Why does my floor tile sound hollow?
Occasionally, a floor will sound hollow even when the tile is well bonded. This can occur when a mortar bed method is used and the mortar has delaminated from the supporting layer or when the subfloor itself is not sufficiently thick or well attached. Over wood, floor failure is more likely.
Do hollow sounding tiles need to be replaced?
ANSWER. ANSWER – Hollow sounding tile is not a defect per industry standards. Although a hollow sounding tile can be a symptom of a defect. Make sure you have extra tile for the future just in case they do get damaged you can replace them.
Is hollow tile a defect?
95% Hollow tiles on flooring in a house, and it is a common defect nowadays in most houses. It will easily crack, POP and become uneven one day, it can seriously hurt you and your family, and you will never found a same batch or same colour tiles to replace them.
How do you test for hollow tiles?
A simple way to check for the sound in question is to tap on the tiles with a hard object such as a steel ball bearing. Chains or special sounding devices can be used for larger areas. If the tile is well bonded (i.e. attached to the concrete substrate), it will have a high-pitched sound.
How do you check if tiles are laid properly?
To check a row of tile, line up the laser with a grout joint and point it straight across the room. Have an assistant hold the laser while you check from one end to the next. The grout joint and edge of the tiles should match the laser right to the end; if they don’t, the tile is not straight.
What happens if tile sounds hollow?
If you hear a lower-pitched or a hollow sound, this can indicate that tiles have debonded, or were never bonded, somewhere within the tile assembly. Large tile areas can be sounded with a chain. A low tone is not a cause for immediate panic, however.
Can hollow tiles be fixed?
ANSWER. ANSWER – Hollow sounding tiles is not a defect per se. Depending on the substrate and installation materials and methods being used the tile can have a hollow sound without anything being wrong. There is no way to repair the hollow tiles so they are not hollow any longer other than replace them.
Will hollow tiles crack?
Perhaps the tiles are still partially attached at the corners or somewhere in the middle, but it’s just a matter of time before a hollow tile begins to crack. Depending on what’s happening underneath the flooring, these kinds of problems may be caused by, among other things, structure settlement or weak underlayment.
How can you tell if a tile is hollow?
What does a hollow tile sound like?
If the tile is well bonded (i.e. attached to the concrete substrate), it will have a high-pitched sound. If you hear a lower-pitched or a hollow sound, this can indicate that tiles have debonded, or were never bonded, somewhere within the tile assembly. Large tile areas can be sounded with a chain.
What does it mean when your floor tiles sound hollow?
Hollow sounds are only an indication that something is different beneath those areas as compared to areas where other tiles sound different. It could represent a problem or not. Hearing popping sounds is not so good.
Why does my kitchen floor have a hollow sound?
If the tile is well bonded (i.e. attached to the concrete substrate), it will have a high-pitched sound. If you hear a lower-pitched or a hollow sound, this can indicate that tiles have debonded, or were never bonded, somewhere within the tile assembly.
Is there a standard for how hollow a floor can be?
There is no standard for how hollow a floor can sound. Hollow sounds are only an indication that something is different beneath those areas as compared to areas where other tiles sound different. It could represent a problem or not. Hearing popping sounds is not so good.
How big of a void do you need for a hollow tile floor?
The requirement is at least 80% continuous contact between the back of the tile and its substrate, no voids larger than 2 square inches, and full thin-set contact at edges and corners. There is no standard for how hollow a floor can sound.