the job neatly and thoroughly.

When using a grinder, make sure it’s fitted with a dust-control system or a vacuum port, which helps collect debris and reduce airborne particles. You can connect it to a shop vac or dust vac with a HEPA filter to keep your workspace clean and safe. If you’ve never used a concrete grinder before, it’s strongly recommended to hire a professional for this step. Professionals not only bring the right equipment but also know which grinding discs to use based on your floor type and how to operate the machine safely without gouging or damaging your concrete.

Cleaning Up And Leveling The Floor

After the adhesive is removed, your floor will likely be covered in fine dust, broken bits of tile, and adhesive residue. Use a broom and shop vacuum to clear out all debris thoroughly. Then, use a mop or wet-dry vac to clean the floor’s surface. This ensures you’re left with a workspace that’s clean and prepped for any repairs, leveling, or new flooring installation.

If you plan to install new flooring, especially tile or hardwood, it’s essential that the floor is not only clean but also completely level. Uneven surfaces can cause issues with adhesion or lead to a wobbly floor. To level your concrete slab, you may need to grind down high spots or fill in low areas with leveling compound. For best results and to ensure your new floor lasts for years without issues, it’s best to contact a flooring professional to handle the leveling process.

Taking the time to remove tile adhesive thoroughly is an essential part of any flooring upgrade. Whether you’re working with mastic or thin-set, using the right tools and techniques will make the job more manageable and ensure that your new flooring installation is smooth, secure, and built to last.