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If you have ever dealt with a tile defect claim, a failed bathroom installation, or a dispute with a builder over workmanship, you have probably come across the figure "90% adhesive contact coverage". It is the benchmark used across the Australian tile industry to decide whether a tile installation is sound or defective. Here is what it actually means, why it matters, and how TRIM uses it to deliver rectification you can stand behind. Where the 90% figure comes from The 90% figure comes from the Australian standard for installing stone and ceramic tiles. For wet area walls the rule is simple: at least 90% of the back of each tile needs to be in direct contact with adhesive on the substrate behind it. On top of that, the adhesive has to be evenly distributed. Having 90% coverage in the middle of a tile but no support around the edges is not enough. Every tile needs support across its full area, and especially at the perimeter where water and movement put the most stress on the bond. Why 90% matters The 90% figure is not arbitrary. It is the level of adhesive contact required to: Provide uniform support to the tile against impact, loading, and shear stresses Prevent water from accumulating in cavities behind the tile in wet areas Maintain the integrity of the waterproofing system the tile is part of Keep the adhesive manufacturer's product warranties valid Below 90%, the tile installation becomes increasingly vulnerable to progressive failure. In a shower or splashback, the consequences compound quickly as water finds the gaps. Hollow-sounding tiles are often the first warning sign that coverage has dropped below the standard. How contact coverage is measured Measuring adhesive contact coverage after the fact, without removing tiles, requires the right tools. Our TRIM inspection process combines three methods: Thermal imaging. Shows adhesive contact patterns as temperature variations across the tiled surface. Debonded areas with air cavities appear different to fully bonded areas. Resonance testing. Tapping tiles to identify the hollow sound of an unsupported cavity. Test drilling. Small probes through the grout joints to measure cavity depth and confirm thermal imaging findings. The inspection quantifies the existing contact coverage percentage across the affected area, which is the starting point for any rectification decision. You can see the full methodology on our How It Works page. Restoring compliance with Cavity Bridging Injection When the inspection shows contact coverage below 90%, Cavity Bridging Injection is used to bring the installation back into compliance. Our rectification service pressure injects Injectabond adhesive through the grout joints until the cavity is filled. The same three diagnostic methods are used post-injection to confirm coverage is back above the standard, and a side-by-side thermal imaging comparison makes the outcome easy to see. Examples of before and after inspections are on our residential and commercial projects page, with feedback from clients on our testimonials page. Documentation for compliance and peace of mind TRIM rectification is documented end to end. You receive: Pre-injection thermal imaging showing the defective contact coverage A scope of works and targeted rectification Post-injection thermal imaging showing the restored coverage Confirmation that the installation is back within the standard Workmanship and Injectabond product warranties This is the evidence base that supports insurance claims, builder defect discussions, wet area compliance reviews, and strata approvals, and it stays with the property. If you have a coverage problem If your tiles are drummy, hollow-sounding, or failing inspection for contact coverage, our team can assess the installation and confirm whether TRIM rectification is the right pathway. We service Brisbane and South-East Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and the rest of Australia. Contact us to book an inspection.  

Tiles in your bathroom or laundry are not just a surface finish. In the eyes of the National Construction Code, they are part of the waterproofing system that protects the building from water damage and protects the people inside from unhealthy, moisture-laden spaces. When wet area tiles fail to bond properly, the implications reach well beyond the tiles themselves. Why wet area tiles are a compliance issue The National Construction Code 2022 sets out the performance requirements every wet area in Australia has to meet. The short version is straightforward: water must not be allowed to sit in hidden spaces behind the tiles, and the tile installation has to be part of a system that keeps the wall water resistant. For wall tiles to be treated as a water resistant surface, they have to be installed on an approved substrate and they have to be properly bonded to it. If the bond has failed and the tiles are debonded, the wall has stopped being water resistant the way the code requires. That is the heart of the compliance issue, and it is what TRIM inspections are designed to diagnose. How spot bonding and debonded tiles breach compliance When tiles are spot bonded with the wrong adhesive, or when tiles have lost their bond over time, the result is the same: hollow cavities behind the wall tiles where water can accumulate. This is a direct breach of the code's requirements for wet areas. Even if the face of the tile looks fine, the cavity behind is a compliance failure and a health risk. Over time, trapped moisture promotes mould growth and accelerates the deterioration of the substrate, the waterproof membrane, and the building elements around it. What starts as a few drummy tiles becomes a progressive failure of the wet area itself. Why rectification beats ignoring the problem Owners, builders, and strata managers sometimes delay tile rectification because it sounds expensive or disruptive. The reality is usually the opposite. Ignoring a defective tile installation means: Progressive damage. Substrate, membrane, and adjacent building elements continue to deteriorate. Higher eventual cost. What could have been a targeted rectification becomes a full bathroom strip-out. Insurance and warranty complications. Adhesive manufacturer warranties are voided when installation requirements are not met. Reduced property value. A documented defect needs to be disclosed at sale. Possible health effects. Persistent moisture behind wall linings affects indoor air quality. How Cavity Bridging Injection restores compliance The Tile Reglue Injection Method, delivered as our rectification service, brings spot bonded and debonded wall tiles back into compliance without removing them. Injectabond adhesive is pressure injected through the existing grout joints to fill the cavities behind the tiles and restore the level of adhesive coverage the standard requires. All of this is documented with thermal imaging before and after the works, giving you an evidence trail for compliance, insurance, or resale. The full inspection and rectification methodology is explained on our How It Works page, with real examples on our residential and commercial projects page. What to do if you suspect a defect If you are an owner, builder, or strata manager with concerns about wet area tile compliance, the right first step is a professional inspection. Our team can assess the installation, document the defect, and confirm whether Cavity Bridging Injection is the correct rectification pathway. You can read what past clients have said about the process on our testimonials page. We work across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, Mackay, Townsville, Tasmania, and the rest of Australia. Contact us to book an inspection.  

Drummy tiles, hollow-sounding shower walls, and spreading patches of debonded tiles all have one thing in common: the problem is behind the tile, where you cannot see it. Thermal imaging changes that. It lets our technicians map the extent and depth of tile debonding from the outside of the wall, without removing a single tile or disturbing the grout. How thermal imaging reveals hidden tile defects A properly bonded tile conducts heat to the substrate evenly. A debonded tile, with an air cavity sitting between the tile and the wall, insulates differently. That thermal difference is invisible to the naked eye, but it shows up clearly on a thermal imaging camera as cooler or warmer patches against the rest of the tiled surface. On site, our operators combine thermal imaging with two other diagnostic methods: Resonance testing. Tapping tiles to identify the characteristic hollow sound of an unsupported cavity. Not every hollow sound means a real problem, and our guide to when hollow-sounding tiles matter explains which ones do. Test drilling. Small probes through the grout joints to measure cavity depth directly. Together, these three methods build a clear, evidence-based picture of where the problem is, how widespread it is, and whether the TRIM rectification service is the right solution. Why evidence-based inspection matters Tile defects are often contested. A builder says the installation is fine. An owner says the tiles are loose. A strata committee wants proof before approving expenditure. An insurer needs documented evidence before accepting a claim. Thermal imaging provides exactly that. The images produced during inspection clearly show how much of each tile is actually bonded to the wall behind it. The Australian standard for tile installation sets a minimum level of adhesive contact coverage, and thermal imaging quantifies the installation against that benchmark. The same evidence is used to demonstrate compliance after rectification. Post-injection thermal imaging confirms that the cavity behind the tile has been filled and that coverage is back within the standard. A picture is worth a thousand words One of the biggest advantages of thermal imaging is that it makes a technical issue easy to see. A side-by-side comparison of pre and post-injection thermal images shows, at a glance, that the problem has been solved. Owners, builders, strata committees, and insurers all appreciate being able to see the result rather than just reading about it. Examples from real inspections are documented across our residential and commercial projects, with client feedback on our testimonials page. What you get from a TRIM inspection A TRIM site inspection is more than a quick look over the tiles. You receive: A documented thermal imaging assessment of the affected area Resonance and test drilling confirmation of any cavities A clear scope of works for the rectification required Guidance on what the findings mean for wet area compliance A written quote for the recommended TRIM solution The inspection report can be used for insurance claims, strata approval, builder defect discussions, or simply your own records. For a broader look at the methodology we follow, see our How It Works page. Book a thermal imaging inspection Thermal imaging takes the guesswork out of tile rectification. If you have drummy tiles, suspected water damage, or a tile defect that needs documenting, our team can inspect the area, report on what we find, and confirm whether Cavity Bridging Injection is right for your situation. We provide inspections in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, and across Australia. Contact us to book an inspection.  

If you have loose, drummy or tented tiles, the question lands quickly: should you repair them, or rip the lot up and start again? It is a fair question, and the honest answer is that one option costs a fraction of the other. Tile repair using the Tile Reglue Injection Method can come in at around one third of the cost of full tile replacement, with no demolition, no skip bins and no living out of the bathroom for a week. Here is how the two options compare so you can make the call with confidence. How tile repair and tile replacement compare on cost Full tile replacement is a multi-trade job. You are paying a tiler to strip the old tiles and adhesive, rebuild the substrate where it is damaged, reinstate the waterproof membrane in wet areas, lay new tiles, regrout and silicone the room, plus the cost of the new tiles themselves. On a standard bathroom floor that easily runs into the thousands before any unexpected substrate work comes up.Tile repair with TRIM works in the opposite direction. Rather than removing the loose tiles, our trained operators inject Injectabond adhesive through the grout joints to refix tiles to the substrate from below. There is no demolition, no replacement tiles to source and no waterproofing to redo. Across most jobs, that brings the cost down to around one third of what you would pay for a full strip and retile. You can see the full process on our How It Works page. Time, mess and disruption On time and mess, the gap is just as wide.Full replacement takes anywhere from several days to a couple of weeks per area depending on size, drying times and substrate condition. The room is out of action the whole time.TRIM repairs are usually finished in a single visit. Most floors are back in foot traffic within a few hours of the adhesive being injected, with no dust, no rubble and no need to move out.For a family bathroom, an occupied rental or a working commercial space, that difference matters. A repair that wraps up in an afternoon does not cost you days of rerouting around a renovation. Examples across a range of property types are on our residential and commercial projects page. When repair is the smarter call Tile repair is the right choice when:Your tiles are still in good visual condition but sound hollow, drummy, peaked or tented.The substrate underneath is otherwise sound.You cannot match the existing tiles, because the range has been discontinued or the dye batch differs.You are in a wet area and you do not want to disturb a working waterproof membrane.You want a permanent repair without the cost, time and disruption of a full replacement.If those conditions describe your situation, refixing tiles in place is almost always the better outcome. It is the same finished floor or wall, just one that no longer moves. Our tile tenting guide walks through what tenting and peaking actually look like if you are not sure which problem you are dealing with.When replacement makes more sense There are still cases where full tile replacement is the right answer. Replace, do not repair, when:The tiles themselves are cracked, broken or visually damaged in a way you do not want to live with.The substrate underneath has structural problems that need rebuilding.You actively want to redesign the space with a different tile, layout or colour palette.The waterproof membrane has failed and the area needs to be stripped back regardless.In those cases, replacement is unavoidable. Repair will not bring back a tile that has cracked through, and our team will tell you straight if injection is not the right fix. We would rather be honest about that than try to repair a job that calls for a full rebuild. The other factors most people forget Cost and time are the obvious comparison points. There are a few less obvious ones worth weighing up too.Warranty backing. Every TRIM repair comes with a 10 year workmanship warranty, a 10 year Injectabond product warranty and a 30 year track record of successful rectifications across Australia.Compliance. Where defective tile installation is rectified under Australian Standards using Injectabond, the installation is brought back into compliance, which protects the property's value and the owner's rights.Environment and waste. Replacement creates skip bins of demolition waste. Repair leaves the tiles, the adhesive bed and the membrane in place, which is a far smaller environmental footprint.Insurance and strata implications. In strata-managed buildings, full tile replacement often requires sign-off, scaffolding access and overlapping trades. In-place rectification keeps the job small and local. Past clients have shared their experience on our testimonials page.Frequently asked questions Is tile repair really one third the cost of replacement in Australia? For most bathroom and floor jobs, yes. TRIM tile repairs typically cost around one third of full tile replacement because there is no demolition, no waterproofing rework and no new tiles to buy. The exact saving depends on the area size and tile condition, and we provide a written quote before any work starts.Should I repair or replace my loose tiles? If your tiles are visually intact but loose, drummy, peaked or tented, repair is almost always the better option. If the tiles themselves are cracked through, the substrate has failed, or you want a redesign, replacement is the right call.How long does a TRIM tile repair take compared to replacement? Most TRIM repairs are completed in a single visit, with floors back in use within a few hours. A comparable tile replacement job usually takes several days to a couple of weeks per room, with the area unusable throughout.Is a repaired tile permanent, or just a temporary fix? It is permanent. Injectabond is a pressure injection adhesive with a 25 year tested service life, backed by a 10 year product warranty and a 10 year TRIM workmanship warranty.Do I need to move out for tile repair? No. TRIM repairs are done in place with no dust, no rubble and no demolition. The property stays occupied throughout, which is why repair is often the only practical option for rentals, commercial spaces and family homes.Get an honest comparison on your own tiles If you are weighing up repair against replacement, the simplest next step is a site inspection. Our team will assess the tiles, talk you through both options honestly, and provide a written quote so you can compare the two on real numbers. Service is available across Australia, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, Sydney, Melbourne and all other areas. Contact us to book yours in. Why remove and replace? Inject and save.

Hollow-sounding tiles in the shower, a slight give behind the splashback, or drummy patches that keep spreading across a bathroom wall are all signs that your wall tiles have come loose from the substrate. Left alone, the problem only gets worse. In a wet area it becomes a water damage issue as well as a cosmetic one. Most owners assume the only fix is to rip the tiles off and start again. That is not the case. With Cavity Bridging Injection, debonded wall tiles can be refixed in place, without removal, and without replacing a single tile. What is spot bonding, and why does it cause tiles to fail? Spot bonding is a tile installation method where adhesive is applied in separate dabs on the back of a tile, rather than as a full continuous bed. It leaves voids and cavities behind the finished tile. This method is only meant to be used with specific adhesives designed for it. Most installers reach for standard cement-based or dispersion adhesives, which are not meant to be spot applied. When that happens, the installation is defective from the day it goes in, even if the tiles look fine on the surface. If you are wondering whether the drumminess you are hearing is actually a problem, our guide to hollow-sounding tiles walks through when it is and when it is not. In a wet area, hollow cavities behind the tiles can hold water where you cannot see it. Over time that water damages the substrate, breeds mould, and affects the air quality in the room. This is exactly what the Australian tile installation standards and the National Construction Code requirements for wet areas are designed to prevent. How the Tile Reglue Injection Method works T.R.I.M stands for Tile Reglue Injection Method. It is a rectification technique developed to refix debonded tiles without disturbing the tile face or surrounding tile work. Our rectification service uses Injectabond, a purpose-made pressure injection adhesive that flows into the cavity behind the tile through small access points drilled through the existing grout joints. The process follows a consistent sequence: Inspection and mapping. Trained operators identify debonded tiles using thermal imaging, resonance testing, and test drilling through the grout joints to check cavity depth. Injection. Injectabond is pressure injected through the grout joints until the cavity behind the tile is filled. Grout refurbishment. The disturbed grout joints are reinstated to match the surrounding tile work. Cure and verification. The repaired tile is ready for general use within a short curing window, and post-injection thermal imaging confirms the result. Because no tiles are removed, there is no need to source spare tiles or worry about mismatched batches. The waterproof membrane behind the tiles is not disturbed. Repairs are completed while the property is occupied, with no dust, no mess, and no fuss. You can see the full process on our How It Works page. Compliant with Australian standards Tile debonding in a wet area is more than a cosmetic problem. It is treated as a building defect under Australian Standards and the National Construction Code, and when it is left unaddressed it exposes the substrate to water ingress, voids the adhesive manufacturer's warranties, and devalues the property. Cavity Bridging Injection using Injectabond is a recognised way to bring defective tile installations back into compliance. Injectabond is manufacturer-tested and fit for purpose as a pressure injection adhesive, and when it is delivered to the adhesive coverage level the standard requires, the installation is considered compliant again. Thermal imaging before and after the works gives you a documented record of that outcome. Why in-situ rectification makes sense Stripping tiles off a wet area wall is disruptive and expensive. You lose the waterproof membrane, you need matching tiles (which often no longer exist), you spend days out of the bathroom, and you carry the dust and demolition through the rest of the home. In-situ rectification avoids all of that. No demolition. Tiles stay on the wall, and the membrane stays intact. No dust or mess. Work is clean, so the property remains occupied. No tile matching. Spare tiles, obsolete ranges, and batch differences stop being a problem. Faster turnaround. Most jobs are complete in a fraction of the time a strip and retile takes. Lower cost. Repairs are typically a fraction of the cost of full tile replacement. For commercial buildings, strata-managed apartments, and family homes alike, the difference between a quick in-situ repair and a full bathroom strip-out is significant, both financially and in terms of disruption to daily life. Examples across a range of property types are on our residential and commercial projects page, and you can read feedback from past clients on our testimonials page. Warranty-backed, with 30 years of proof Every TRIM rectification is supported by a 10 year workmanship warranty, a 10 year Injectabond product warranty, and a 30 year track record of successful rectification jobs across domestic and commercial properties throughout Australia. All work is carried out by fully licensed and insured contractors. Book a site inspection If your wall tiles sound hollow, feel drummy, or you suspect water damage behind them, a site inspection is the best next step. Our team will assess the tiles, document what they find with thermal imaging, and confirm whether Cavity Bridging Injection is the right fix for your situation. We service Brisbane and South-East Queensland, the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, Sydney, Melbourne, and other areas across Australia. Contact us to arrange an inspection.