If you have old wall tiles, it’s essential to have them disposed of safely.
After all, they’re dangerous if they stay on your The kitchen and bathroom are two popular places to sport old tiles. However, you need to act carefully when it comes to removing them since they are made of clay.
So, how do you dispose of old tiles properly? Because old tiles can release toxic lead and other chemicals when exposed to water, proper disposal is important.
Fortunately, these tiles can be disposed of safely by placing them in a metal box or plastic sheeting, and sealing the box securely.
The box can then be buried 6 feet below the ground, or placed in a landfill.
In this way, old tiles can be disposed of properly without posing a risk to people or the environment.
How to Dispose of Old Tiles Properly
Sell Your Old Tiles
Selling your old tiles is an often-overlooked option for getting rid of them. But it’s also a great method of recycling.
After all, not all old tiles have to be broken up and disposed of. According to Dave Lavallee, a professional tile setter and contractor in Denver, Colorado, “Old tiles in decent condition can be sold to a tile dealer.”
In fact, you may even be able to turn your old items into cash by selling them at a garage sale or online.
Many individuals undertake their own tiling projects around the home to save money, but this task is often easier said then done.
Store Old Tiles Away
If you don’t want to gift or sell them and want them buried, store them carefully in a storage shed.Metal boxes can help protect your tiles, while still keeping them in an accessible position.
Otherwise, painting your tile over with latex paint will make it less visible and easier to cover up.
Recycle Old Tiles
Recycle your old tiles instead of disposing them by contacting a recycling center.
Many old tiles, scrap metal, and broken equipment are recycled into paving blocks by specialized companies. This is a great way to reuse your old items and help the environment at the same time.
Tiles are exquisite additions to flooring, walls and other areas in both residential and commercial settings. While they are durable and easy-to-clean, their longevity means that they’ll have to be replaced from time to time.
If you have extra tiles from a past renovation project and the desire to avoid landfilling, consider recycling them instead.
Donate Them
Only donate old tiles if they’ve been removed intact from a floor or wall and they’re in good condition.
Make a list of all the ones you want to get rid of and contact the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your area to see if they’d be interested in taking them off your hands.
Tiles that are cracked, chipped, or packed together are difficult to sell because it’s difficult to know if they’re actually usable or not.
Reuse Old Tiles for Future DIY Home Projects
After keeping old tiles for a time, your DIY skills might improve and you’ll decide you want to use them on a project in the future.
This allows you to get even more use out of them; it’s a win-win situation! Old tiles can also be used for other projects around your home, such as bird baths, flower boxes, and garden edging.
Items that require the tile to be load-bearing should never be used for this purpose.
Some recycling companies also work with individuals who wish to recycle old tiles from home improvement projects.
You can do so by taking them to a recycling center or to a private business that accepts these types of materials.
Hire a Garbage Bin Rental Company
Most localities have a garbage collector who provides bins for curbside pick-up.
If yours does not, you can save money by hiring a trash removal company, who will haul away your waste and recycle it for you.
Tile recycling is a great option for getting rid of old tiles since it’s eco-friendly and easy to accomplish.
These organizations will have a plan in mind on how they’re going to handle each material type they receive, so you can be sure that your old tile won’t be ending up in a landfill.
When disposing of construction trash, you should consider all options before simply throwing it away in a landfill.
When you drop the items, you should notify them that there’s construction debris inside the bin as well so that they can take care of it appropriately.
How to Remove Tile
Hammer and Chisel Method
Simply select a location in the room’s surface where the tile is to be removed and carefully hammer it until it breaks free.
Once you’ve shattered a tile, use a chisel to break it into manageable pieces so that you can remove it more easily.
Then, using the hammer, smash it into smaller bits that can be picked up with a scraper tool or your hand.
This raises the tile ‘s height and allows you to access the underlying adhesive, making it easier to remove without damaging the surrounding surface.
Gather Tools
To remove tile, you first need to gather all the tools you’ll need to complete the job: a hammer, chisel, wire brush, utility knife, scraper, pry bar, and sandpaper.
Take a chisel, hammer, and hand trowel to the area of the wall where the floor meets the wall and remove the baseboard along the perimeter of that area.
A crowbar is also useful for prying up any stubborn pieces of wood that have been nailed down in place too tightly to remove with a crowbar alone.
Prepare the space
You will need to safeguard various objects in your home when you’re removing flooring of any kind since you’ll be digging into the sub floor.
In a bathroom, for example, it would be wise to tape off the toilet and the sink so that you avoid damaging them when you remove the flooring in that area.
Remove baseboards and molding to give yourself some room to work underneath the flooring you’re removing.
Also Read:How Do You Dispose of Ceramic Tile
Final Words
If you replace old tiles with new tiles, it’s important to dispose of the old tiles properly.
First of all, never throw away old tiles or throw them in a landfill. Old tiles contain lead, which can harm the environment if discarded in a landfill.
Instead, consider donating old tiles to organizations that accept donations of old building materials.
Another option is to reuse old tiles as tiling material on a balcony or patio (for example).
Finally, old tiles can be crushed and used as building fill or as garden mulch.
