Drummy Tiles in New Homes — Are They a Defect?
- ClearScope Building Inspections
- Mar 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 15
It’s not uncommon for homeowners building a new house to notice a hollow or “drummy” sound when walking across tiled areas. Sometimes this is discovered during the fixing stage of construction, while in other cases it becomes noticeable during the Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) when floors are walked across for the first time.
For homeowners building in Melbourne growth corridors such as Tarneit, Truganina, Clyde North, Donnybrook, Officer and Beveridge, tiled floors are commonly installed late in the construction process once plastering and waterproofing works have been completed.
When a tile produces a hollow or drum-like sound when tapped or walked on, homeowners often assume something has gone wrong with the installation. In reality, the situation is usually more nuanced.
Understanding what causes drummy tiles, when they matter, and how building inspectors assess them helps homeowners determine whether the issue is cosmetic, within tolerance, or something that should be addressed before handover.
What Are Drummy Tiles?
“Drummy tiles” is a term used in construction to describe tiles that produce a hollow sound when tapped or walked on. Instead of the solid sound normally produced when tiles are well bonded to the substrate, the tile may sound slightly hollow, similar to tapping a drum.
This usually occurs when there is insufficient adhesive contact between the tile and the surface beneath it. Small air pockets or voids may exist beneath the tile, meaning the adhesive bond is not completely continuous.
During building inspections, inspectors sometimes perform tap testing, lightly tapping tiles to listen for sound variations across the floor. Areas that sound noticeably hollow compared to surrounding tiles may indicate incomplete adhesive bonding. However, a hollow sound alone does not automatically mean the tile installation is defective.
Before tiles are installed, waterproofing membranes are typically inspected to confirm correct installation. Once tiles are laid, these systems become hidden beneath the finished surface. Our article Waterproofing Failures in New Builds — What Inspectors Look For Before Tiling explains why this stage of construction is so important.
Why Tiles Sometimes Sound Hollow
There are several reasons why tiles in a new home may produce a hollow or drummy sound. Understanding the installation process helps explain why this can occur.
Insufficient Tile Adhesive Coverage
Tiles rely on adhesive bonding between the tile and substrate. If the adhesive is not spread evenly, small voids can remain beneath the tile.
In some cases this occurs when:
adhesive is applied inconsistently
incorrect trowel size is used
tiles are not fully bedded into the adhesive
While minor voids can occur occasionally, widespread adhesive gaps can increase the likelihood of movement or cracking later.
Poor Surface Preparation
Before tiles are installed, the surface beneath them must be clean and properly prepared. Dust, debris or uneven surfaces can reduce adhesive bonding strength. If the substrate is contaminated or uneven, tiles may not achieve full contact with the adhesive.
Adhesive Skinning Before Tile Placement
Tile adhesive has a working time once applied. If adhesive sits too long before the tile is pressed into place, a thin skin can form on the surface. This reduces bonding strength and may result in hollow sounding tiles.
Movement in the Substrate
New homes experience minor movement during early stages of curing and settlement. Concrete slabs continue to cure after pouring, and framed structures may experience minor shrinkage or adjustment. If movement occurs before adhesive has fully bonded, voids may develop beneath tiles.
Lack of Movement Joints
Tile installations typically include expansion or movement joints to allow for structural movement and thermal expansion. If these joints are missing or incorrectly spaced, stress can build beneath tiled surfaces. Over time this may contribute to tiles loosening or sounding hollow.
Tile installation concerns are just one of many observations inspectors may document during the final stages of construction. Our guide Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) Defects in New Homes — What Inspectors Commonly Find Before Handover explains the range of finish-related issues that are commonly identified before settlement.
Are Drummy Tiles Always a Defect?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask during inspections is whether hollow sounding tiles automatically mean the installation is defective.
The answer is not always.
During inspections, the assessment usually focuses on several factors:
how many tiles are affected
where the tiles are located
whether the tiles move when pressure is applied
whether grout is cracking or separating
whether the hollow sound is isolated or widespread
In many homes, a small number of isolated drummy tiles may exist without causing problems. However, if large sections of flooring sound hollow, it can suggest poor adhesive coverage or installation issues that may require rectification.
Tile installation usually takes place during the fixing and finishing stages of construction. To see how this stage fits into the broader construction process, our guide How a New Home Is Built in Australia — From Slab to Handover explains the full building sequence from slab stage through to handover.
Hollow sounding tiles are not the only tile installation concern sometimes observed during inspections. Surface alignment can also vary slightly between tiles. Our article Tile Lipping in New Homes — When Tiles Sit Uneven explains how inspectors assess tile height differences during practical completion inspections.
Drummy Tiles vs Loose Tiles vs Tile Lipping
Homeowners sometimes use different terms to describe tile installation concerns, but they refer to slightly different issues. Drummy tiles are tiles that produce a hollow sound when tapped or walked on. This usually indicates incomplete adhesive bonding beneath the tile, although the tile itself may still be stable.
Loose tiles are tiles that physically move when pressure is applied. This generally indicates the adhesive bond has failed and rectification may be required.
Tile lipping refers to height differences between adjacent tiles where one tile sits slightly higher than the next. Our article Tile Lipping in New Homes — When Tiles Sit
Uneven explains how inspectors assess this during practical completion inspections.
While these issues may sometimes occur together, they are assessed differently during building inspections.
How Building Inspectors Identify Drummy Tiles
During independent building inspections, tiled areas are typically assessed through a combination of observation and sound testing.
Inspectors may:
walk across tiled areas to check stability
tap tiles lightly to compare sound variations
check grout joints for cracking
observe tile alignment and installation quality
These observations often occur during the fixing stage inspection or the Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) once flooring works have been completed.
Many homeowners organise independent inspections to ensure workmanship concerns are identified before final handover. Our guide New Build Stage Inspections — Complete Guide explains how staged inspections help identify workmanship issues at each stage of construction.
When Hollow Tiles May Require Rectification
In some situations, drummy tiles may indicate a problem that should be addressed before handover.
Tile Movement
If a tile moves when walked on or pressed, this often indicates poor adhesive bonding.
Loose tiles are more likely to crack or lift over time.
Grout Cracking or Separation
Cracking grout lines can sometimes accompany hollow tiles.
Movement beneath the tile places stress on grout joints, leading to visible cracking.
In some situations, hollow sounding tiles may also be accompanied by cracking grout lines. Movement beneath the tile can place stress on surrounding grout joints, leading to visible cracking over time. Our article Grout Cracking in New Homes — What It Means During a Building Inspection explains how inspectors assess grout cracking and when it may indicate an underlying installation issue.
Large Hollow Areas
If many tiles in one area sound hollow, it may indicate that adhesive coverage was insufficient across a large section of flooring. This may require removal and reinstallation of affected tiles.
Wet Area Tiles
Bathrooms, laundries and shower areas require particular care. Tiles installed over waterproofing membranes must maintain reliable adhesion to prevent movement and water ingress.
Waterproofing is a critical part of wet area construction. Our guide Bathroom Waterproofing — The Complete Guide for New Homes explains how waterproofing systems protect wet areas beneath tiled surfaces.
When Drummy Tiles May Be Within Tolerance
Not every hollow sounding tile requires replacement.
Inspectors sometimes observe isolated tiles that sound slightly hollow but remain:
stable under foot
securely bonded
free from grout cracking
free from visible movement
In these cases, the tile installation may still perform adequately over time.
For this reason, inspectors often document observations and provide guidance based on the extent and location of hollow tiles, rather than simply the presence of a hollow sound.
Why Independent Stage Inspections Help Identify Tile Issues Early
Tile installation is one of the final finishing stages of construction. Because of this, many workmanship concerns are first identified close to handover during the Practical Completion Inspection. Independent stage inspections help homeowners identify potential issues before final payment is made to the builder.
These inspections typically occur at:
During these inspections, independent inspectors review installation quality, workmanship and potential defects across the home. If tile installation concerns are identified early, they can often be addressed before the home is handed over.
FAQ
Are drummy tiles a defect in a new home?
Not always. Isolated hollow sounding tiles may occur without affecting performance. However widespread hollow tiles or tiles that move under pressure may indicate installation issues.
What causes hollow sounding tiles?
Drummy tiles are usually caused by insufficient adhesive coverage, poor substrate preparation, adhesive skinning or movement beneath the tile.
How do inspectors test for drummy tiles?
Inspectors often tap tiles lightly and compare sound variations across the floor to identify areas where adhesive bonding may be incomplete.
Should drummy tiles be fixed before handover?
If hollow tiles are widespread, located in wet areas, or associated with movement or grout cracking, rectification may be recommended before handover.
Can hollow tiles become loose later?
In some cases hollow tiles may remain stable. However poor adhesive bonding can increase the risk of tiles loosening over time.
Conclusion
Drummy tiles in new homes are relatively common observations during building inspections. While a hollow sound can indicate incomplete adhesive bonding beneath a tile, it does not automatically mean the installation is defective.
Inspectors typically assess the extent, location and stability of tiles before determining whether rectification is necessary. If hollow tiles are widespread, located in wet areas, or associated with movement or grout cracking, further investigation may be recommended before handover.
Independent stage inspections provide homeowners with an additional level of confidence by identifying workmanship concerns before construction is completed.
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