2 layers of tile, want to remove top layer

I recently bought a beautiful old house that had been cheaply turned into apartments in the 60's. In one bathroom, they laid crappy cermaic tile over this wonderful small, square antique tile. The antique tile does not have a glossy glaze on it, and almost appears to have no glaze at all. When the house was renovated, they reduced the size of the bathroom by putting up a new wall right down the middle, leaving the old tile protuding into the hall outside, and tiling over only in the small bathroom area. I am restoring the bathroom to its original size and footprint, but 1/2 the bathroom has this top layer of crappy tile. What is the best way to pull off this crappy tile without destroying the antique tile underneath?

 

I'm not sure its possible.
If the crappy tile is set with mastic, I would say your odds are better.

You also might work for weeks getting the tile up just to find out there was a reason they went over it with other tile. It may have been damaged when they put the new walls up as well.

Personally, I would just tear it all out and get tile that is similar to the old stuff.

 

It is not possible to remove ceramic tile without damaging ceramic tile beneath. To remove the tile will require a hammer and chisel. Tile is installed with concrete thinset which will be impossible to remove from tile layer beneath even if it were possible to remove the top layer of tile.

 

Well, should be.