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failures Hollow Sounding Tiles Repairs

What causes hollow tiles and is $2,500 enough to fix them?

QUESTION

What causes hollow tiles and is $2,500 enough to fix them? I am in the process of purchasing a home in Delray Beach Florida. The seller said the there is hollow sounding tile and received an estimate of $2500 to fix the problem.is this a serious problem? Please explain the cause of this problem and what would happen if this problem is not fixed. Also, do you have a location in Florida that could come out and inspect the property and provide an estimate for the repair. Thank you!

ANSWER

ANSWER - I understand that you have a home you are purchasing in Delray Beach, FL.  Apparently the ceramic or stone tile sounds hollow to some degree and they told you it could be fixed for $2,500.   You are interested in having it inspected to determine what caused it and how it can be remediated.
Tile can sound hollow for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes there isn't a problem and that sound is due to the configuration of the tile assembly below it.  If some tiles sound hollow and some don't, then that is an indication that some portion of that tile assembly is not bonded well or there are excessive voids under the tile causing that sound.  The only way to determine which condition it is, is to intrusively remove some tiles.   When there is a problem it is never due to a single deficiency but rather due to a number of compounding deficiencies.  There could be excessive moisture, there may be a lack of movement joints in the installation, the tile may not have been installed correctly, the tile may not be adequately bonded, etc.


Whether $2,500 is enough to fix it depends on the configuration of the tile assembly, how many tiles need replacing, and the extent or nature of the problem.  Is if isolated problems or global?  Will it continue to grow worst?  Are they planning on fixing the problem or only the symptom?


We do have a lot of experience at investigation these types of problems.  We have an inspector in Miami, FL and near most major cities in North America.  It may or may not be practical for you to utilize our services depending on the circumstances of your situation.


I would need to know more about your situation to determine the scope and cost of the investigation.

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Donato Pompo

Donato Pompo, CTC CMR CSI CDT MBA, is the leading tile and stone forensic expert and consultant in North America, and he is a National Tile Contractors Association Recognized Consultant. Donato is the founder of CTaSC.