Dremel Multi-Max for Bathroom Demolition
I’ve begun the work on my bathroom and started with removing the toilet, vanity and old floor tile. I plan on reusing the same toilet and only replacing a few shower wall tiles (to cut costs). Demo is always a lot of fun, especially when you have the right tools for the job.
Removing the Tile
As I wrote before, the previous tile job was in bad shape. Some tiles were cracked while other weren’t really bonded to anything underneath. The previous installer had laid the tile directly onto the plywood subfloor- not uncommon. The problem is that bathroom floors get wet and it’s important to have a barrier to protect against water damage. I’ve installed concrete board but Schluter DITRA underlayment is another good option.
I grabbed my hammer and chisel and began pulling up the tile. It came away pretty quick and most often in whole pieces. I have a hunch they didn’t choose an appropriate thinset for tiling over plywood (unmodified thinset mixed with a latex additive). The picture below shows how the tile cracks where two pieces of plywood are not sufficiently even.
To remove random bits of adhered thinset, I grabbed my new favorite tool, the Dremel Multi-Max (review). The scraper accessory made quick work of any thinset left behind. I’ve also used the Rockwell Sonicrafter (review) and it would have worked just as well.
Removing the Vanity
The vanity was easy to remove. I turned off the water and disconnected the hot, cold and drain. The plumbing had been run after the vanity was installed, directly through the base. I used the Multi-Max with a wood blade to cut slots for the hot and cold supply. Then I broke the vanity into pieces and carried them out.
Scraping Away Caulk
There was caulk around the tub base, toilet, vanity, back-splash, side-splash and baseboard. I used the Multi-Max scraper to clear away all of it. I only mention it because I’ve torn up a lot of drywall because I didn’t scrape away the caulk first.
What do you think? What’s your favorite demo tool?
Comments & Conversation on this Article...
6 Responses to Dremel Multi-Max for Bathroom Demolition
February 18th, 2010 2:22 pm
I’m glad to see that the Dremel Multi-Max is useful for demo. We bought one recently and have used it mainly on exterior projects, but we’re getting ready to start a big interior demo project. Any advice on your favorite attachments?
-Lauren @ chezerbey
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February 18th, 2010 4:04 pm
I so need one of these for our bathroom remodel!
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February 18th, 2010 6:48 pm
Ethan, this is making me want to re-do our bathroom! I might have to suspend my subscription to your blog out of envy….
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February 18th, 2010 10:12 pm
@ Lauren, I think a good metal / wood flush cut blade and the rigid scraper will get you through a lot of projects. They recommend the flexible scraper for caulk removal but I think the rigid blade does just fine.
@ Beth, I’ve been itching to start this project for a while. I completely understand (but don’t cancel the sub.)
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February 19th, 2010 3:11 am
Well, great to know that Dremel Multi-Max is useful for demo.
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October 29th, 2010 7:01 am
[...] over an uneven subfloor so it was not a surprise that it was cracked and poorly bonded. My Dremel Multi-Max was really helpful with removing the tile and left-behind [...]