removing terrocatta tiles, cleanly and keeping them intact

glanman

Hi my brother is renovating his house, old georgian house. He wants to take up terracota tiles in the kitchen as he is putting a new kitchen, raising the floor and knocking some walls. he wants to take up the tiles but keep them intact because they are in good condition and he wants to relay them afterwards. Any advice on how to do this, tools etc...

git_ireland

Terracotta is a hard one.
The structure of them means that when removing they will inevitably chip or fray. Most of the tiles will be damaged on removal to some extent depending on the bond the adhesive has with the sub.
It wouldbe very labour intensive to try remove all of them without chipping them.

What is the sub at the moment. If it a timber base it will be a hell of a lot easier than taking of a screed.

Paitence will be a virtue for him.

glanman

its concrete. any reccomedations on what to do so? any tool for gettin underneath them, somethin like a flat tough style shovel...