Shower from the 60's

[HooKooDoo Ku]

Any advice on how to best speed the process of getting the existing walls pulled down?

Getting the tile off hasn't been too difficult. I'm trying to take my time so that I can preserve some of the edge pieces to reuse to help visually separate the original tile and the new tile inside the shower. I've also managed to already save several of the field tile should I decide to reuse those.

But what seems to be the most difficult is simply pulling that fat mud 1" thick attached to wire nailed to the wall.

[cx]

Have removed a number of those old showers, Joseph, and I find the best method is to cut them into bite-sized pieced first. My preferred tool is a hand-held wet saw, but that works best if the receptor or tub is still in place to catch the mess. You can also do it dry with an angle grinder and diamond blade, but the dust created can be overwhelming.

Just cut the wall into squares that you think you can handle and remove them with whatever pry-bar-type tools you have available. Cutting them into pieces that will fit through the nearest operable window is frequently helpful.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Davy]

I have a small chipping hammer that I use. Makita makes one they call a power scraper. This one works real well and is smaller and lighter than most chipping hammers. If your hammer is too big, it's easy to pop nail heads on the other side.

I poke holes in the tile and mud in a square shape about 20-24 inches square. Then take it down in square sections.

Edit; Looks like Cx set his alarm this morning. Sounds like we do it the same way, you just need to selsect your weapon of choice. Go ahead and get a few band-aids out too.

[cx]

Yeah, those little power scrapers might work pretty well for that. I have only a medium rotary hammer, which is a bit too powerful and too heavy for me to use much above waist level, even before shoulder surgery. 'Course you don't have that problem on accounta you've got "Little Davy" for that kind of activity, eh?

[HooKooDoo Ku]

Yeah, I've already been using the angle grinder as an "easy" way to stop the demo at the point where I want to leave the tile outside the shower alone, and it makes a mess.

Would it be worth trying a sawzall? I've got plenty of extra blades I can ruin trying. I figure the concrete will help to quickly wear out the blade, but as thin as the metal wire, I wouldn't think the saw would have a problem cutting thru that since the blade is designed for nails. Just thinking the thinner blade might make for a thinner cut and therefore less dust.

Obviously I'd have to stay away from the studs

[cx]

Originally Posted by Joseph

Obviously I'd have to stay away from the studs

Less obviously, you'd wanna stay away from any plumbing and wiring, Joseph. Even if you can make those Sawzall blades last more than about a foot, I'd recommend you use the angle grinder.

My opinion, worth price charged.

[HooKooDoo Ku]

Good points... I really appreciate the heads up CX.

The plumbing wasn't a concern as I can tell where that's all located.

But I must admit that I don't know if I would have remembered to check for the electrical before trying to cut all the way to the floor. Based on the location of the fuse box and the location of electrical outlets in the room on the opposite side of the wall, there's a good chance there is an electrical wire where I have not gotten to in the demo. Where I already used an angle grinder to "protect" the tile in the rest of the bathroom, I didn't go all the way thru the mud so I've not seen what's behind that wall about a foot off the ground along that wall (other than the air duct going up the wall).

[Davy]

There's several tools that will work but nothing as fast as the grinder with a diamond blade. Have someone hold a vacuum hose up to the blade, it will pick up quite a bit of the dust. Having a variable speed grinder helps slow it down to reduce some of the dust.

You're right, Cx. He pretty much tells me to get out of his way. Of course I'm the one that holds the vacuum hose.

[HooKooDoo Ku]

Unfortunately, no variable speed on the angle grinder.

It's just a basic model that, if memory serves, the only reason I even own it is because I couldn't come up with any better ideas to smooth down a hump in the concrete slab near the toilet rough-in when I was working on this job 10+ years ago.

[cx]

I dunno who's eye-dee it was to make angle grinders turn at 11,000 rpm or so, but I suggest he's a guy who never actually had to use angle grinders. Get yourownself a variable speed angler grinder and you'll be quite willing to get rid of your single speed grinder even if it's new and even if you hafta throw it away.

I recommend this Makita 9565CV 5" variable speed.

[Davy]

What Cx said. We very seldom ever run ours at full speed. I have 3 of those Makita grinders, they have lots of torque.

[HooKooDoo Ku]

Given that I don't use the angle grinder I already own, hard to justify the cost of a variable speed one.

Perhaps I could just take the diamond blade of the grinder and use it by hand, just sawing up and down...

Just kidding... I've got a dust mask, and eye protection. Last time I made a mess I was using the thick grinder blade. The diamond blade is thinner. I don't have a helper this weekend, but perhaps I can tape the 1-1/2 hose from the shop vac to the side of the grinder.

[Davy]

Sounds like a mess is in your future with a high speed grinder and a 1 1/2 inch hose. I wish you the best, hopefully it won't be too bad. Put a fan in the window too.

[cx]

Originally Posted by Joseph

Given that I don't use the angle grinder I already own, hard to justify the cost of a variable speed one.

Justification?!! It's a tool, Joseph. The only "justification" required is that you need one for your current application. You're startin' to worry me.

[HooKooDoo Ku]

Tile/mud demo is complete.

Didn't use the angle grinder much... the wire was giving such a problem that prying it off the studs and beating it into submission.

Did use the angle grinder to make a clean edge cuts where the shower ends and bathroom begins. Even with a fan in the window, dust went everywhere.

The worst part was simply hauling the rubble away. Each wall must have been 100 lbs.

Sorry, no pictures. I had already loaded tools into the shower for storage until I can continue. Way to exhausted as today's work, which started by chipping all the tile off trying to save some to reuse, then pulling down the walls. It was a 12 hour day.

By the way, at suggestions on cleaning the tile for reuse? For the thickest mud, I can only think to use the angle grinder to get the bulk of it off.. then something else to gring the last bit off... Dremel ?