How Do I Fix Loose Floor Tiles?

When it comes to flooring, tiles are a popular choice - particularly in kitchens, utilities, and bathrooms due to being waterproof, durable, and long-lasting. However, despite their durability, tiles on the floor can become loose from time to time… and if the issue isn’t resolved, further problems may arise.

There are a few reasons why your floor tiles may become loose, such as house movement or damaged grout. However, the most common reason for them becoming loose is due to spot-bonding being used to install them.

Spot-bonding installation is when adhesive is placed in each corner of the tile with an additional spot of adhesive being placed in the centre before the tile is pressed into place. Installing tiles via spot-bonding leads to voids between the tile and the flooring, which increases the risk of your tiles becoming loose.

Thankfully, fixing loose tiles needn’t be expensive or difficult if you follow one of the two methods below!

Perhaps one of the most common methods of fixing loose floor tiles is to carefully pry them up with a chisel. Lifting and replacing the tile using this method can be done in a few steps, as outlined below:

1. Remove grouting from around the tile you need to replace.
2. Use a chisel to carefully pry the tile from the floor. Take care when doing this so you don’t crack or chip the tile.
3. Scrape the existing adhesive off the tile and from the floor, and ensure the floor is smooth and clean.
4. Apply new adhesive to the tile and reset it. We strongly recommend the Fix-A-Floor Repair Adhesive for this!
5. Once the adhesive has set, grout around the tile and your floor will look as good as new.

However, while the above method is a great way to fix loose floor tiles, it also comes with the risk of tiles becoming cracked, chipped, or damaged - and if you don’t have a replacement tile that matches, this can result in a more expensive repair as the entire floor will need to be replaced. Therefore, another alternative is…

Using a specialist adhesive (such as the Fix-A-Floor Repair Adhesive we suggested earlier) is a quick, easy, and efficient way to fix loose floor tiles. What’s more, it can be used on marble, stone, and wood flooring too!

To use the super-strong Fix-A-Floor Repair Adhesive, locate the loose tiles and drill 4 to 6 holes into the grout line around the tiles. Then vacuum away the dust and debris and, using a caulking gun, inject the extra strength bonding adhesive right into the hole before leaving to dry for 24 hours. Once the adhesive has dried, finish the process of fixing loose tiles by re-grouting the drill holes before washing the floor to remove any dirt and debris.

The benefit of using the Fix-A-Floor Repair Adhesive to fix loose floor tiles is that, not only is it a quick and easy way to repair loose tiles without the risk of breaking the tiles, but the adhesive is also eco-friendly, non-toxic, and non-flammable. So, next time you step into your kitchen, bathroom, or utility room and spot a loose tile on the floor, reach for the Fix-a-Floor Repair Adhesive and you’ll have brought your floor back up to scratch in no time!