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If you’re handling your tile removal yourself, seal the room using painter’s tape and heavy-duty contractor bags to prevent dust and shards from escaping. Use a claw hammer or a pry bar and a mallet to get behind the tile and pry it away from the floor or wall. Once your tiles are all removed, sweep everything into contractor bags for disposal, being careful not to overfill them. Make sure you wear a dust mask, safety goggles, and work gloves to keep yourself safe from injury while you work.

It’s possible to walk on a clay tile roof, but you run the risk of breaking or cracking the tiles if you’re not careful, so it’s best not to walk on it if you can avoid it. If you or a contractor needs roof access, be sure to distribute your weight evenly and step on the portions of tile that are also supported underneath, which depends on your tile design. Walking on any roofing material is inherently dangerous, so wear rubber-soled shoes and use safety equipment if you need to access your roof.

The process takes two to four days, depending on the size of the area and your experience level. The first day involves assessing and prepping the existing tile, while the second day is for laying the new tile. This may take longer in complex areas. After letting the adhesive dry for 24 hours, grouting and sealing can be completed on day three. For larger projects or intricate tile patterns, expect the timeline to stretch a bit longer. Also, proper drying time between steps is essential for long-lasting results, which extends the project’s time.

Ideally, you should remove tile before installing hardwood floors, but there are good reasons not to. Removing stubborn tile can be a labor-intensive job that adds days to the project. The subfloor beneath the tiles could also be damaged during the process, meaning you’d have to repair the subfloor before installing the new hardwood floor.