Why are your floor tiles popping up?

Why floor tiles pop up

Floor tiles pop up when the bond between the tile and the bed beneath it fails. For popping tiles in HDB flats, HDB's floor finishes guide gives the cause: thermal movement and water absorption build up stress between the tile and its bed.

In simple terms, the tile and its bed expand and shrink with heat and moisture. Each cycle adds a little more stress. Once the bond gives way, a tile can lift, crack or come loose.

Before tiles popping becomes a real problem, you may notice early signs:

• A hollow sound when you tap a tile
• A slight bulge, where a tile sits a little higher than its neighbours
• A crack line across one tile or several

To check, tap each tile lightly with your knuckle or the handle of a broom and listen. A hollow tile sounds empty next to the solid ones around it. Mark hollow tiles with masking tape and take photos, so you can see whether the area grows and show a contractor exactly where the problem is. Flat tiles that sound hollow can usually wait for a planned repair, but keep an eye on them.

If tiles pop suddenly

When tiles lift or crack suddenly, deal with the loose pieces first and plan the repair later. HDB's floor finishes guide sets out what to do with popped tiles.

1. Wear gloves. Put on thick gloves before you touch any tile, as broken edges can be sharp.
2. Remove loose and popped tiles. Lift them out carefully, one at a time, and leave tiles that are still firmly stuck in place.
3. Stack them in a safe area. Keep the pieces together, away from walkways and out of reach of children. Later, ask your contractor whether any can be reused.
4. Cover the affected area. Lay sheets of cardboard or newspaper over the exposed patch of floor.

Once the area is covered, avoid walking on raised or cracked tiles nearby. Tap the rest of the floor to see how far the hollow area spreads, and photograph the room before any repair work begins. This gives a contractor, and your insurer if you plan to claim, a clear record of the damage.

Hollow tile repair options

The right fix depends on how many tiles are affected and whether they have cracked. HDB's floor finishes guide says cracked or damaged tiles should be re-tiled, and loose grout should be re-grouted.

For a cracked floor tile or a few hollow ones, a contractor may inject the hollow tiles or lift and re-lay a small number of them. Where hollowness is widespread, the contractor may suggest re-tiling the whole room instead. Ask what each option involves, how long the work will take and whether the repair comes with a warranty.

Re-tiling has its own rules. HDB's renovation guidelines for building works say replacing floor finishes needs a permit, and the total thickness of floor finishes and screed must not exceed 50mm. An overlay of new floor tiles with adhesive needs no permit if there is only one existing layer of floor finishes, the new layer (including adhesive) is 13mm or less, the floor trap is not tampered with and there is no backflow of water.

For more on what is allowed, see our guides to HDB floor tile rules and the HDB renovation permit.

Is it a defect in a new flat?

MyNiceHome's HDB move-in guide says new flats come with a 1-year DLP. It also notes that slight colour differences in floor tiles are not considered a defect, so a small difference in shade between tiles is not a reason to report them.

Hollow or popping tiles are a different matter. If you find them during the DLP, report them with photos. To make that easier:

• Tap-test every room while the flat is still empty, so hollow spots are easy to reach.
• Mark each hollow or popping tile with masking tape.
• Photograph each one with enough of the room in view to show where it is.
• Keep a copy of the photos and of what you report.

For more on how the defects period works, see our guide to the Defects Liability Period.

Who to call

For a few hollow or cracked tiles, a tiler or a handyman who does tiling work is usually enough. For widespread hollowness, or when a whole room needs re-tiling, a renovation contractor is the better fit, as replacing floor finishes needs the permit described above.

You can compare handymen in the directory, each with the prices it publishes and a link to the source. The cost depends on the job, such as how many tiles are involved and whether new tiles are needed. When you ask for a quote, ask:

• Whether the price includes removing and disposing of the old tiles
• Whether new tiles are supplied, or you need to buy them
• Whether re-grouting and cleaning up are included

Questions