Concrete/Wire Mesh Wall --how do I tear this down?

Question

I am renovating a room in a 1914 house, and when I took down the tile on the walls, I found behind it about an inch of concrete, kept in place by wire mesh underneath it. It is not a concrete wall--the wooden beams are fine behind it. But I can't get this concrete/mesh down. Its very thick, and I can't just sledgehammer it without risking the wood wall behind, and I can't access both sides of these walls. I tried chipping away at it, and then sawing through the nails holding in the mesh, but it took about 2 hours to do a 2 ft patch, and in the end, it still wasn't down all the way. I am stumped. Does anyone know what to do with this? I am particularly worried about how to get the concrete down around the areas where the plumbing pipes come through the concrete--without damaging them. Help!

Answer 1

The surface behind the tile is called a "float", a layer of stucco-like material that can be leveled to a flat surface to thin-set the tile to. The way I take it down is the same way I take down stucco. I use a roto-chipper hammer with a chisel attachment(you may have to rent one, but worth it) and chisel a grid pattern all the way through, then cutting the wire with snips. Make sure you don't make pieces to big to carry. Once wire is cut chunks should pull off with a crow bar. It's not easy work, but you have to get back to stud line.

Answer 2

Wire Mesh Wall

Answer 3

There is no easy way to do this. It is a labor intensive task. You just need to use a crowbar or pry bar and try to brake off sections. You're dealing with mesh that is nailed to the studs and then (approx) 1" of cement that was troweled onto the mesh. You should also try using 2lb sledge hammer. When you get to the areas with pipes you need to brake around it and be careful when removing it. Most likely the pipes are metal (in a home that old), so they are more durable then modern piping (copper, cpvc). Have a pair of snips handy as well to help in removing the mesh. have gloves on, as the mesh will cut you easily. Wear eye protection and a dusk mask too. If you find the work to much for you to handle, hire a labor person and supervise. Good luck.

Answer 4

Those walls were built to last. There's no easy way to remove it without access from the backside....coming from the back you would just sledge hammer the concrete/mesh away from the studs...cutting the mesh where possible.. The mesh is nailed to the studs and the concrete is mixed into the mesh as a backer for the tile. You basically have to open up a hole at the top of the wall or wherever the concrete /mesh starts at the top and pry the concrete/mesh away from the studs with a crowbar...working your way down and breaking up the concrete/cutting the mesh as you go.....sledge hammer and chisel the concrete between the stud areas to break it up. Cut through the mesh where you can with a Sawzall and metal blade or tinsnips. Wear heavy gloves, clothing and eye/ear protection as well as a dust mask. A concrete saw or circular saw with a masonry blade would help speed things up but would be very dusty/noisy in an enclosed space...ventilate and wear eye/ear protection and dust mask...you would just cut a slot in the concrete /mesh from top to bottom between the studs and remove the sections by prying them away from the studs..If you set the saw depth to the thickness of the concrete/mesh, you could also cut horizontal slots without damaging the studs and remove the concrete/mesh in small sections. Chisel the concrete around any water pipes and cut the mesh with a tin snips or Sawzall.



http://www.ehow.com/how_6736289_remove-tile-mortar-wire-mesh.html

http://www.diychatroom.com/f19/best-way-remove-50-yr-old-tiles-19408/

Answer 5

If the wood beams actually are solid, and you can locate the space between them, a sledge hammer IS the best method. The mesh will block the sledge from actually penetrating while you shatter the concrete. Once that is done, removing the wire mesh will be MUCH easier.

Answer 6

You can't. You either live with it, or somewhere else (which is far preferable). However, sometimes if you simply dwell in a pool of silence you'll find the wall-builders can't abide it, and the truth will out - even though it's camouflaged by a spurt and babble that often has nothing directly to do with the case. It's the camouflage that is most revealing. Not what is said, but why.