What Causes Hollow Sounds Under Floor Tiles?

Are you hearing hollow sounds under floor tiles in your home? Don’t ignore it. It can be an indicator of more severe problems that should be addressed as soon as possible. Left alone, hollow sounding tiles can begin to lift or crack.

In this blog post, we’re going to look at what causes hollow tiles, including tile adhesive problems, why you shouldn’t ignore them and how to fix hollow tiles.
For a quick, easy, DIY solution, check out our Fix-A-Floor tile repair kits or for more information, call our team on 0121 270 8883.

Common causes of hollow-sounding floor tiles

1. Poor adhesion or insufficient tile mortar

One of the most common causes of tile detachment is linked to how they were installed in the first place. If the tiles were not fitted correctly, with proper adhesion and the right amount of mortar, then they are more likely to come loose or to develop a hollow sound later on.

2. Substrate movement or uneven subfloor

Over time, as buildings settle and the earth moves, substrates are liable to shift, and subfloors can become uneven. This can lead to tile popping sounds and hollow floors as gaps open up beneath the tiles.

3. Moisture ingress

The third cause of hollow sounds in your floor is grout cracking under tiles due to moisture ingress. If damp seeps under your floor, it can weaken the mortar, especially if it freezes in winter.

4. Age and wear

Another cause of hollow sounds under floor tiles is down to simple wear and tear. As your floor ages and is used over time, it begins to weaken and the mortar starts to fail beneath the tiles, leading to a hollow noise and, eventually, cracking.

Signs you have hollow tiles

• Sound test – lightly tap on your tiles with your knuckle or a coin, and if you hear a hollow sound, then you likely have tile detachment
• Slight movement when walking – if your tiles move even slightly when you walk over them, you have an issue
• Grout cracks or pops – tile popping sounds or grout cracks can be a sign of underlying problems
• Tile edges lifting – if some of your tiles have begun to lift at one edge, it could indicate failures in the subfloor or grout 

Why you shouldn’t ignore it

• Tripping hazards – lifting or broken tiles can become a tripping hazard, as well as presenting sharp edges
• Water ingress – weaknesses in your floor can allow water to reach under your tiles, leading to further damage
• Higher repair costs – without tile floor maintenance, more tiles will weaken, and you could be left with a much higher repair bill than if you fixed the issues early on
• Cosmetic and structural damage – not only do damaged tiles look unsightly, not fixing damaged floors can result in structural issues over time

How Fix-A-Floor solves the problem

Easy DIY application

Fix-A-Floor adhesive is the DIYer’s best friend. All you need to do is drill and fill – our tile repair kits come with everything you need to apply the adhesive. It works with all tile materials, including with underfloor heating. Get more information about how to fix loose or hollow floors in our handy guide.

Permanent bonding solution

Our adhesive is designed to flow effortlessly into gaps under your floor, filling any voids and providing a permanent solution without having to remove any tiles.

Cost-effective alternative to re-tiling

Retiling damaged floors can be expensive and time consuming. With Fix-A-Floor adhesive, one tube can fix a whole floor for just £12.99. It creates minimal mess and cures in just 24 hours.

When to call a professional

When it comes to how to repair hollow floor tiles, Fix-A-Floor can help with the vast majority of issues, but there are a few cases where we would still recommend contacting a professional:

• Widespread hollow sounds – if large sections of your tiled floor sound hollow, it could indicate more severe issues, and professional help may be needed
• Structural damage or leaking – Fix-A-Floor is powerful stuff, but it can’t help with structural damage or water leaks
• Significant tile cracking or lifting – if your tiles have begun to crack and fall apart or you have significant lifting, you likely need to contact a professional 

Final thoughts

With hollow sounds under floor tiles, it’s key to address them early. Waiting can lead to further, more costly issues. The best solution is to order a Fix-A-Floor tile repair kit, packed with everything you need to repair your tiles easily and affordably – just drill and fill.

For laminate floor gaps or squeaky floors, we also supply laminate floor repair kits. If you have any questions at all or need further support, just call our expert advice hotline on 0121 270 8883.

Alternatively, you can email us at sales@fixafloor.co.uk or submit an enquiry using our form.