Taking old cork tiles out of bathroom.

[ShampooEfficient]

Right. We're doing the bathroom out, got new bog, bath, sink, etc fitted - so before we start with the fancy bits, we need to remove the old flooring tiles. They're cork, fitted on top of the floorboards, but handily some muppet decided to glue them all down.

My current thinking is to put trays of boiling water on to soften the adhesive before peeling - and use a heat gun once the water's been on for a while. Unless anyone has any top tips? They're coming off at the moment, not unlike a packet of ginger nuts that's been hurled at a wall. But much less tasty.

[mart77]

i've took a few of these little buggers up.i just use a sharpish chisel.usually does the trick

[-Pete-]

I've done a couple of cork tile floors and I don't know of any shortcuts, just lots of hard work. Scrapers, a flat spade if you have room, crow & pry bars, wood chisels etc. I expect you'd need solvents to loosen the glue, so it's probably not a good idea, and I doubt if warm water would help.

I'd like to try one of those Bosch or Fein Multi Tool things if I ever have to do it again, but they're £90+.

[Laurel Green]

Are you sure they are stuck directly to the floor boards and not hardboard? I only ask because it is usual to hardboard before the sticking of tiles.

[mart77]

an upside down plastering trowel does a great job of it too

[ShampooEfficient]

Bugger! I was hoping for some sneaky method - they are directly to the floorboards, sadly. Ta muchly all.

[Hammer67]

Fire.

Or get some other bugger to do it.

HTH.

[kenny.R400]

I have to do this exact job today in a house we're doing up. I'm going to give the wallpaper stripper a try on this one. Bought it last week to take wallpaper off throughout the place and it was taking the plaster off too..and the skim was strong!! I'll report back tonight. I've tried the "sharp blade" method yesterday and they really are really stuck like sh!!t to a blanket, never got one up.........if this don't work they're staying.