i have ceramic tiles that are loose hollow underneath
the person that installed it probably didn't put enough grout or the right one and maybe they didn't use the right tile for the room, their is such things as tiles for the bathroom or kitchen do to the usage and damage it will be receiving.
Yes Rob...I would suggest you pull up a piece of tile. If the tile has thinset on it, Then there is no bond to the substrait (the floor/plywood, cementitious backerboard or dry packed mortar). If there is no thinset on the tile, Then the thinset may have set-up before the the tile was put down. Stand where the tile is coming up and roll up on to your toes, with some force! bang down with the heals of your feet. If you feel the floor move/bounce, Then the substrait is faulty. In any event the floor must be taken up. TCNA (Tile Council of North America) Suggests a 19/32 tongue and groove plywood subfloor over joists 16 on center and a underlayment plywood floor of 19/32 with an 1/8 cap between sheets. I know its a lot to take in but if you have another installer redo the floor you should get the TCNA handbook and make sure its done right. It only costs about $9.00 Look up TCNA on line. Also make sure the installer uses a super modified thinset!
Many possible reasons why.. To little adhesive used ( usually a thin set not a grout) .Thin set to dry. Thin set to wet. Under supported tile such as incorrect under layment.Under layment installed incorrect. Incorrect adhesive for the job. Thin set skimmed over during setting and didn t bond to the tile. Installer didn t press and twist the tile into the thin set correctly. Some one walked on the tile to soon after setting and the bond is broke between the thin set and the tile. Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there.
