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should you remove old thinset

by Constantin Tremblay Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Should you remove old Thinset?

  • You can also use a masonry chisel that is the same width.
  • Continue removing the thinset in small chunks until you've removed enough to accommodate your new tiles.
  • Always use a putty knife with a hammer-end handle and sharp blade.

Unfortunately, you can't simply reapply thinset and install your new floor. Even after doing your best to remove most of the old thinset, having any remnants of old thinset makes new floor installation nearly impossible. This procedure is not only hard work but extremely important to new floor installation.

Full Answer

How to remove tile mastic or thinset the easy way?

What Things Are Required To Remove Thinset?

  • Dust masks
  • Eye protection goggles
  • A hammer
  • A chisel
  • A floor scraper
  • A grinder
  • Sandpaper
  • Scraper blades
  • A broomstick
  • A dustpan

More items...

How to remove thinset from tile before grouting?

Tools to remove thinset

  • Screwdriver with straight slots. Grab this one here of Amazon.com
  • Green scrubber sponge. Get one here on Amazon.com
  • A bucket full of water.
  • Grout haze cleaner ( Check Price On Amazon )

How to install tile over old thinset?

  • First, clean and then sand the surface of the old tile until it feels rough.
  • Second, apply a very thin coat of thin set mortar, filling in the current grout lines. This provides a more even foundation for the new tiles to adhere to.
  • And third, let this coat dry for 24 hours.

How to tell if thinset is too dry?

  • STOP AND READ all the mixing and safety instructions that you see on the bags of thinset. ...
  • Thinset, once mixed, should resemble warm cake icing. ...
  • Only mix enough thinset as you can use in 15 or 20 minutes.
  • Knee pads! ...
  • Use a crack-isolation membrane under the thinset, when possible, to prevent cracks.

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Do I need to remove thinset from concrete?

7:039:54How to Remove Thinset from Concrete - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it is going to take a little bit more effort to clean it up off of the floor. However the trade-MoreSo it is going to take a little bit more effort to clean it up off of the floor. However the trade-off is you're not going to have to clean it up off of everything in the entire room.

Do you have to remove old tile adhesive before tiling?

You don't need to remove the old adhesive as long as its not loose at all. Wouldn't recommended the scrapper that your using, it'll dig in too much, use a normal decorating scrapper if you can to remove any loose adhesive and get it as flat as possible.27 Oct 2010

Can you sand off old thinset?

Because thinset contains cement, it dries hard. Sanding it down will take time and effort if you decide to do it by hand. Wrap coarse 24-grit to 80-grit sandpaper around a small wooden block. This allows you to apply more pressure to the sandpaper and helps protect your hand from scrapes.

How do you remove old thinset?

0:202:52The EASIEST & Cleanest Way To Remove Thinset Mortar - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you have a couple options we have floor scrapers. Um these are great you can put the whole bodyMoreSo you have a couple options we have floor scrapers. Um these are great you can put the whole body weight on them the blade on these is not going to be a sharp come on down let's say a handheld one.

Can you put thinset over thinset?

You can put new thinset on top of old, but only if the old thinset is perfectly smooth and level. This is rarely the case once the old tiles have been removed. The best option to smooth out the old thinset and prepare it for new tiles is to grind it down.

Will thinset stick to old adhesive?

Fortunately, most grout and mortar manufacturers make a thinset which will bond to "cut back" adhesive. Typically, the "cut back" should be scraped smooth so the tile is not sitting on ridges of adhesive - although it does not have to be absolutely flat.

Will water soften thinset?

To remove thinset, start by pouring boiling water over the thinset to weaken the material. Leave it for an hour, then hold a sharp putty knife at a 45-degree angle and hammer the back with a hand maul to break up the thinset.

Does vinegar remove thinset?

While vinegar is a weak acid solvent and won't damage dried concrete, it wukk help to loosen up the bonding elements of thinset cement, allowing you to wipe up limited dried residue with your sponge.

How do you remove old thinset from hardwood floors?

The first option for removing hardened thinset from plywood subflooring is to wet it down. If you wet the concrete enough and let it sit long enough to absorb the moisture, you should find that the bond on the wood is not as strong. Consider adding vinegar to the hot water to help break the bond.

How do you remove thinset from tile before grouting?

0:371:59Thinset Removal Between Grout Lines : Home Improvement Help - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo essentially what what do we want to do we're going to have to scrape it out somehow. You can useMoreSo essentially what what do we want to do we're going to have to scrape it out somehow. You can use a screwdriver you can use a manual grout.

How do you remove mortar from tile before grouting?

0:352:29How to Clean Thinset From Tiles - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd a lot of them could be pretty stubborn to get out. So what i suggest is a a flat razor justMoreAnd a lot of them could be pretty stubborn to get out. So what i suggest is a a flat razor just scrape the majority of excess off the tile.

How to get rid of thinset?

Continue using your hammer and chisel to remove the remaining patches of thinset. Removing thinset with a hammer drill is prone to leaving small patches along your floor. If you're having trouble with patches, use a hammer and chisel or grinder to get rid of them.

How to remove thinset from knife?

Hold the knife at a 20-degree angle to a sharpening stone on the left or right side. Align it perpendicular to the stone, and then drag it down its length. Flip the knife over and repeat this motion with the motion side of the blade. Continue this process until your knife is sharp enough to consistently remove thinset.

How to break thinset patches?

Place a 1 inch (2.5 cm) putty knife at a 45-degree angle to the remaining thinset patches. Use the flat end of a 2-pound (0.91 kg) hand maul to hit the end firmly. You should notice the thinset patches breaking apart after about 20 to 30 seconds of hammering.

How to use a chisel with a thinset?

Place the blade at a 45-degree angle to the thinset surface. Grip the front handle with your non-dominant hand and the back handle with your dominant hand. Pull the trigger and run the chisel along the thinset in straight vertical motions about 1 to 2 ft (0.30 to 0.61 m) in length at a time.

What to use to scrape thinset?

Delicate surfaces, like kitchen walls and wood floors, will require using an angle grinder to gently scrape away the thinset. More sturdy surfaces, like concrete or other tough materials, can be treated with stronger methods, either using a hammer drill or a putty knife.

How to lock a chisel bit?

Some guns allow you to the lock the bit at a specific angle. Make sure the rotation is off and turn the selector to the "0" setting. Decrease the angle of the chisel, and then turn the selector back to the hammer setting to lock the angle in place.

How to remove a chisel bit from a hammer drill?

Attach a 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) chisel bit to your hammer drill. Most bits slide into the front of the gun. To remove them, pull back on the collar around the bit nozzle and slide them out. Be sure to turn the gun's rotation off before using your chisel bit.

How do you remove Thinset from concrete?

Hammer your 1 in (2.5 cm) putty knife at a 45-degree angle to the thinset.

What will dissolve Thinset?

Apply a straight solution of grout cleaner for the thickest areas of thinset mortar marring the surface of your installation, and scrub it with a scrub brush. If water and vinegar don’t work or you are just worried that the mortar is on too thick, you can use a grout cleaner solution to remove the mortar.

How do you remove dried mortar from concrete?

An easy solution is to let the mortar dry and, at the end of the project, clean the mortar off the wall with muriatic acid. You can apply these same techniques to most masonry projects involving cement products. Muriatic acid is also called hydrochloric acid, spirits of salt, or acidum salis.

Will muriatic acid remove Thinset from concrete?

Muriatic acid is a fast-acting acid that works well against cement -based materials. Remove the pieces when they are clean of thinset and rinse them off with water.

Does vinegar remove mortar?

Vinegar is too weak to use on brick mortar. The muriatic acid needs to be diluted before you use it or you can permanently damage the brick. It’s best to start with a 1:10 solution. This means you’ll mix one part acid to 10 parts clean water.

Can I put Thinset over old Thinset?

You can put new thinset on top of old, but only if the old thinset is perfectly smooth and level. This is rarely the case once the old tiles have been removed. Use a floor grinder and pass it back and forth over the old thinset until it is perfectly smooth and level.

Can you sand down Thinset?

The thinset can be sanded using a sandpaper anywhere around 24 to 80 grit. Wrap the paper on a block of wood and the thinset will sand quite easily.

Removing Thinset From Concrete

There are two methods to remove thinset from concrete. The first is by using a mallet and putty knife/chisel. Although this method works, it does take the most effort. To make it easier, you can use a hammer drill, if you own one.

Method 1: Mallet and Putty Knife

The hammer and putty knife method is the most labor-intensive method on this list, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly. For this method, you’ll need these materials:

Method 2: Angle Grinder

The angle grinder method is the least labor-intensive, but it does come with added health risks. You must take precautions when you use an angle grinder to remove any thinset. You could seriously harm yourself if you’re not careful.

Removing Thinset From Concrete FAQ

Here are some of the most common questions we get about thinset and how to remove it from concrete:

So, How Do You Remove Thinset From Concrete?

So, now that you know three methods to remove thinset, you can start right away! As you can tell, it isn’t the most complicated task. All it takes is a few tools and a little bit of effort. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to remove those old tiles and thinset so you can put in the material you prefer!

How to smooth out thinset?

The best option to smooth out the old thinset and prepare it for new tiles is to grind it down. Use a floor grinder and pass it back and forth over the old thinset until it is perfectly smooth and level. You can now tile directly on top of it as if it were a new surface.

What is thinset tile?

Thinset is a Portland cement product that hardens to a concrete finish beneath the tiles.

Can you use thinset to install backerboard?

If the thinset is relatively smooth and level already, use only new thinset to install the board, as screwing it down could crack the old. If the thinset is already cracked, remove the loose areas first, then install the backerboard. If installing in a kitchen or bathroom, make sure the backerboard is water-resistant.

Can you install backerboard over old thinset?

Backerboard is typically nailed or screwed to the subfloor with taped seams and a thin layer of thinset for support and can be installed over old thinset. Remove the highest levels of the old thinset, then install the backerboard over it.

Can you cut thinset and plywood together?

Depending on how much old thinset is down, it may be easier to cut through the old thinset and the plywood it is dried on and remove them both together. This would allow you to install a fresh, clean subfloor with a new layer of plywood.

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