I made a video of this process and I had the camera set up the wrong way. Vertically. Which is wrong. I wanted to address this before I addressed anything else about ripping out my floor.
So let's watch the video.
Spending 3 days ripping out tile, cement, wire mesh and plywood tends to wear a person down. It wasn't nearly as bad a job as I thought it was going to be, but ... it was bad enough that I wasn't quite thinking straight. Hence the vertical video. And the meal on Tuesday night of a Hungry Man dinner.
A HUNGRY MAN FROZEN DINNER. That is what I ate. I have no idea what the fella ate. Cat hair maybe. The most perplexing part is I thought the frozen dinner was going to be really good. Anything that didn't involve cooking or even chewing really, seemed enticing.
Mid demolition I had to run into my local drugstore for something and saw the Hungry Man dinners on sale. I grabbed 2 of them thinking they'd be as good as I remembered them being when I was a kid. I'm a sucker for fake mashed potatoes. Mmmm. The Hungry Man dinner was one of the weirdest things I've eaten in a long time.
It just occurred to me that this post isn't about frozen dinners. It's about ripping out a ceramic tile floor.
O.K. This isn't a real tutorial because demolition is pretty much just breaking things, shovelling them and dragging them out of the house. All while looking as cute as a used vomit bag.
I do have 2 tips for you if you're going to demo a ceramic tile floor though. You *can* rent tools to do this, but you don't need to. It's not fun, but it's not that hard either. It can definitely be done manually.
What you *should* invest in is a Super Wonder Pry Bar. Or something like it.
Also, buy yourself a roofing shovel. It'll make ripping up the plywood floors easier. I did not invest in a roofing shovel and used a flat end shovel instead. It worked fine, but a roofing shovel would have been better. I just plain old couldn't be bothered to go out and buy a roofing shovel. I ate a Hungry Man frozen dinner for God's sake. I was obviously in a fragile state.
Lest you think from the minute long video, everything was easy, here are a few shots revealing the true mess of everything during the ceramic tile phase of this Big Spring Project. Click on the picture to see the full sized images.
Now just the heated floors, self levelling concrete, tile adhesive and the actual tiles to go. Please send help. Or yes ... even a Hungry Man dinner.
Sera
Wow Karen! You're amazing! I am totally worried about the bathroom side of things. How on earth are you going to do under the tub? It's clawfoot right?
Anyway, we took easily six full days to demo our kitchen area. I have no idea how you did this in one day!
Barbie
YOU ROCK! How is your back feeling BTW? I can hardly wait to see the finished product....it is going to look so awesome!! I'm sure the Fella thinks your a Goddess.....well.....he already knew that I am sure!
Jeannie B
Karen, I have so much admiration for women who take on projects such as this. I had a lovely neighbour who used to take on jobs, that most of us would hire out. She put a new roof on her house, all by herself. She vinyl sided her house, all by herself. She also designed and built a home up in Muskoka and that's where she lives now. Bottom line, she saved a lot of money doing things herself. And yes, she does have a husband. Women who keep their fingernails short can do most anything. More power to you!
toekneetoni
very impressed. go Karen go!
Nicki Woo
OOOOHHHH. I thought you said invest in a Super Wonder Power Bra. I was thinking. . .my husband might really consider this project. But you said pry bar. . .darnit to heck.
Kimberly Kelley
U rockstar -- go girl!
Kimberly Kelley
Karen??? Forget me not??? I SWEAR my gmail account and kelleycreekfarms account are one in the same, but I don't know how to reply from "Kim@Kelleycreekfarms.com" *lol*
I need to know how to get my awesome lookmatic glasses and also know how fragile you are ripping out floors eating tv dinners!!
I ripped out a parquet wood floor once. OMG never again...
~kim
Karen
Kim! I've forwarded your information to the Lookmatic people. They'll be in touch. I'll contact them again to remind them. ~ karen!
Janet
Love the music for your video! I'm really, really, really, glad you used safety glasses. You are so inspiring...I feel energized. I wish my hubby would leave town for a few weeks. It's the only way my floor would get done. Keep up the good work, Karen.
Can't wait to see the results.
RuthyJ
I'm tired just watching you. *sigh*
ruth
I would so give up after the first tile. You are my hero.
jackie
Weird, I click on play and it switches to an old man coming in to an apartment elevator. NO jokes. Footage from a security camera. WTH??? Then it goes back to you so I press play again and the same thing happens, switches from you to that. Normally I would think this was your sense of humour, but nope, everyone else is commenting on the video of YOU doing work. This is weird.
Elen Grey | Deep in B-ville Writing Over the Garage
LOL I was rockin' that music in your video this morning, Karen. What is it? I want it! Love the shoes. Love the tools. Love, love, love it. It just all screams "relaxed and elegant manner." ;-) Best of luck.
Karen
Elen - The first bit of music is Chet Baker. The second bit is Ramones. ~ karen!
Brenda
We (myself & hubby) ripped out our entire kitchen, (cabinets, flooring) two years ago. It was horrendous. We have 2 teenagers that just kind of got in the way. BTW - my daughter took pictures of the process and snapped one of my butt while I was on the counter ripping out wall cabinets. It was promptly deleted. It was nowhere near as photogenic as yours. We still have to redo 3 bathrooms and I'm just dreading it, because they are tiled -- tiled walls and tiled floors. Blech.
natalie
- a Man Hungry (for) Dinner is just not happening.
couldn't resist.
Feral Turtle
I would say you looked extremely elegant!! I love the President Choice frozen dinners, butter chicken, chicken korma. I keep them in the freezer for my elegant days, except I am usually dressed in my Chanel or Dior. Radiant floor heat rules!!
Lisa
had to watch again, had volume off! Nice job!
Nancy Eileen
Huge job ...I'm so very impressed!
We'll be doing the same in a few months.
I suppose I'll avoid the Hungry Man and do a little precooking.
Have a good one!
Debbie W.
Wow, you rock!!! There is something about watching someone else work (in fast forward was my fav!) while you sit idly by and drink coffee!! Where is the fella in all of this?! Thank heavens the weather is warming up this week, and you have a beautiful backyard to retreat to!! Thanks for sharing!
Karen
The fella's at work during it all. ~ karen!
Laura
My marriage barely survived a tile floor remodel so you can count yourself smart doing it alone.
Jeff Walker
Oh my God Karen. You are an animal! Fearless! Hey did you ever decide on a gray? Would love to know what you decide.
Amanda
Mmm. Corn niblets and chicken nuggets.
I've removed tile once. You couldn't pay me to do it again. You definitely earned your Hungry Man. And probably a bottle of wine.