How to check for hollow tiles in your new flat (and what to do about them)
Hollow tiles are tiles that didn't bond fully to the floor or wall behind them. They sound dull when tapped, and over time they can crack, lift or pop. They're the defect new owners find most often, and they're easy to check yourself.
How to test
- Use a coin, a key or a tile-tapping stick. Tap near each corner and the centre of every tile.
- Listen for the difference. A solid tile gives a sharp "tock". A hollow one sounds dull, like tapping a drum or a box.
- Compare with the tiles next to it. If one tile sounds different from its neighbours, tap it again from a few spots.
- Don't forget walls. Kitchen and bathroom wall tiles can be hollow too, especially around pipes and corners.
How much hollowness counts?
A small hollow patch at one corner may be accepted as within tolerance, while a tile that's hollow across most of its area, or a cluster of hollow tiles, is more likely to be repaired. You don't need to judge this yourself: mark anything that sounds hollow and let the BSC decide at the joint inspection.
Mark it so it gets fixed
- Put painter's tape on each hollow tile and write a number on it, for example #07.
- Take a close-up photo showing the tape, and a wider one showing where it is in the room.
- Write down the exact spot: "Living room, 3rd tile from balcony door, left side".
Numbered tape plus matching photos is what makes a BSC supervisor's job easy, and it's the fastest way to get everything on your list repaired.
Check before you renovate
Once flooring is laid over tiles, or carpentry is built against walls, hollow tiles underneath become hard to prove and expensive to reach. Report them within the first month after key collection, and before your contractor starts work.