What Makes a Ceramic Tile Floor Pop Up?

Buckling Tile

• Buckling tile can be identified by a popping or clicking sound when you step on it. This is the first stage. When it is walked on continually it will eventually either split or pull up from the subfloor.

Glue Release

• When the tile was laid down there may not have been enough glue in one spot. Through walking and natural wear and tear, the glue will crack and this tile will then pop up or release from the subfloor.

Debris

• Debris left behind during the tiling process can also cause the tile to pop. What happens is that the debris turns into a little lever, and when it is walked over this lever will pull the tile away from the glue.

Released Floor Screw

• On occasion, because of the natural settling of a house, a floor screw or nail will release from the subfloor. Again, much like a piece of debris, it acts as a lever and will force the tile to pop away from the subfloor.

Subfloor Warping

• If the subfloor starts to warp, it will also be transferred to the tile. No matter how well the tile is glued down, it will follow the floor; the pressures will become too great and the tile will release from the subfloor.