J. Perry & Sons removes tile, stone, thinset, wood and laminate floors and demolishes showers and bathrooms for homeowners and property managers in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Almost every demo we do is the first day of a new floor or a new bathroom, so the slab is left ground, cleaned and ready for the next trade, not just emptied. See all renovation services or read the tile removal cost per square foot guide for the numbers.
Tile Removal Cost in South Florida: $3–$5 per sq ft including thinset and haul-away
| Scope | Typical size | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic or porcelain floor tile, slab on grade | 1,000–1,500 sq ft | $3–$5 per sq ft |
| Natural stone or thick mud-set tile | 500–1,000 sq ft | $4–$7 per sq ft |
| Tile over wood subfloor (second story, townhouse) | 300–800 sq ft | $4–$6 per sq ft |
| Shower demo to studs and slab, pan included | standard 3x5 shower | $900–$1,800 |
| Full bathroom demo: tile, tub, vanity, toilet, drywall | 5x8 to 8x10 bath | $1,800–$3,800 |
| Wood, laminate or LVP floor removal | 1,000 sq ft | $1–$2 per sq ft |
| Dustless (vacuum-shrouded) removal upgrade | any floor | +$0.75–$1.50 per sq ft |
Pricing includes breaking out the tile, grinding thinset flush to the slab, haul-away and dump fees, and a broom-clean slab. Thinset removal is the part most low quotes leave out, and it decides whether the new floor goes down flat. Demo is quoted with the new floor; see the city tile pages below.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
Removal methods and options
Standard demo with floor scrapers and chipping hammers. Electric or pneumatic chipping hammers lift the tile, and a hand or ride-on scraper takes up what's left. This is the right method for most slab-on-grade homes in Broward and Palm Beach.
Thinset grinding. After the tile is up, a 7-inch or walk-behind grinder with a diamond cup wheel takes the thinset down to clean concrete. We grind to the slab, not to "mostly flat," because any ridge left behind telegraphs through large-format tile.
Dustless removal. Grinders and chipping hammers run inside a shroud connected to a HEPA vacuum. It cuts airborne dust by most of what a standard demo produces. Worth it in occupied homes, condos with shared hallways and homes with asthma. See dustless tile removal in South Florida.
Shower and bathroom demolition. Wall tile, backer board, the mud pan or pre-formed pan, the curb and the drywall around it come out to the studs. Plumbing is capped at the valve. The slab is checked for the drain location and any moisture before the new pan goes in.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Send a photo of the floor and the square footage and we'll return a range the same day.
How we remove tile and prep the slab
- Walk-through and protection. We check for mud-set versus thinset, note cracks in the existing tile that may signal slab cracks, and cover cabinets, appliances and doors.
- Containment. Plastic over doorways and the AC return grille so dust stays out of the ductwork. In condos, hallway floor protection and a debris route agreed with the building.
- Tile break-out. Chipping hammers and scrapers lift the tile and the bulk of the mortar. Base and shoe molding are removed, labeled and saved if they are being reused.
- Thinset grinding. Diamond cup wheels take the thinset to the slab. Dustless shroud on the grinder when specified.
- Slab inspection. We look for cracks, spalling, high and low spots and any sign of moisture or old crack-isolation membrane. Cracks are marked for a crack-isolation membrane under the new tile.
- Haul-away. Debris is binned and hauled the same day. Tile runs 8–12 pounds per square foot, so a 1,200 sq ft floor is five to six tons.
- Clean and hand off. The slab is vacuumed and the new floor starts, usually the next morning. See self-leveling underlayment and floor leveling.
Demolition in South Florida: slabs, condos and dust
Mud-set floors. Homes built before the late 1980s in Broward and Palm Beach often have tile set in a 1–2 inch mortar bed instead of thinset. Mud-set floors are heavier, slower and dustier to remove. The price moves to the $4–$7 range and we tell you before we start, not after.
Moisture. Florida slabs hold moisture. If the old tile had a vapor problem, the thinset under it may be dark, soft or smell when ground. We flag it and recommend a moisture test before the new floor goes down, especially for wood, LVP or epoxy.
Condos and STC rules. Most buildings require work hours between 9 and 4 or 5, a dust and noise notice to neighbors, elevator pads, and floor protection in common areas. Second-floor and up units also need a sound-rated underlayment under the new floor, which the demo has to leave room for. See condo flooring rules and STC in South Florida.
Permits. Floor replacement on the ground floor of a single-family home does not usually need a permit in Broward or Palm Beach. Bathroom demolition that touches plumbing, and any flooring change in a condo, usually does. We pull it as part of the renovation permit.
Related tile removal and demolition services
- Tile installation: the new floor is quoted with the demo so one crew owns the slab from start to finish.
- Shower replacement: demo to studs and a new pan, waterproofing and tile.
- Flooring installation: LVP, wood and tile after removal and leveling.
- Tile repair and regrout: when a few tiles need to come out rather than the whole floor.
- Bathroom renovation: full demo through finish in one contract.
What a tile removal estimate includes
Our written demolition estimate itemizes the following so you can see what is in the number:
- Square footage to be removed, by room
- Type of existing floor: thinset-set tile, mud-set tile, stone, wood, laminate, carpet
- Thinset or adhesive grinding to clean slab
- Dustless method, if selected, as a separate line
- Base and shoe molding removal and whether it is saved
- Protection of cabinets, appliances, doors and the AC return
- Containment and condo common-area protection
- Debris haul-away and dump fees
- Slab inspection notes: cracks, moisture, high and low spots
- Floor leveling, if needed, as a separate line
- Schedule and the start date for the new floor
Tile removal by city
Demolition is quoted with the new floor, so each city page covers both.
Broward County Tile installation in Fort Lauderdale · Tile installation in Hollywood · Tile installation in Davie · Tile installation in Tamarac · Tile installation in Weston · Tile installation in Pembroke Pines · Tile installation in Miramar · Tile installation in Pompano Beach · Tile installation in Parkland · Tile installation in Southwest Ranches
Palm Beach County Tile installation in Boca Raton · Tile installation in Delray Beach · Tile installation in West Palm Beach · Tile installation in Palm Beach Gardens · Tile installation in Boynton Beach · Tile installation in Wellington · Tile installation in Jupiter
Miami-Dade County Tile installation in Miami · Tile installation in Miami Beach · Tile installation in Coral Gables · Tile installation in Aventura
Planning guides: Tile removal cost per square foot · Tile demolition: what to expect · Dustless tile removal · Tile removal and replacement · Shower demolition and rebuild · Floor leveling before new flooring
Tile removal & demolition — FAQ
How much does tile removal cost per square foot in Florida? $3–$5 per square foot for standard thinset-set tile on a slab, including thinset grinding and haul-away. Mud-set and stone floors run $4–$7. A 1,200 sq ft home is typically $3,600–$6,000.
Is dustless tile removal worth it? In an occupied home or a condo, usually yes. It adds $0.75–$1.50 per square foot and removes most of the airborne dust that otherwise ends up in the AC, the cabinets and the closets.
Can new tile go over old tile instead of removing it? It can, but we rarely recommend it on floors. It raises the floor at doorways and appliances, and any loose or hollow tile below becomes a crack in the new floor. Removal plus leveling gives a flat, bonded slab.
How long does tile demo take? One day for most homes up to about 1,500 sq ft with a two- or three-person crew. Mud-set floors, stone and second-story wood subfloors add a day. The new floor usually starts the next morning.
Do I need to move out during demolition? Not for a single-day demo in a sealed-off area. For a whole-house floor, most families stay, move furniture into the garage, and we sequence the work so a bathroom and kitchen stay usable.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with photos and rough dimensions. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.