What Does a Tile Stripper Do?

Razor Strippers

• Perhaps the simplest type of tile stripper, razor strippers – also known as chisel scalers – feature a flat, super sharp metal razor blade secured to a long pole, usually made of aluminum or fiberglass. This type of tile stripper scrapes off unwanted surface elements, lifts tiles and carpets and loosens flooring underlays. Poles generally measure between 2 and 5 feet long, while blades typically range in width from about 5 to 8 inches. Air-powered chisel scalers reduce manual labor, delivering up to 2,500 hits per minute.

Walk-behind Strippers

• Walk-behind electric tile and flooring strippers generally are used for industrial or professional applications, though home improvement centers often offer them to homeowners on a rental basis. Similar in form to a lawnmower, these machines use high-powered automatic blade strokes to completely remove tile floors. Walk-behind strippers come in self-propelled, electric-powered and propane-powered varieties. Top-of-the-line ride-on strippers are even offered by some companies. Depending on the make and model, walk-behind tile strippers – sometimes known simply as floor strippers – may also work on wood, carpet and vinyl floors.

Chemical Strippers

• Chemical tile strippers remove coatings and finishes such as acrylics, enamel, epoxy and polyurethane from tile floors. These harsh chemical strippers often contain ingredients such as monoethanolamine, butoxyethanol, ethanolamine, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and sodium hydroxide. Typically, users apply chemical strippers to tile floors manually, using a diluted water solution and scouring pads.

Considerations

• Always wear a breathing mask, safety goggles and ear protection when operating a walk-behind tile stripper. When using chemical strippers, wear protective gloves, masks and eye wear, as these products often contain toxic elements harmful to the skin, eyes and lungs. Read and follow any instructions, guidelines or warnings included with any type of tile stripper.