1" concrete backer behind 1964 tile in bath

[Christopher Bayes]

We are about to renovate a 1964 house in Florida. 

When we began chipping off the old 4x4 tile on the bathroom walls we found a slab behind each wall about an inch thick of concrete to which the tiles are adhered to directly.

Is there an easy way to remove the tiles or should be just demo the entire slab, tile and all and just replace with 1/4" concrete board on the remodel?

Thanks

[Rob Beland]

I had a similar situation with a bathroom reno at my own house @Christopher Bayes . About an inch of concrete behind the tile walls with metal lathe embedded into the concrete. No easy way to remove it except sledge hammers and crow bars and sweat. Wear really good gloves if you have the metal lathe. It's real sharp. Once all the concrete is out, start fresh with modern backer board.