Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - bathroom demolition

I am planning on demolishing a bathroom on the second floor of a 1920's home for the purpose of totaly updating it with new tile, fixtures, etc. I expect to find morter and metal lath under the wall tiles and an inch or so of morter and metal lath under the floor tiles. How do I rip all this out without causing cracks in the plaster walls of the adjoining rooms or to the plaster ceiling below the bathroom? Are there special tools and/or techniques which allow me to not have to use a sledge hammer to break this stuff up? Many thanks for whatever suggestions you can give me.
JoeP

joeperi,

You can use an skilsaw and cut vertical strips, just to get you close to a stud. This will at least give access to insert a pry bar. Get the prybar between the back of plaster and wall stud. Carefull pry out and it will come off with some effort. Once you start this, the rest will come off. The floor can be tackled the same way with damage to ceiling below. Floor will be tougher as usually the mortar base is thicker.

Good Luck!

Many thanks for the suggestion. I'll try it. It occured to me while reading your reply, if I can cut a series of 1 inch deep score lines each one 6-8 inches apart in perpendicular directions it may be easier to pry up the floor. Comments? I''ll also be removing a metal tub which I hope to break up into pieces to ease removal. Any easy way to break it up?

Again, thanks for the help

JoeP

joep,

You cot it right on the floor. The tub is relatively easy, 10 or 20lb sledge, goggles, long sleeve shirt and whack away! It will break. Undue drain assembly and place rag in it, shut water off to faucet assembly and remove. The tub will break in pcs...trust me!

Good Luck!

Okay !!! I'll let you know how I make out. Doug, thanks for all the help.

JoeP