I will be installing some new 12×12 tiles in two bathrooms approx 25 sq/ft each. When I pulled up the old tiles, there was no thin set that had made contact with them so the removal was very easy. Now, the thin set on the floor is a different story. I have been chipping away at it by hand in one bathroom to get to the cement floor below and it has been a bugger to get off. Before I attempt to continue this process in the second bathroom, I would like to know if it is absolutely required to do so if it is well adhered to the cement underneath?
(It's my hope, obviously, that I can tile over the old thin set as long as it is level and firmly attached.)
EDIT: My subfloor is a concrete slab with the thin set on it. It must be chipped away to remove vs. cut and replace sub floor.
Best Answer
Like Greebo says, you want to get back down to the concrete, but I'd suggest that more to have a flat surface to build on top of. To make the job go faster, you can use a power tool. Several would get the job done:
Power Chisel (best fit for the job):
Air Hammer (you'd need a high capacity air compressor):
Demo Hammer (more power than you need, but it could be useful for other jobs in the future):
MC Hammer (don't touch this):