Air pockets in tiling, simply put, refer to the situation where the tiles are not properly adhered to the wall after installation, creating a hollow space filled with air between the tile's back and the wall. When tapped, it sounds like a drum, hence the term "air pocket." Lu Yuan Building Materials shares the primary reasons for the occurrence of air pockets, which are roughly as follows:

Tile has a high water absorption rate.

② Failure to clean the brick surface or sub-base thoroughly before tiling

③ The base surface was too dry during tile installation.

④ Poor quality of cement sand or adhesive

Worker slacking off and improper construction

What are the adverse effects of hollowing?

Racking is a common issue in the process of laying PC bricks, often caused by subpar craftsmanship of workers or their shortcut methods. Severe racking can lead to numerous troubles post-residence.

The danger lies in large areas of hollow tiles on walls. If the tiles on the wall are hollow, they are prone to falling off over time, posing a risk of hitting people.

If there are hollow spots in the wall tiles, you cannot install items such as hooks or nails at these hollow spots.

If the ground tiles are hollowed significantly, they are prone to cracking and breaking under pressure.

How to Handle Tile Adhesive Issues?

Found hollow sounds? Don't rush for a repair just yet! Check out the analysis from our design expert first!

When inspecting, after "finding hollow spots," the correct procedure is to triple-check whether it is indeed a genuine hollow spot?

Misjudgment scenarios: For instance, there may be pipes, chimneys, or walls behind bricks, and the sound when knocking on lightweight walls versus load-bearing walls can differ, making it easy to misjudge between them.

After identifying hollow areas, it is crucial to assess their severity. After all, minor hollows that do not affect future use may not necessitate repairs, especially in bathroom areas. Repairs can easily damage the waterproofing layer. If the hollow areas are not severe, it is advisable to leave them as is to avoid a loss greater than the gain.

If the hollowing is extensive, the situation is more serious. To rectify it, the hollow bricks must be dug out and reinstalled.

To be honest, if the issue with tile hollowing isn't severe, it's best not to touch it. The more you fix, the worse it gets, and that's just not cost-effective.