Problems removing underlayment

I am having a huge problem trying to remove the 1/4" ply underlayment that was under the vinyl I had. I can't even get any of it off. What should I do? I want to put tile there. The area to be removed and tiled is large. (entrance, hall, bath, kitchen). I've tried pry bars and nothing even makes a dent. Under the underlayment is the subfloor which is 23/32, joist run every 16 inches. What should I do?

I'm starting to get it up. Geez this is a pain

I have good luck running a circular saw over the floor in a grid pattern. Use an old blade set to cut 1/4" deep and go crazy. Then pry up the little sections that should be easier to handle and offer less resistance to coming up.

JimR

I have good luck running a circular saw over the floor in a grid pattern. Use an old blade set to cut 1/4" deep and go crazy. Then pry up the little sections that should be easier to handle and offer less resistance to coming up.

JimR

That's your best advice. No one said it was going to be easy.

It would appear that you have already started pulling the material up. There is a new pneumatic tool thatmgiht work for this application but it actually is for remving roof shingles called "Demolition Demon". I am supposing that the underlayment ewas glued down to the floor underneath the underlayment?

It would have been so much easier to have added another layer than pulling all of this out. I hope that helps in some regard.

Sam

Adding another layer would be discouraged by the tile industry. Heaping layer atop layer is never a good idea with ceramic and stone tile installations.

There are air-chisels available for rent that require an aircompressor that would also work. Usually a "heavy-bar" is all that is required.

I think the circular saw method works very well (previous post). Make sure the saw blade depth is not too deep. Once you get the first piece up the others come up pretty easily.