Shower floor?

Question

I know that the best is to remove the existing tiles first.

But, I do not want to break the old base.

What are the chances that I could remove the tiles without

breaking the base ( I am just not into repouring and making

a new bed. I hear it is not a walk in the park.

The base is solid, the tiles are stuck solid as well, how bad

an idea is it to go over the existing tiles.

Answer 1

if u dont want to remove anything you could lay hardi back on top of old tile using a waterproof adhisive then put the new tile on top your gonna have to adress the issue of extending the shower drain for the change in thickness

Answer 2

Removing the old tiles should not crack the old base.  Just don't use a sledgehammer on it.

Use eye protectors! Bits can go flying.

Plug the drain with a rag.

Pick a tile, such as one near the drain, where you can see the concrete base. Use a rigid flat blade (I use a dull chisel), start tapping sideways at the junction of the mortar and the base ... the tiles can pop right off taking all the mortar with them, or at least crack and can be pried off.

Hold the chisel at the junction point and tap it with a hammer ... the shock wave will do the work for you.

If there are no easy places to get to the base, tap one of the tiles into bits with a small hammer, scrap it off anf then start the sideways tapping.

Answer 3

A very bad idea. The new that you put over the old is only as good as the old underneath. There are shower pans on the market you use as an under tile base that are inexpensive compared to having to tear out two layers of tile to do what you should have done in the first place. Do it right the first time and you'll sleep better at night.

Answer 4

You won't break the old base.  If it does break up, then there is a problem there considering it is suppose to be concrete.

    Start chiseling out the tile.  One problem of going over is that the plumbing is not gonna match up on the drain, another is water can sit between the two layers and boom, sooner or later, you will be doing "repairs" to your new floor.

   Making a new bed is not such a big deal.  Use a mostly damp sand mix with a 2trowels or 3 of concrete mixed in(kinda like beach sand) and make the base with the slope toward the drain, leaving enough room for estimated tile thickness.   That is the easiest to work....being that it is mainly damp sand.  When done, leave it for a couple of days to dry out.  it will dry quite hard because of the concrete in the mixed in.   I have seen them tile on top of that perfectly fine.   The additional water from the tile grout just adds to make it harder.