How to Fix Loose Floor Tiles Without Removing Them

Quick answer: You can fix most loose or hollow-sounding floor tiles without lifting them by injecting an adhesive underneath through the grout line. Floor Fix Pro's Injectafix is made for exactly this. Drill a 2mm (5/64") hole in the grout next to the hollow tile (3mm if you're using Injectafix Easy Squeeze), inject Injectafix until the void is filled, weight the tile for 24 hours, then regrout. A 300ml tube treats about 2–3 sq ft (0.2–0.3 m²) of hollow area. It works when the tile itself is intact and the subfloor is sound. Tiles that are cracked, sitting on a damp or broken base, or lifting across a whole area need lifting and relaying instead.

By Paul Lanzarotti, Floor Fix Pro. Last updated: 4 November 2026.

How to tell if a floor tile is loose

• It rocks or clicks when you step on one edge.
• It sounds hollow when you tap it with a coin or the handle of a screwdriver, compared with the tiles around it.
• The grout around it keeps cracking or crumbling, even after regrouting.
• One edge sits higher than its neighbours.

A hollow sound on its own isn't proof the tile is loose. Some tiles were laid with gaps in the adhesive and never move. If the tile doesn't move and the grout is intact, keep an eye on it rather than repairing it straight away.

Why floor tiles come loose

Cause	What you'll notice	Can you inject?
Not enough adhesive under the tile when it was laid (gaps or "dot and dab")	Hollow sound, slight rocking, cracked grout	Yes, this is what injection repair is for
Floor movement, such as a timber subfloor flexing	Several loose tiles in a walkway, grout cracking in lines	Yes, but stiffen or secure the subfloor first or it will happen again
Water getting under the tiles	Loose tiles near showers, baths or sinks; staining or damp	Not until the leak is fixed and the floor has dried out
Heat or expansion with no movement joints (tenting)	Tiles lifting up into a ridge across a whole area	No, this needs lifting and relaying with movement joints
A cracked or broken tile	Visible crack through the tile	No, replace the tile

How to fix a loose floor tile without removing it

This is the method for an intact loose or hollow tile on a sound floor, using Injectafix. Always follow the instructions supplied with the product for hole size, tip preparation and curing.

What you'll need

• Injectafix Pro 300ml with a caulking gun, or Injectafix Easy Squeeze, which needs no gun
• A drill with a 2mm (5/64") masonry bit for Injectafix Pro, or a 3mm bit for Easy Squeeze
• A vacuum or brush to remove dust
• Clean-up wipes for excess adhesive
• Something heavy and flat to weight the tile
• Matching grout, such as Twist & Grout

Step 1: Check the tile and the floor

Confirm the tile is intact and the floor beneath is sound and dry. Check for underfloor heating pipes or cables, and any waterproofing or tanking membrane, before you drill.

Step 2: Make an access point in the grout line

Drill a small hole through the grout line beside the loose tile: 2mm (5/64") for Injectafix Pro, 3mm for Easy Squeeze. Control the depth carefully and don't drill into the subfloor.

Step 3: Clear the dust

Vacuum or brush out the access point so dust doesn't block the adhesive or weaken the bond.

Step 4: Inject the adhesive

Inject slowly into the void under the tile. Stop if the tile starts to lift. You want to fill the hollow, not push the tile up.

Step 5: Weight the tile

Press the tile level with its neighbours and weight it while the adhesive cures, as directed on the pack.

Step 6: Clean off any excess straight away

Wipe away adhesive on the tile surface before it hardens.

Step 7: Leave it to cure

Keep foot traffic off the tile for at least 24 hours, or longer if the pack says so. Check the tile is solid before walking on it normally.

Step 8: Regrout

Once the tile is firm, rake out the old grout around it and regrout with a matching colour. New grout won't hold over old grout, so remove it first.

What's the best product for fixing loose or hollow tiles?

Look for an injectable bonding adhesive that is runny enough to flow into a hollow void, sets hard enough to stop the tile rocking, and won't leak or dry out in storage. Floor Fix Pro's Injectafix has a one-piece tip and an anti-clog cap. It doesn't leak, and an opened tube keeps for 2–3 years, so you can use what's left on the next hollow tile. It comes in two versions:

• Injectafix Pro 300ml fits a standard caulking gun, goes in through a 2mm hole and treats about 2–3 sq ft. A good fit if you already own a gun, or for trade use.
• Injectafix Easy Squeeze 350ml is a squeezable tube that needs no gun, goes in through a 3mm hole and treats about 12% more area.

Both are used the same way: drill a small hole in the grout line, inject, weight the tile for 24 hours, then regrout.

Hollow tiles: repair now or leave them?

Repair a hollow tile if it moves, if its grout is cracking, or if it's in a heavy walkway or under a heavy object. Hollow tiles under load tend to crack eventually. If a hollow tile doesn't move and its grout is sound, it's safe to monitor it.

Cracked grout is often a loose tile problem

Grout fills the joint; it doesn't hold the tile down. If a tile is moving, new grout around it will crack again within weeks. Fix the tile first, then regrout. Read why grout cracks.

Loose bathroom floor tiles

Find out why they're loose before you repair them. Check for leaks around the shower tray, bath, toilet and sink, and for soft or damp flooring. If water has got under the tiles, fix the leak and let the floor dry out fully first. If the floor has a waterproof membrane, make sure you don't drill through it.

When to lift and relay instead

• Tiles are lifting into a ridge across a whole area (tenting).
• The tile is cracked right through.
• The subfloor is soft, rotten, crumbling or wet.
• Most of the floor sounds hollow and is moving.

Frequently asked questions

Can you fix loose floor tiles without removing them?

Yes, if the tile is intact and the floor beneath is sound. A flowable adhesive injected through the grout line fills the void and re-bonds the tile without lifting it.

Can you inject adhesive under a loose tile?

Yes. Injecting an adhesive such as Floor Fix Pro's Injectafix through a small hole in the grout line is the standard way to re-bond a hollow tile without removing it.

How do I know if a tile is hollow?

Tap it with a coin or the handle of a screwdriver. A hollow tile sounds dull or drum-like next to its solid neighbours, and may rock or click when you step on it.

What's the best adhesive for loose floor tiles?

For a repair without lifting the tile, use an adhesive designed to be injected: it has to flow into a thin void and bond to both the tile and the floor. Standard tile adhesive is too thick to inject, so it only works if you lift the tile and relay it.

How long before I can walk on a repaired tile?

Keep traffic off it for at least 24 hours, or longer if the pack instructions say so.

How much adhesive will I need?

A 300ml tube of Injectafix Pro treats about 2–3 sq ft (0.2–0.3 m²) of hollow area. The 350ml Easy Squeeze treats about 12% more. That's typically a few standard floor tiles, depending on how deep the void is.

Can I keep an opened tube?

Yes. Injectafix's anti-clog cap and one-piece tip stop it drying out, and an opened tube keeps for 2–3 years.

Can I level an uneven subfloor without lifting the floor?

Yes. Injectafix can be injected under the floor to fill voids and level uneven subfloors without taking the floor up.

Will regrouting fix a loose tile?

No. Grout doesn't bond the tile down, so the new grout will crack if the tile keeps moving. Re-bond the tile first.

Other floor problems? See how to fix a floor with squeaks, cracked grout or gaps. Not sure your tile can be repaired? Email hello@floorfixpro.com with a photo or short video and we'll tell you.