Al Salam Tower, Office 15B, Al Barsha, DubaiEvery day, 8am to 10pm
Tap a tile and hear a dull, drum-like knock? The adhesive underneath has let go. The tile is still whole, which means it can be fixed now, before it starts rocking, cracking the grout and breaking.
Fix It Early
A hollow tile is a warning, not a disaster. The tile is still whole, and with the right repair it can stay that way for many years.
We find every hollow tile with a tap test, then inject adhesive under firm tiles or lift and re-bed tiles that have started to move. The floor is back in use the same day.
Two Repair Methods
The right method depends on how much of the tile has lost its bond and whether it has started to move.
Tile still firm
Small holes are drilled through the grout joint and a low-viscosity adhesive is injected into the void under the tile. The tile is weighted while the adhesive cures, and the holes are regrouted.
Tile moving or rocking
The grout is cut out, the tile lifted and the old adhesive ground away. The tile goes back on a full bed of fresh adhesive, levelled with its neighbours and regrouted.
Warning Signs
Hollow tiles rarely show themselves until you tap them. These are the clues that the bond underneath is failing.
The most common cause is the way the floor was laid. Tiles set on a few dabs of adhesive, instead of a full bed, have air gaps underneath. Over time those dabs crack and the tile loses its support.
Heat plays a part too. Floors near large windows and balcony doors expand in the summer sun and shrink at night, which slowly breaks the bond. Water from failed grout or a leaking shower tray softens the adhesive from below.
If a hollow tile has already cracked, see cracked and broken tile replacement in Dubai. If it is loose and rocking, our loose tile reinstallation service re-beds it. Fine cracks in the glaze are covered under hairline crack filling.
Pricing Guide
The repair method sets the price. Injection is quicker and cheaper, while re-bedding is the permanent answer for tiles that already move.
From AED 120*
Tile firm but hollow.
From AED 150*
Tile rocking or clicking.
AED 40 to 70*
Lower rate for groups.
From AED 100*
Credited against the repair.
*Prices shown are starting guides only. They vary and can change depending on your requirements, the size of the job, the surface, the materials and access to your building. You agree the final price before any work begins.
Tools and Materials
A low-viscosity resin adhesive that flows into thin voids under the tile. It bonds the tile back to the screed. It cures firmly without lifting the tile.
Fine nozzles that deliver adhesive through small holes in the grout joint. The tile itself is never drilled. The holes are hidden once the joint is regrouted.
Used for full re-bedding of tiles that have started to move. It is spread across the whole bed and the back of the tile. Full coverage removes the air gaps that caused the problem.
Weights hold the tile down while the adhesive sets. Spacers keep the joints even with the existing floor. The repaired tile ends up flush with its neighbours.
Based in Al Barsha since 2014, we work across every Dubai community with trade-specialist technicians and a workmanship guarantee on every job.
We tap test the whole area, not just the tile you noticed. Hidden hollows are marked so nothing is missed. You get a complete picture before work starts.
Injection is used wherever the tile is still firm. Tiles are only lifted when they truly need it. That keeps cost and disruption down.
Failed grout, missing movement joints and leaks are checked and fixed. The repair is not undone by the same problem. Your floor stays solid.
Most repairs are finished in one visit. Light traffic is fine within hours. Full use returns after the adhesive cures.
Adhesive injection starts from AED 120 per tile, and lifting and re-bedding starts from AED 150 per tile. Several tiles in the same area cost less each. The tap test survey is included with the repair. Prices vary and can change depending on your exact requirements, the materials and access to the property, so the final price is confirmed after we see photos or visit.
Yes. Failed grout lets water reach the adhesive, which weakens the bond and leaves the tile hollow. Regrouting around repaired tiles helps prevent the problem returning.
Epoxy grout is a waterproof resin grout used in showers, kitchens and pool areas. Using it around repaired tiles in wet areas stops water getting back underneath.
Not immediately, but it will get worse. Hollow tiles eventually crack under foot traffic and can leave sharp edges. Fixing them early is cheaper and safer.
Usually, yes. Injection and re-bedding are both normally finished in one visit, and the floor can take light traffic the same day.
Areas We Cover
We fix hollow-sounding tiles in apartments, villas and offices across Dubai. Ground floors, balconies and sunny living rooms are where we find them most.
We will recommend injection or re-bedding and confirm the price.
