An off the cuff idea that might work? You could take a drain like this that is larger than your original, toss the threaded "nut", cut/grind down the threaded throat to the needed height (essentially the thickness of your new thinset/tile), and insert it when you set your new tile. Remove the original drain's grate. Aside comment: depending on what metal the drain is made out of, prime/coat any cut metal edges to prevent rust.

Johnny _holbert - This is a 11 year old thread. I see you are going through many old threads placing links within your comments. Is this a new HOUZZ version of SPAM? Current technology provides products specifically designed to promote bonding for this exact scenario. A flooring professional would be aware of this. Structural integrity would be a concern. The following links address this threads topic. https://www.mapei.com/us/en-us/products-and-solutions/products/detail/eco-prim-grip https://laticrete.com/en/tile-and-stone-installation/adhesives-and-mortars/multipurpose-bonding-primer/prime-n-bond

Okay. Once again, let me post this, copied and pasted from my website: This is a subject that's very hotly debated within the industry. It seems every manufacturer has a thinset that they say can be used over resilient flooring (sheet vinyl) or vinyl tile. The problem with that is twofold. With all the different types of vinyl flooring out now, it's tough to know which ones can, and which ones can't be tiled over. Cushioned vinyl's are out. They can compress, causing voids under the tile, ultimately causing failure. Also, not all sheet vinyl is glued solid to the floor. A lot of times, vinyl installers will only glue the edges and spot glue in the center, and if you thinset the tile to it, it won't stay very long. In my opinion, vinyl tiles are out, as well, due to the fact that the thinset bond is only as good as the bond of the surface under it, and I've seen vinyl tiles ( especially peel and stick) let go way too easily. The same is also true for sheet vinyl. The second problem with tiling over vinyl is the underlayments used for vinyl installation. Normally, in woodframe construction, there are one of several underlayments used-- luan, 1/4" particle board, 1/4" plywood, and sometimes even MDF (medium density fiberboard). ANY of those in a tile subfloor is a guaranteed failure. 1/4" plywood has a nasty habit of delaminating (the layers come apart). Luan has the same problem, plus it can compress to 1/2 its original thickness from normal residential foot traffic (I've seen this happen). Particle board (as well as MDF), just from humidity, can expand enough to pop tile loose. Any of those can cause failure, and unless you pull the vinyl, you don't know for sure whether the vinyl installer just went over the existing subfloor, or added one of the underlayments mentioned. All in all, it's an extremely risky installation, and my question is why, when spending the money it costs for a tile installation, would you want to gamble on it? It's next to impossible to say for sure, without tearing into the vinyl, whether or not it's safe to tile over. Your ONLY recourse is to play the odds, and the odds are against you.

Dear Petunia, I am sorry no one has posted an answer to your question about removing the tile. I wish had an answer, but I don't. I expect people are kind of daunted by the thought of trying to get both the added-on tiles plus the grout and adhesive off the tile you want to keep. It's also possible that the tile was covered up for a reason that won't be apparent until you uncover it. Have you tried a few test removals to see what happens? That's what I'd do. You might also post this question over in the kitchen forum. There are a couple of tile experts that haunt that place. There is also a tile workers forum, that I have heard referred to as the John Bridge forum. Never had a tile question myself, but I'd go there if I did. Try googling for John Bridge (a tile supplier, I think) and see if you can locate their discussion area. I've heard only good comments about the discussion forums. I wish I had more to offer, and I hope this helps, at least a bit. Molly~