Loose tiles – a reason for a home renovation

Recently, more and more clients who come to our company for a home renovation tell us they are facing, or have faced in the past, problems with tiles coming loose in their properties.

Floor tiles can come loose in two ways. Either the tiles lift, usually into a pyramid shape, which in extreme cases is accompanied by cracking. Or they become "hollow", which cannot be seen, but when someone walks over them a deep, hollow sound is heard underneath.

What causes this phenomenon?

Before looking at the causes of tile failure, and to form a complete picture, a few additional factors about the existing situation should be examined:

1. Whether tile adhesive was used, or the tiles were bonded directly onto the substrate (cement screed)
2. Whether joints of sufficient width were left between the tiles, or they were laid tight against each other
3. Whether there are signs of moisture in the floor, usually visible as discoloured grout or on the ceiling of the level below

Tiles can come loose for various reasons. Here are some of them:

• The tiles were bonded onto a dusty substrate (cement screed)
• The substrate (cement screed) was mixed in the wrong proportions, making it too weak to withstand tensile forces
• The adhesive-to-water ratio did not follow the manufacturer's instructions
• The wrong type of adhesive was chosen, or the adhesive failed
• Mechanical stresses from earthquakes, temperature changes and the contraction and expansion of building elements.

Because of this, a partial home renovation will inevitably be needed – the damaged tiles will certainly have to be replaced and, at the very least, the room repainted.

To deal with damaged, loose tiles, the following works should be carried out:

• By tapping with a wooden or metal object, we identify how many tiles have come loose
• We then remove the loose tiles using an angle grinder, after first removing the surrounding grout
• The substrate must be cleaned locally of tile adhesive and any crumbling sections. If the room is a wet area (bathroom), the damaged area should be left open so any moisture can escape
• The tile adhesive is prepared following the manufacturer's instructions printed on the packaging. We recommend adhesives from well-known brands, such as Isomat.
• We lay the tiles and, after 24 hours, remove the spacers, clean the joints and finally apply the grout.
• Finally, once the grout has dried, the tiles and joints are cleaned with a damp cloth.

You can carry out the works described above yourself. But if DIY isn't your thing, you can ask for help from a professional who works in renovation.