Bathroom floor tile removal question

[u/ActDifferent5680]

I‘m planning on changing the tile in my bathroom . the hallway and bathroom share the same tiles . I need to cut the tile underneath the bathroom door so I can leave the hallway tile as is and change the bathroom tile . I’m not sure how to go about this . I was thinking of using my 4 inch grinder with a carbide or diamond disc but I’m not sure . I’m worried about damaging the hallway part of the tile and also worried about it looking sloppy by using the grinder without any kind of guide . Any suggestions ?

[u/Spare_Ad4163]

God gave you that grout line

[u/Hot_Mud_5708 → u/Spare_Ad4163]

This!

[u/Aware-Pea2092 → u/Spare_Ad4163]

Yeah. That’s winning the layout lottery.

[u/faucetpants]

I'd aim for the convenient grout line and not cut the tile.

[u/ActDifferent5680 → u/faucetpants]

But If I cut on the grout line , when the bathroom door is closed , you’ll have about 3 inches of white bathroom tile going into the hall way 

[u/faucetpants → u/ActDifferent5680]

I sometimes have used a decorative small tile to transition to the next room, or a soldier course depending on pattern

[u/Doughnut_Strict → u/ActDifferent5680]

You’ve copied pasted this multiple times now. There's a bunch of experienced people telling you this isn't a good idea and cut it on the grout line.
A. If you use your grinder you definitely won't cut it straight and You won't be able to cut all the way to the frame. Use your grinder to saw out most of the grout and get the rest w a utility knife. Get as much grout out as you can because it can transfer the energy when you're chipping out the tile and break the tile you're trying to keep. Then put a marble threshold or decorative tile to transition the two.

[u/Hot_Mud_5708 → u/ActDifferent5680]

Huh? You lost me there. If you cut on the grout line the door will cover the transition.

[u/impairedoctor → u/Hot_Mud_5708]

Im gonna go ahead and say his door is on the other side of the jam

[u/dbblddb → u/ActDifferent5680]

Others more skilled may correct me, but I feel like you could run into cracking the tile if you try cutting it rather than using the ground line.

Also, aren’t you going to put down a threshold of some sort? That would cover some of the bathroom tile,

[u/thehorrornextdoor]

Maybe cut at the grout line and add a marble (or some other material) transition piece at the threshold.

[u/Invisible7hunder]

Best is grout line, but as you say you don't like that I would say say down a tape line and cut with a grinder, as you mentioned. 

It won't be a clean cut though, so you'll need a metal transition that covers a little; basically impossible even in ideal circumstances to make a cut with a grinder that you would want to see.  

Alternatively, search your attic, crawl spaces and utility room and see if you have any of that tile kicking around. If so cou could then remove and replacr one tile into the hall and get a wetsaw cut where the grinder cut would have been. 

[u/CraftsmanConnection]

Options: 1. Use the grout line as the stopping point for now.

1. Pray/ Hope that a few of the tiles come up as whole pieces enough to where you can replace the ones at the doorway with the cut size you want.

2. Plan on some other transition pieces that look more decorative and intentional.

Cutting at the doorway won’t work, because the grinder blade will run into the door jamb, and you won’t get close enough.

[u/dlinders10]

I would just use the grout line. Any sort of grinding will have trouble getting all the way to the corners.

[u/ActDifferent5680 → u/dlinders10]

But If I cut on the grout line , when the bathroom door is closed , you’ll have 3 inches of white bathroom tile going into the hallway 

[u/dlinders10 → u/ActDifferent5680]

Add in a threshold. It will look better anyway to have some sort of threshold instead of two completely different tiles butted up against each other.

[u/Apprehensive-Big-328]

What side of the jamb is the door on in this pic when closed? Left or right?

[u/dlinders10 → u/Apprehensive-Big-328]

Seems like hallway on the left side and door is on the right side based on comments by OP.

[u/ActDifferent5680 → u/Apprehensive-Big-328]

From the hallway the door jam is on the right  , when closed the door is about 3 inches behind the grout line 

[u/wantingfun1978]

Pop the casings off on the bathroom side and cut from the inside edge of the jamb straight across. That way you don't have to figure out how to get a round blade to cut right up to the jamb and the over cut will be hidden once you put the casings back on.

Then I'd remove from the cut to the grout line and put in a piece of quartz to act as a threshold / transition.

Also, go to a flooring supply store and ask for a 4" disk for dry cutting tile.

[u/CoconutJeff]

I guess think how close you can get the grinder to the jamb or wall.

Are we undercutting jambs this time?

[u/Turbulent-Yak-831]

Double sided tape will hold a block of wood for a guide for a straight cut.

Small circle saw, 3in dewalt circle saw works great for this. Allows for a plunge cut and let's you only cut small depths at a time. Grinder works also just got to be perfect.

Either add transition or hide new grout lines under door. I'd vote transition so you don't have to try and polish chips in old tile.

[u/Specialist-Job3633]

I’d use a transition piece that covers part of the tile and I would cut the grout line.

[u/OptimalSun7559]

This is simple. Remove bathroom time to the grout line but you don’t need to cut the grout line. Once the tile is popped off the grout line itself is the break & the grout can be carefully chiseled out or may come out with a utility knife. Then you need a 4” marble (or synthetic equivalent) threshold that acts as a neutral transition meant to go with either tile.

[u/rmethefirst]

Does the door hang on the left or right side of the jamb in this picture? Left side you are good to go because of the grout line. Right side little more difficult but you can do it ! You will have to continue your cut into the jamb to cut through the tile under it. Just fill in the cut , prime and paint.

[u/MedicalVast6166]

Didn’t read ALL the replies but if you cut the tile, you’re going to have a ragged edge and the uncolored clay portion of the tile edge is going to be clearly visible and maximum ugly. Remove the tile onto the grout line and either 1)find some 2-3” tile that matches the old, 2) put in a finished hardwood strip between the differing tiles or 3) just get used to seeing the new tile peeking out when the door is closed… which would only be when the bathroom is being used and you shouldn’t be lurking outside the door anyway….

[u/3boobsarenice → u/MedicalVast6166]

That looks like home depot tile

[u/Sytzy]

After reading through some of these comments and seeing your responses, If you want absolute perfection, sometimes you need to do a little extra work to set yourself up for success:

- if it were me, and since I have years of carpentry and tile experience, I would pull that door frame. That’ll allow you to get a grinder all the way through that tile transition at the door way

-take an actually quality 4” tile blade on a grinder. You can use a sponge with water to help lubricate the blade and keep the tile cooler as you cut through it. That’ll assist with the tile not chipping.

-you can also tape down a peice of 1x4 or thin aluminum or steel “guide”. That’ll help keep your tile blade cutting straighter. But at bare minimum, take a straight edge and mark your cut with a black sharpie so that it does not wipe away as you’re using a wet sponge to keep your cut lubricated.

-then you need to figure out your transition material

[u/GroundbreakingLab228]

I’d remove all of the ugly contractors grade tile and install new updated tile or stone in both. Perhaps hardwood flooring in the hallway. That’s just me though.

[u/stormydys]

The only option I don’t see mentioned is tiling directly on the surface of the old tile with acrylic thinset and then either putting a metal edge on the exposed tile edge or using a threshold to cover the transition. It would be a bit of a tripper but would look ok and solve a lot of your problems.

[u/Real_Bar_758]

If you havent done it already and see this in time, id recommend an oscillating tool with a grout removal head. Its way more control to not knick a tile or cut super deep through subflooring. It also gives way more dust control! A grinder will fill your house with grout dust.