Floor or wall tiles sounding hollow when you tap them in Rugeley? What causes it, whether it matters, and how hollow tiles are put right before they crack.
If you tap a tile with a knuckle or a coin and it sounds hollow, there is a gap between the tile and the surface behind it. Usually that means the adhesive did not cover the whole back of the tile when it was laid, often because it was stuck on with dabs of adhesive rather than a full bed. Sometimes the adhesive has let go because the floor or wall underneath has moved.
A hollow tile is not always a problem straight away, but it is a weak spot. On a floor, the unsupported tile can crack under a dropped pan or a heavy foot, and loose tiles can lift and become a trip hazard. In a shower, a hollow tile can let water get behind it.
Around Rugeley, Brereton and Etching Hill we find hollow tiles most often on kitchen floors laid over old floorboards that flex, and on bathroom walls tiled straight onto old plaster. The fix is to lift the hollow tiles, clean off the old adhesive, and rebed them with full coverage, sorting any movement underneath first.
Tap with a knuckle or coin. A solid knock is good; a hollow, drummy sound means a gap behind.
Usually patchy adhesive, or a floor or wall that has moved since the tiles went down.
Unsupported tiles crack more easily and can lift, especially on floors.
Hollow wall tiles in a shower can let water behind them. Worth fixing sooner.
Lift, clean back and rebed with full adhesive cover, sorting any movement underneath.
Not always straight away, but it is a weak spot that can crack or lift. Fixing it early is easier.
Often yes, if a matching tile is available or the original can be lifted intact.
Usually the adhesive did not cover the whole back of the tile when it was laid.
It can, as traffic and movement work the tile loose. Cracking is the common next step.
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