Tile Over Old Mortar - Hearth Retile DIY

[eastbay_bungalow]

Hello! I am retiling our fireplace hearth myself. Removed old tile and need to prep for retiling with new porcelain tile.

My question is how do I prep the old surface - old mortar that is on original brick.

I don't want to grind the mortar down because renting grinder $$

I do want to keep tiles as low as possible to the ground, so I don't want to use a backer board that will lift the tile at least .5 / .75 inches up requiring a " frame" made around tile.

Can I just chisel out all possible remains of old mortar, and then use a self leveler like Henrys Patch and level to prep the surface and make it even and level? Then I apply new mortar?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Henry-345-1-Qt-Pre-Mixed-Patch-and-Level-12063/202046251

thank you in advance folks

 

[Jeff Handy]

You can buy a grinder at Harbor Freight for about $14.00.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-69645.html

Meanwhile, grinding would create a huge airborne mess.

I think an oscillating tool with a scraper head would clean all that up.

$20.00

https://www.harborfreight.com/Oscillating-Multi-Tool-62866.html

Or the fancier version which is multi-speed is a little more. $34.99

https://www.harborfreight.com/Variable-Speed-Oscillating-Multi-Tool-63113.html

 

[Jeff Handy]

https://www.amazon.com/universal-oscillating-HEMUNC-accessories-concrete/dp/B07VP47KZ2

I also think you could probably knock off everything loose and crumbly with a 4 inch brick chisel and a ball been hammer.
Or a long floor scraper, like for scraping up old vinyl tile.

This one is 6 inches wide. They come in wider widths also.
Whatever this did not scrape off, the multi tool could grind off with no massive cloud of dust.

Floor Bully 6 in. Flooring Scraper

https://www.homedepot.com/p/100188949

 

[mabloodhound]

Do it by hand. And yes, then apply leveler if needed. There is very little walking traffic on a hearth so you will be fine.

 

[eastbay_bungalow]

Thanks for the help folks. I ended up just removing the old mortar by hand with a chisel and hammer exposing the original brick below, we just painted the brick and called it a day.

 

[oldognewtrick]

Thanks for the help folks. I ended up just removing the old mortar by hand with a chisel and hammer exposing the original brick below, we just painted the brick and called it a day.

Thanks for the followup!