Guide · updated November 2026

Drummy tiles: check them before handover

A hollow ('drummy') sound when you tap a tile can mean poor adhesive coverage. Not every drummy tile fails, but large or growing areas can crack or lift, especially in wet areas.

How to check

  1. Tap gently with a coin or the handle of a screwdriver across each tile
  2. Mark hollow tiles with masking tape and photograph the area
  3. List them as defects and ask the builder to assess and fix them

Floors

  • Floor tiles: no cracks, chips or hollow sounds, even grout Coin tap test
  • Timber or hybrid: no gaps, cupping, scratches or squeaks Walk the whole floor
  • Carpet: seams not visible, stretched tight, no ripples
  • Transitions between floor types neat and level

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More: New home handover checklist (room by room) · Practical completion inspection: a buyer's guide · Shower ponding: test the falls before you take handover · Weep holes: check they're clear before handover · New home defects in NSW: your warranty rights · New home defects in Victoria: your rights · Queensland: the defects document and home warranty deadlines · Documents to collect at handover