If tiles are connected by a top nail, how can you remove them?

If tiles are connected by a top nail, how can you remove them?

• A. Pry with a crowbar
• B. Cut with a saw
• C. Break all tiles with hammer
• D. Displace one then remove the rest by hand

Answer: (D)

When tiles are held in place by a top nail, the way to remove them cleanly is to first displace one tile enough to free the nail’s grip, then pull out the rest by hand. The nails secure the tiles from above, so loosening a single tile breaks the hold and lets the others slide or lift out without applying force that could crack or damage the remaining tiles. This method minimizes damage and preserves the rest of the installation. Prying with a crowbar risks bending or damaging adjacent tiles, cutting with a saw is unnecessary and destructive, and breaking all the tiles is wasteful and harmful to the surface.

When tiles are held in place by a top nail, the way to remove them cleanly is to first displace one tile enough to free the nail’s grip, then pull out the rest by hand. The nails secure the tiles from above, so loosening a single tile breaks the hold and lets the others slide or lift out without applying force that could crack or damage the remaining tiles. This method minimizes damage and preserves the rest of the installation.

Prying with a crowbar risks bending or damaging adjacent tiles, cutting with a saw is unnecessary and destructive, and breaking all the tiles is wasteful and harmful to the surface.