Tile Removal Costs at a Glance

• Cost per square foot: $1.50-$4.15
• Total cost for 100 square feet: $150-$415

You can’t install new flooring without getting rid of your existing flooring. So, if you’re thinking about laying down new tile, hardwood or vinyl, you may have to take up the tile that’s currently there. You won’t want to forget to factor this cost into your project budget.

This May Also Interest You: How to Remove a Tile Floor

Saying goodbye to your tile? Here's how much you can expect the project to cost.

Tile Floor Removal Cost

On average, you can expect to pay between $1.50 to $4.15 per square foot of ceramic tile for tile removal, according to Costimates.com. Let's say your bathroom is 100 square feet. You can then expect to pay between $150 and $415 for the tile removal process.

Factors That Affect the Cost

• Location: Where you live matters. In places where the cost of living and supplies are higher, a flooring company might charge more to remove the floor.
• Floor size: Most contractors charge per square foot of tile that needs to be removed.

Compare contractor quotes for tile removal based on skill as well as price. A contractor may charge less, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be satisfied with the results.  If you’re having new flooring installed, removal may be part of that quote.

What Happens During Tile Removal

First, the professional will prepare the area to contain the mess. For instance, the flooring specialist may place a plastic divider in between where they're removing tiles and other rooms. Weakened or damaged floor tiles are likely to be removed first. Flooring professionals may use a specialized scraper. Otherwise, professionals typically begin at the grout line using a chisel. Throughout the process, the flooring professional will use a chisel and scraper as necessary to remove all the floor tiles.

The cost to remove a tile floor takes into account what a time-consuming process it is. The mess and time it takes to finish this process makes removing tile flooring quite an extensive and difficult job. Sometimes, a flooring expert may use heavy-duty equipment, such as a jackhammer, to remove tile flooring.

When the tile has been removed, it exposes the subfloor beneath. Occasionally, a contractor may find water damage here, and if that's the case, it will need to be fixed before the new tile or other flooring is installed. Once the removal process is complete, a plan for the new floor installation can be made.

More Related Articles:

• How to Remove a Tile Backsplash
• How Much Does It Cost to Install or Replace Tile?
• Everything You Need to Know About Terrazzo
• Tale of the Tile: An Overview of Bathroom Tile Flooring
• Squeaky Floors Getting on Your Nerves? Give ‘Em the Silent Treatment

Why Hiring a Professional Can Be Beneficial

It may seem like hiring a professional isn't a logical solution when it's possible to do it yourself. This is especially the case if you're trying to save money. However, though professional removal might be more expensive, it can be a smart move if you want to ensure the job is done well.

Professional Care and Attention

A professional flooring removal service can keep the dust and debris from the project contained. You won't have to worry about the mess spreading to other rooms of your home or having to clean up afterward.

Also, removing tile can sometimes affect the subfloor below. If you are doing the removal yourself, it can be difficult not to damage the subfloor. If you opt to use a professional, they will use strategies to minimize the damage to the subfloor during the removal process. Trim and walls are also at risk of damage during the process of tile floor removal. Hiring a professional may reduce the number of dings or scrapes here, too.

A professional tile removal company also usually disposes of all the waste, which is convenient for you. As a result, you don't have to worry about getting rid of all the old tiles.

Clear Timeframes

When they provide you with a floor tile removal estimate, the contractor will also let you know how long they expect the project to take. Even though the cost to remove a tile floor is higher when you hire someone, the process is likely to be completed within a specific time frame, and the company can address any hurdles that arise along the way to keep the project on schedule.

Ultimately, when you choose to hire professionals for tile removal, you reap the reward of less stress knowing that the professionals are equipped to handle the situation. Sometimes, that's enough to make a homeowner want to hire a professional to have the floor removed.

Since we’re all home now more than ever, being prepared for unexpected home repairs with a plan from HomeServe is important. Having a plan in place gives you peace of mind knowing that you can simply call our 24/7 repair hotline for covered breakdowns. See what plans are available in your neighborhood.