This is not the first time that the topic of my very small master bathroom has graced the Lounge here at SIGforum. Each time thus far, I was looking for a way to get it done in some easier manner -- and each time I'd been advised to bite the bullet and rip it out. You see, the problem is, that my bathroom is made of tile pressed into 2" of cement embedded over stamped waffle plate steel. It's a very small bathroom that requires passage right through our bedroom, and it has a small door to enter. It was an architect built home in the very early 1960s and this was a "make something out of nothing" attempt to use space.

In 2019, right before the horrible year, a water leak in the floor pan took it out of condition. The faucet valve was also bad (dipping, which was less of an issue when the drain worked) which required a great amount of demo to get into it and cap it. I booked a guy to redo the whole bathroom, and ion 2020 when he was scheduled to do it, the world fell apart. Twice more I booked others who never came or went out of business.

Which brings me to today. It is my resolution to get the bathroom done by summer. I've watched videos where people use an angle grinder and cut the cement, but the dust is fantastic. I think I'd rather beat it apart (chips don't float throughout the house).

So -- I'm looking at these tools. Any thoughts on them from those experienced would be appreciated. The 6 pound impact ones are a bit heavy , but the lighter weight ones are only 2 pound strike which may be insufficient to make good progress? Battery power vs. AC power? At hundreds of dollars to $600 or much more for SDS Max, I don't want to buy the wrong one and have to buy another.

I am guessing for demo (not drilling) that SDS Max is a must. I wonder how effective it will be?

On the bright side, I bought the tile and fixtures with 5 years ago money at 5 years ago prices.

Have you considered renting a demo jackhammer? Less expensive and could probably bust it up in a couple hours.

The first thing to check is if the material you are looking at is actual concrete.

In the old days a good bathroom tile job was a mud job.

It looks like concrete, but is much softer mortar mix.

They took a sledge hammer to my 6x8 bathroom mud job were done breaking it in a short time.

It took much longer to put the stuff in small batches in buckets and carry it out.

The tile and mud was very heavy.

Renting a demolition hammer is less than $100 a day.

If the bathroom is small I would rent it and not buy it unless you think you will use it again.

Most people I know that have them have Makita brand.

A 20 pound version should be enough to break up any bathroom.

SDS Max is your friend here, as others have said they can be rented instead of purchasing.

Side note, there will still be dust… a lot of dust.

Is this the tile floor you want to take up? Do you have any pictures? What is the subfloor? Plywood or is it the first floor over cement?

The smaller Bosch Bulldog, is much easier to handle, but as you pointed out, it hits the limit with smaller stuff. I own and have used this one for many things. It doesn't hit the limit on demo, and I do have a bigger one I will use on a project like you're discussing. The bigger ones will work you and get more expensive.

For one job, I would look at renting one. Home Depot has some stores with rental centers, and they rent different types of these tools.

quote:

Originally posted by MattW:
SDS Max is your friend here, as others have said they can be rented instead of purchasing.

Side note, there will still be dust… a lot of dust.

Agree! We always rented one when we did remodeling projects for clients. You may want to get a few different “bits” depending on how tight and how hard the area is.

I got this DeWalt SDS Max for drilling holes in my shop slab; it goes through like butter, though I haven't tried any demolition attachments. I would 100% go with a corded version for such a unit. I also really like how I can use it to drive stakes/posts with an attachment. No more sledgehammers, so long as I have a long enough extension cord. If you search by model number to hit many different sites, you can keep an eye out for sales. I also considered a rental but figured I would have plenty of future uses for such a tool.

I can't comment of the best tool/method for demoing your Master Bath, BUT...Where the hell were the pics of those Bosch Hammer Drills taken? That has got to be THE absolute filthiest tool display/store I have EVER seen!

There is this other stuff fir sale too; plastic sheeting, tape, and staples. Does wonders for containing construction/demo dust.

Just don’t get duct tape, rope, and bow saw at the same time.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
I can't comment of the best tool/method for demoing your Master Bath, BUT...Where the hell were the pics of those Bosch Hammer Drills taken? That has got to be THE absolute filthiest tool display/store I have EVER seen!

I am HOPING that is a tool rental place.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
I can't comment of the best tool/method for demoing your Master Bath, BUT...Where the hell were the pics of those Bosch Hammer Drills taken? That has got to be THE absolute filthiest tool display/store I have EVER seen!

I am HOPING that is a tool rental place.

Nope that's our local Lowes sales floor.

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
Is this the tile floor you want to take up? Do you have any pictures? What is the subfloor? Plywood or is it the first floor over cement?
...

It could be mud. Seems like concrete, but perhaps it's the mud product. The tile floor wiggles a bit. It may be on plywood. The shower tub tray is in concrete. We can see it from the hole in the drywall that we broke out in the room below (to address the leak. I'd hoped it was a pipe, but it was the drain in the floor, where the drain meets the concrete.

Are you demoing everything?

For the walls, get some pry bars. A flat one and a big, long one. Get some good gloves. Beat the pry bars along the studs and pry out the concrete/mud. This kind of demo can be a PIA and time-consuming. If there is a wire mesh, get a pair of snipes and wear good leather gloves.

They tiled the ceiling too, fun times.

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
Are you demoing everything?

Yes, i need to gut it to the studs, top, bottom and all the sides. Eeesh. Hence the 5 year delay in the start. But it's gotta get done, as I may need to sell/move in the next year.

Lump hammer and a crow bar is the way I do them. It isn't easy no matter what method you choose, but I feel the best way is to bust out a row about 6 inches wide in-between the studs then with the crow bar, rip off that section.

I have done lots of demo with a Bosch Bulldog on public shower tiles at rec centers