Finding the right trowel for the job is quite simple when you know that, generally speaking, the trowel size should match up to the tile size – the smaller the tile, the smaller the trowel; the larger the tile, the larger the trowel. The other main consideration is where the tiles will be set, on the floor or on the walls and ceilings.
How to choose the right tile trowel?
How to choose the right tile trowel size First, it’s necessary to understand how trowels are measured to understand what trowel size to select. Trowel measurements are determined by their length, depth, and the spacing between the notches (also known as teeth).
What size trowel for 3x6 subway tile?
The size of the trowel for subway tile varies depending on the subway tile size, where a 1/4 inch square notch tile trowel is the right size for 3″ x 6″ subway tile. However, a 1/4″ x 3/8″ square notch trowel is ideal for installing 8″ x 8″ tiles, while a 1/4″ x 1/2″ square notch trowel is ideal for installing 12″ x 12″ and 13″ x 13″ tiles.
What is the best trowel?
7986 Edco 46in Snap-On Trowel Blade by
- Are made from an abrasive resistant steel
- Wide blade with all edges turned up (Blade is used Flat)
- Blades can be reversed
What Trowel should I use?
What Trowel Should I Use? Dixter – Dixter trowels are long and narrow, with a blunt end. These trowels work well for weed removal. They can also be used to carefully remove seedlings from seed starting trays or to separate seedlings at transplant time. Potting – Similar to other garden trowel types in shape, these tools feature higher sides.
What size tile trowel do I need?
Size Matters All tile manufacturers offer a recommended trowel size. Mosaic installations up to 2 inches can use a 1/8-inch notch, as can wall tiles of up to 4 inches, as a general rule. 16-inch tiles need a 1/2-inch-deep notch, and anything over 24 inches should use a 3/4-inch notch.
How do I know what size trowel to use?
Which trowel size for tile to use. Determining which trowel size is proper for your installation depends on both the tile itself and the substrate. More accurately, it depends on how flat the tile and substrate are. The less flat the tile is, the more thinset mortar you need beneath it, which means a larger trowel size ...
What size notched trowel do you use for wall tiles?
¼"Wall tiles: For standard 4" wall tiles, you should use a ¼" V-notched trowel, but if you don't have access to one, the same size in square or U notches should work.
What size trowel should I use for 12x12 tile?
Because 12×12 tiles are large, use a ¼ X ⅜-inch trowel. This provides extra mortar to keep the large tiles in place. Most floor tiles can be adhered with the same thinset thickness as wall tiles. If your floor tiles are rough or are of the lug-backed variety, step up to a ½ X ½-inch trowel.
What size trowel should I use for 12x24 tile?
1/2 inch notchedTools and Tips for The Actual Mortar Application Process for 12×24 Tile. As I mentioned before, mix your mortar to be a little bit on the thick side, and use a 1/2 inch notched trowel to apply it to the subfloor where you want your tile.
How thick should mortar be under tile?
Most tile installations require a 3/16-inch layer of mortar beneath the tile. A mortar layer 3/16 an inch thick is accomplished by spreading mortar with a 3/8-inch by 3/8-inch square-notched trowel. This thickness is ideal for most tile installations.
What size notched trowel for 4x8 tile?
1/4'' x 3/8'' square notch: this trowel size is good for 8'' x 8'' tiles, some builder grade tiles, and bigger subway tiles (around 4'' x 12'').
How thick should wall tile adhesive be?
The thickness of the adhesive for wall tiling should be at least 3/64″ (1mm) or 3/32” (2mm) for larger, heavier tiles. You can achieve an adhesive bed of this thickness with a 6mm or 10mm notch trowel.
What size trowel do I use for 2x2 tile?
1:262:17How to Choose the Right Tile Trowel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor very small tiles a 3/16 inch notched trowel like this might very well be the best. Choice twoMoreFor very small tiles a 3/16 inch notched trowel like this might very well be the best. Choice two inch by two inch mosaic. Which is fairly thin as you can see. It's less than a quarter of an inch
What size notched trowel for 12x12 ceramic floor tile?
Trowel Sizes Floor tiles measuring 12 by 12 inches are considered standard, requiring a notched trowel size of either 1/4 inch by 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch.
How are trowels measured?
Trowel measurements are determined by their length, depth, and the spacing between the notches (also known as teeth).
Why do you need a trowel to lay tile?
A trowel’s purpose is to provide a way for installers to control how much thinset they’re putting down. The use of a trowel ensures that you’re laying down the same amount of mortar every time – leaving you with a level surface to install tile over.
How do I know what size trowel to use on tile?
Finding the right trowel for the job is quite simple when you know that, generally speaking, the trowel size should match up to the tile size – the smaller the tile, the smaller the trowel; the larger the tile, the larger the trowel.
Which notched trowel for tile?
Square- Notch Tile Trowels As a general rule, square- notch trowels are used for most floor tile and any tile over about 2 inches square. A variation of a square- notch trowel is the U- notch trowel. This delivers a bit less mortar than a square- notch and can be used wherever a square- notch makes sense.
Should you use spacers on subway tile?
Yes, you should use spacers to install a subway tile backsplash. Spacers will make it easy to keep the lines between your tiles equal, and skipping this step can make your finished product look cheap and rushed.
What size spacers should you use for subway tile?
If you ‘re working in a small area with a small tile, such as a 3×12” subway tile on a backsplash or fireplace surround, you can usually have small 1/16” or 1/8” grout lines.
How thick should grout lines be for subway tile?
As a general rule, floor tiles should have grout lines of 1/8 inch or larger, depending on the type and size of tile.
Should I back butter subway tile?
Back Buttering: not a requirement You are also correct that back buttering the tile will increase the bond of the mortar to the back of the tile, but according to the ANSI Specifications, back buttering is not a requirement.
Do you need spacers for mosaic tiles?
Fill in First Quadrant. Install adjoining mosaic sheets in the first quadrant in the same manner, using tile spacers to ensure that gaps between sheets are exactly the same as the gaps between tiles within the sheets. With mosaic sheets, the small tiles are staggered so the sheets interlock.
What is a trowel for tile?
Basically, a trowel’s purpose is to spread tile adhesive onto the substrate – i.e. your floor, wall, or ceiling - and control how much adhesive you’re putting on. It has a handle and a flat metal plate that is designed to scoop up and spread the adhesive, ensuring that you’re laying down the same amount of adhesive ...
What trowel should I use for mosaic tile?
Most average-sized tiles will benefit most from using a U-notch or Square-notch trowel, as the difference in adhesive spread is minimal.
What does it mean when a trowel has only two numbers?
Tip: If a trowel has only two numbers, it means that the width of the teeth and width between the teeth are the same. One of the good ways to confirm the correct notch size is to install several tiles and then lift them and check if enough mortar contacts the surface of the tile and subtract.
What is a V notch trowel?
As the name suggests, a V-notch trowel has V-shaped edges, a continuous zig-zag (or a sawtooth) pattern. V-notch trowels are ideal if you’re installing mosaic tiles that are on a mesh backing, or squares less than 4”, as they spread the least amount of mortar.
What is a trowel with different shapes called?
Trowels with Different Shapes (Notches) A trowel’s tooth shape - which is also called the ‘notch’ – affects how much mortar is sandwiched between the tile and the substrate. The notches not only help apply the mortar in even lines but also create spaces between the lines of mortar.
What is the first number on a square trowel?
On the other hand, with Square or U-notch trowels usually come with three numbers to consider: the first number is again the width of the notch , second is the width of space between the notches (which is not a factor in V-notch trowels) and finally, the depth of the notch.
How much of the back of a tile is covered in mortar?
If you see more than 15% of the back of the tile is not covered in mortar, more is needed to ensure a solid bond to avoid cracking or chipping after installation. With the diversity of tiles available today, achieving full mortar coverage has become even more important and challenging. As different materials and sizes of tile require different ...
Plastering Trowel
This is the most commonly used type of trowel among masons. It is a rectangular sheet made of steel and with a handle. Like the masonry trowel, a plastering trowel is an all-purpose handtool that can be used in applying finishing layers or tamping down on uneven areas.
Gardening Trowel
This is a type of trowel that many people are familiar with, especially those who love to spend a lot of time in the garden. This looks like a small handheld trowel. It is designed for scooping up small plants. It can also come in handy when moving plants or simply digging around in the garden.
Margin Trowel
A margin trowel is easy to spot with its large and boxy frame and its handle that sticks out of one end. As you may deduce from its name, it is designed to scrape away the edges and corners of the masonry. It evens out the margins. It can also be used in getting into tight corners, especially in areas such as the bathroom.
Gauging Trowel
This versatile tool for transferring plaster can also be used in applying the building material to a wall or surface. It can also come in handy when mixing or gauging small quantities of plaster. The most common size of a gauging trowel is between 4 and 7 inches.
Pool Trowels
Also known as swimming pool trowel, this type of trowel is made for curved and smooth surfaces. It has rounded ends and is primarily used in applying coatings to concrete on swimming pool decks, hence the name. This trowel has a long and rectangular body. It can also be used in applying or smoothing plaster on round, jacuzzi-type pools.
Outside Corner Trowel
The outside corner of a house or pool might require a coat of plaster. For this situation, you’ll need an outside corner trowel that is folded at a 90-degree angle. This would ensure that you get an even distribution of plaster for a perfect corner.
V-Notch Trowel
As you may deduce from its name, a V-Notch trowel has V-shaped edges that go along with its sawtooth or zigzag pattern. This is the trowel type you’d want if you are installing mosaic tiles or squares that are less than 2 inches square because they can lay out the least amount of mortar.
Why are trowel size and notch shape so important?
At the most basic level when you are laying tiles, you need to choose a trowel which will provide at least 85% total tile coverage for dry areas and at least 95% in wet areas such as showers and wetrooms.
What types of tiling trowels are available?
In general, the most popular notch shapes are ‘U’ and square notch options, although ‘V’ notches and slanted notches also exist. The difference in notch shapes will determine how easily the tile will be to fully embed into the adhesive substrate below, with square notches the hardest to embed.
How are trowels measured?
The size and spacing of trowel notches form the basis of tiling trowel measurements, with gaps allowing you to judge how much adhesive will be left on the back of the tile. When you compare product information, you will notice that measurements are provided to help you judge this spacing. For example:
How much adhesive do I need per tile?
The size of the trowel you use will determine how much adhesive you need on the substrate. For example, with square-notched trowels, the bed of adhesive on a flat surface should be 50% of the notch size, so a 12mm notch would require a 6mm bed of adhesive.
How do I know if I am using the right trowel?
To check whether you are using the correct trowel, you should apply the adhesive, lay the tile and then lift the tile again to check whether the trowel lines have disappeared. If the trowel has provided the required coverage there will be no visible trowel lines.
