Drummy Tile Repair Without Retiling, Qld & Melbourne

Tap the floor and it sounds hollow? Tiles cracking, rocking or lifting at the edges? A tile “tented” up overnight? That’s drummy tiling: the tile has lost its bond with the bed or slab underneath.

Fix it before it spreads

Keep foot traffic off lifted or cracked tiles (they’re a trip hazard) and send us photos.
We tap-test the area, map the drummy tiles and find the likely cause.
You get a written quote: re-bond the drummy tiles where they can be saved, or replace the ones that can’t. Whole-floor retiling only if it’s really needed.

Call Qld (07) 3811 5085 | Call Vic (03) 9021 2512 | Send photos for a quote

What causes drummy tiles

Not enough adhesive coverage under the tile when it was laid
Slab or substrate movement, shrinkage or settling
Heat and cold (outdoor and balcony tiles, sunny windows) expanding and contracting the tiles
Missing or failed movement joints, especially around the edges of large floors
Water getting under the tiles (from a leaking shower or balcony, for example)
Age: adhesives and beds break down over time

Drummy tiles don’t fix themselves. Left alone they can crack, lift (“tent”) and become a trip hazard, and loose tiles in wet areas let more water in.

How we repair them

Assessment: tap test, map and photograph the affected tiles, check for moisture and for the cause (movement joints, leaks).
Replace where needed: lift and relay cracked or broken tiles, matched as closely as possible with spare or sourced tiles.
Fix the cause: add or replace movement joints, or reseal the leaking shower/balcony so it doesn’t come back.
Completion photos and a short report of what was done.

Honest note: if most of a floor is drummy or the substrate has failed, re-bonding won’t be the right fix and we’ll tell you.

Who we do this for

Property managers and landlords, body corporates and strata, homeowners, builders with defects lists, schools and FMs.

Frequently asked questions

What are drummy tiles?

Tiles that have lost their bond with the surface underneath. They sound hollow when tapped and can crack or lift.

Are drummy tiles dangerous?

They can become a trip hazard when they crack or lift, and broken edges can be sharp. Get lifted tiles looked at quickly.

Do I have to retile the whole floor?

Not always. Where the tiles are sound and the void is limited, they can often be re-bonded. If the problem is widespread, replacement may be the better option; we’ll explain why.

Can you match my tiles?

We’ll use spare tiles if you have them, or source the closest match. Older or discontinued tiles may not match exactly.

Why did my tiles go drummy?

Common causes are poor adhesive coverage, substrate movement, temperature changes, missing movement joints and water getting underneath. We look for the cause so it doesn’t come straight back.

Do you fix the leak too?

Yes. If water from a shower or balcony is part of the problem, see our Shower Seal service.

Tiles lifting or cracking?

Call Qld (07) 3811 5085 or Vic (03) 9021 2512, send photos for a quote, or property managers can submit a work order.

Fill the Gaps Project is a not-for-profit. No GST charged.

Drummy Tile Repair: Fix Hollow, Loose Tiles Before They Crack