When it comes to renovating a home, many homeowners confidently start the tile removal process, thinking it might be a simple task. However, the reality paints a different picture, revealing hidden expenses and unexpected issues that escalate the project budget. The hidden costs of subfloor preparation, debris removal, equipment rental, and damage repair to the surrounding area often surprise homeowners.
Understanding the exact cost of tile removal is crucial to know what to anticipate for this project. The usual cost to remove ceramic tiles is between $1.50 and $4.15 per square foot. In this guide by Pro Flooring Guide, we will try to estimatehow much to remove tile floor. Read this blog thoroughly.
Average Cost to Remove the Ceramic Tiles
The average cost of your tile removal depends on whether you hire professionals or do it yourself.
Labor Costs for Removal
The biggest cost consideration for tile removal is paying professional installers for their time and labor. If contracting a job rather than DIY, you’ll need to understand typical per-hour and minimum service charges.
On average, labor will account for about 80-90% of your total tile removal costs. Labor rates typically range from:
- $45: $65 per hour for handypersons and general contractors
- $65: $100+ per hour for specialized tile removal contractors
Expect jobs under 15 square feet to start at the company’s one-hour minimum service charge. Rates and minimums specific to tile removal professionals in your area may vary slightly from these averages.
In addition to hourly service fees, some tile removal companies charge minimum fees based on square footage. For example, some companies have $400 minimum for projects under 75 square feet.
Be sure to get complete price details upfront before hiring a removal contractor. Multi-day projects may include trip fees and other charges beyond simple hourly rates.
Average Cost Range
Now that we’ve covered the major variables that change removal pricing, what are typical per-square-foot costs? And how much does it cost to remove tile flooring, including labor charges?
Most homeowners spend between $3 $7 per square foot for professional tile removal, including labor and materials. Challenging jobs with concrete subfloors or intricate tile patterns may reach $10 per square foot or more.
Here are some sample average tile removal costs for common tile removal scenarios:
- 12”x12” ceramic floor tiles in one small bathroom (35 sq ft)
- DIY: $200 – $300
- Contractor: $350 – $500
- Mixed stone & ceramic tiling in kitchen plus dining area (400 sq ft)
- DIY: $1,800 – $2,400
- Contractor: $2,800 – $3,600
- Slate flooring throughout large open-concept living space (850 sq ft)
- DIY: $3,500 – $4,500
- Contractor: $5,500 – $7,000
Keep in mind that every home layout and tile job differs. Have a professional installer assess your specific space for the most accurate quote.
Average Cost to Remove the Porcelain Tiles
The porcelain tiles are denser than ceramic tiles. Their dense core makes them harder to remove. Subsequently, these tiles require specific tools for subfloor preparation and repairing damage. The estimated cost to remove the porcelain tiles is $45-$60 per square metre.
Average Cost to Remove the Stone Tiles
The natural stone tiles are tough and highly durable, which makes their removal process quite challenging. Additionally, some stone tiles have a strong adhesive, requiring concrete grinding to remove. The estimated cost for subfloor preparation and stone tile removal is $50-$70 per square metre.
Average Cost to Remove the Vinyl Tiles
The vinyl tiles are usually made up of polyvinyl chloride( PVC), which makes them easier to remove than ceramic or porcelain tiles. However, these tiles often leave a sticky tile adhesive, which requires more labor. The labor time and cost of removing these tiles also depend on whether the tiles are glued or not. The average cost for vinyl tiles is $10-$40 per square metre.
Subfloor Leveling and Smoothing Prices
If the subfloor is uneven and damaged, it must be properly leveled with any leveling compound before proceeding further. The leveling of the subfloor with any compound costs $40-$90. However, this cost depends on the degree of uneven surface and the type of product. Here is the average cost of leveling and smoothing the different types of subfloor
Concrete Leveling: $40-$60 per square metre.
Particle Board Leveling: $60-$70 per square metre.
Timber Plank Leveling: $70-$90 per square metre.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Removing Tile Flooring
Multiple influential factors can affect how much to remove tile floor.
Some of the mainstream factors include:
- Your locality: That matters because labor rates fluctuate depending on the localities and areas. And while you find some sort of services expensive in your area, some distant contractors are likely to do the job for you, on a budget.
- The condition of your floors: This matters because some of the floors are extremely worn out, and you can’t possibly handle the removal project yourself. That’s when you’re left with no option but to hire professional tile-removing services.
- The manufacturers you’re dealing with: There are often full deals that include everything you need, so you don’t have to do any priming or prepping yourself. The company takes care of everything. However, if the rules aren’t too strict, you can save money by getting the floor ready yourself.
- The area you’re dealing with: This means the total square footage of the area that will be your working site. Both materials and labor costs are calculated on a per-square-foot basis. So the greater the area that needs the treatment, the more you can expect to pay.
- The reusability of your tiles: Reusability refers to whether the tiles are usable or not. Often, after completely removing the old mortar, you can reuse the tiles, saving you the money that you would have spent on new ones. But this is generally neither a good idea nor practically possible in most cases.
Major Methods of Tile Removal
Given below are the major ways in which you can/get the removal of your former tile flooring.
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Manual Hand Tools
Tools like an Air Hammer, Demolition fork, floor scraper, jackhammer, and manual grout removal tools are essential for any removal project.
Not to mention there is an entire list of other essential stuff, too, that you’ll need to either buy or rent for your work.
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Large Size Removing Tiles Machines
The name of those tools gives it away: they’re meant to make tile work much faster and easier. People who do their own projects are less likely to use these properly, but you’ll probably see professionals use them.
P.S. You can even rent a tile-removing machine for a while. After gaining the necessary knowledge, you can give it a try yourself.
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DIY Method to Remove Tiles
Removing the tile floor the DIY way is quite a relief for one’s budget since, of course, it is the scenario where you don’t have to pay for the services.
However, it’s always a good idea to reward yourself during and after the project to keep things interesting!
We’d like to mention that DIY tile removal, while it might seem easy to take on, isn’t a walk in the park. Besides, you’re much more prone to getting yourself into danger or even causing a waste of time and stuff.
Still, if you’ve got the nerve to go for it, we wish you the best of luck and have included the cost of supplies you’ll need.
Cost of Supplies Required in Tile Removal
For a rough estimate, the average cost to remove tile per square foot in terms of a DIY project can reach up to $1.50 per square foot
Ahead are the tools you’ll be required for DIY tile removal. The total price depends on whether you purchase or rent them.
- Floor Scraper (Long-handled)
- Chisel or Air Hammer
- Drop Sheet
- Paint Scraper
- Hammer
- Screw Gun
- Flat shovel
- Roofing Rake
- Pry Bar
- Screw Driver
- Shop VAC
- Painters’ Tape
DIY Or Hire a Pro to Remove Tile Flooring
You should know you can save money by removing tile floors yourself rather than hiring a professional. And what if you choose a professional? How much does it cost to remove tile flooring? Possibly, but only if you have the right tools, patience, and perseverance. Attempting tile removal as a DIY project takes significantly more physical effort and time. But it saves paying labor costs.
Pros of DIY Tile Removal
- Avoid hourly labor fees, which make up the biggest portion of the tile removal cost
- Learn a new hands-on skill
- Dictate your schedule
Cons of DIY Tile Removal
- Equipment purchases or rentals offset savings
- Very physically demanding, especially in large areas
- Risk of damaging the subfloor without proper technique
- generating disposal expenses
Weigh your ability and willingness to take on tiling, removing yourself before deciding between DIY and contractor removal. Paying for labor expertise is often worthwhile in the long run.
Why Hiring a Professional For Tile Removal Can Be Beneficial?
Hiring a professional to remove your tiles is always the most foolproof option because that’s when things are guaranteed NOT to go wrong. Besides, it can save a lot of your precious time and physical effort.
Besides that, it is after all the level of skill you pay for, which also comes with the assurance of durability. That’s because a procedure done the right way is likely to outlast usage and wear and tear, too.
Conclusion
The reality of every job site and the situation is different. You can’t exactly know how much to remove the tile floor. Only the expert technicians who visit the project sites can tell us the overall timeline and labor required for the tile removal task. However, in this guide, we have tried to estimate the price of this process. Consider this cost scenario to get an idea of your budget for your flooring project.
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