Mortar removal tips

We installed ceramic tile in our kitchen, it turned out with uneven grout lines. We are in the process of removing the tile. Problem is the mortar under the tile is very hard to scrape off of the concrete backerboard. Any easier removal tips than scraping?

Without getting some expensive gear, about the best way will be with hammer, chisel, and scraper. It's a back (as well as knee and knuckle) breaking job, and I don't envy you a bit. One thing to think about, though-- if you just knock down the high spots, as long as the old mortar is stuck well to the floor (which it sounds like it is) why not just go over it when you go to replace your floor? So long as all the high spots have been knocked down (mostly where the thinset squeezed up between the tiles), you'll still end up with a flat floor.

Do you have any tips on how to remove mortar from slate flooring without damaging the slate?

Thanks

K Donnelly

Use an angle grinder with a diamond blade. You'll want to do this outside, because you're going to make a cloud of dust, but it'll work and it's not that difficult. Make sure you wear safety glasses, though.

And maybe use a respirator.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/consilic.html

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests assistance in preventing silicosis and deaths in construction workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica. Construction workers, coworkers, managers, and equipment manufacturers urgently need information about the hazards of breathing respirable crystalline silica. Your assistance in this effort will help prevent silicosis-related death and disease, a national goal for health promotion and disease prevention stated in Healthy People 2000 [PHS 1990].

This Alert describes six case reports of construction workers who have died or are suffering from silicosis. In addition, the Alert cites examples of five construction operations that used poor dust controls and two operations that used good dust controls.

NIOSH requests that editors of trade journals, safety and health officials, labor unions, owners, and employers bring the recommendations in this Alert to the attention of all workers who are at risk.

Good idea-- something I've never even thought about. And I thought all this coughing was from cigarettes!

Go to a tool rental store and rent a demolition hammer. Its like a small hand held jackhammer. Get a wide bladed chisel head with it (3-4". Hold the hammer at a shallow angle and it will cut the mortar clean-off quickly.

We were hesitant about the demolition hammer but decided to give it a try. "Worked Great" Only cost $45.00 for a weekend rental.
Well worth the money.

Boshe makes a 4-1/2" mortar stripping disk that attaches to a typical angle grinder. One disk will last for about 100 sq feet of thin set mortar. Unfortunately to remove the actual tiles it hammer and chisel is the most economical way. The disks are about 6 dollars each