Tile floor removal subfloor

[pete6032]

I plan to rip out the tile floor in my kitchen. Home was built in the 1950s. I don't think the tile floor is original, looks 1990s-ish. Is there any way to tell what I will find underneath the tiles? Seems like I should expect to see plywood possibly on top of vinyl? Assuming I will need to remove the plywood underneath the tile because it will be full of thinset. Underneath that should either be the subfloor or the original floor, correct?

 

[Greenman]

It could be anything. The most likely system is plywood over the old subfloor. If the original flooring is under the tile and it's sheet goods, it will almost certainly contain asbestos in the material or the adhesive.

 

[herm0016]

50's is probably 1x subfloor, so ply under sheet goods or original wood floor under your current tile? does the rest of it have wood flooring?

 

[Greenman]

I never see hardwood in original 50's kitchens around here, could be a California thing.

 

[herm0016]

our first 2 houses were 1x on a diagonal for sub floor and oak nailed over that in the whole house.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

What kind of tile? If it's ceramic or similar, you may be in for a major job. You may find a concrete like grout or adhesive on top of tile board which is basically cement board. THEN you may find an underlayment and finally the base wood. Built in the 50s, that may be 1 x 4 tongue in groove planks.

IF you can get it all up, it would be best to go to that base rough floor and start back up from there with your new floor.

 

[pete6032]

It's 12x12 thick white ceramic tiles. The floors around the kitchen are hardwood but I doubt the kitchen floor is. Sounds like I might need to rip up the tile and also remove a layer of plywood in order to get to the subfloor?

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Is there a basement (or at least crawlspace) where you can look from below?

If you're on a concrete slab, there any not be any subfloor or wood of any kind.

 

[pete6032]

Is there a basement (or at least crawlspace) where you can look from below?

If you're on a concrete slab, there any not be any subfloor or wood of any kind.

There is a basement but it is finished. The same tiles are also in the entryway so my plan is to take up the entryway ones and see what I'm dealing with. A 5x10 nightmare is better than a 15x15 nightmare.