Using an electric grinder becomes necessary when adhesive or mortar hardens on the trowel. With it, you can remove the hardened material from it. ● When should you replace your trowel? Avoid Mistakes: Using the wrong amount of thin-set or the wrong notch shape will negatively affect the outcome of your tiling project. Tiling projects are not cheap, so ensure your tile stays secure for a long time by choosing the right tools. A 6mm x 10mm square-notched trowel will leave you with 6mm wide by 10mm high ridges of adhesive on the substrate. And 6mm spaces between every ridge. The difference between the square notch and U-notch trowel is that the square-notch spreads more thin-set than the U-notch. Whether you are installing small mosaic tiles, subway tiles, or large natural stone tiles, notched trowels are essential tools for setting tiles into place. Notched trowels scoop thin-set, a cement-based mortar adhesive, and spread it over floors and walls. The distinctive notches on the sides of the trowel create an even base of ridged mortar. When a tile is placed, the mortar compresses to provide a complete bond between the tile and the wall/floor. This bond will keep tile in place for years.

If you want 12mm ridges of adhesive on the substrate with 12mm spaces between each ridge, you should use a 12mm x 12mm square-notched trowel. A 12mmx12mm tile trowel has only one measurement (i.e., a 12mm trowel), meaning that both the measurements are the same. Control: Choosing the right notch shape can prevent over-smearing, which can make your tile application weak and messy. The square ridges, put down with a square-notched trowel, tend to collapse over on each side when you embed the tile into the bed. Pushing the tile down into the bed of square ridges causes the ridges to fold over from the top of the ridge, then spread out. In general, you can read the size of the trowel from the name of the trowel. The first figure is the width of the notches (“the distance between the teeth”), the second figure is the depth of the notch. For example, a 1/2″ x 1/2″ square-notched trowel leaves 1/2″ ridges of thin-set on the substrate with 1/2″ spaces between each ridge. Choosing The Right Tile Trowel Size, some helpful tips:Furthermore, the purpose of the notches is to give the mortar a place to “collapse into” once the tile is installed and compressed down. The matting must be installed within the specified open time for the adhesive used and can be adjusted and repositioned within the specified adjustment time. Once laid, tiling can commence immediately. Features & Benefits of the Ardex B1 2mm V Notch Trowel U- Notch Trowel ¼” x ¼” – for 4″ x4″ up to 8″ x8″ tile. This is the preferred trowel for those who want a lighter spread for floor tile OR a heavy spread for wall tile. Use a hose sprayer to clean a trowel. And immediately after that, use a clean sponge with some water to finish cleaning.

In general, to determine and estimate the trowel’s size, you need to consider the size and spacing of the trowel’s teeth or notches. To know the trowel size, measure the width of the notches (i.e. the distance between the teeth) and the depth of the notch. Proper adhesive coverage meansa minimum of 85% total coverage beneath a tile for a dry area placement (most floors, fireplace, etc.) and 95% minimum total coverage in a wet area (showers, bath surrounds, etc.). Nevertheless, you have to be specific about the measurements. Trowels are measured by the height, or depth, and length of the teeth or notches. This means a ¼” x ¼” trowel will have a notch that is ¼” square. Tiling Trowel Size Guide In addition to proper trowel selection, it’s important to use the correct thinset for each situation. For example, Schluter products are famous for their unmodified mortar requirements. Also, glass tile is usually something that needs very careful mortar selection. Thinset Consistency A V-notch trowel has V-shaped edges. This is the trowel to use when installing mosaic tile as it leaves the least amount of thin-set on the installation substrate.After measuring, you will know how much adhesive the trowel will leave on the substrate once you spread it out. The spacing and shape of the trowel’s tooth determine how much adhesive there is between the tile and substrate once the tile is added. It is best to replace your trowel when the edges or the square notches of the trowel are bent and/or worn. This guide walks you through the differences between and the ideal uses for the five most common notch shapes. A U-shaped ridge, on the other hand, spreads OUT when embedding a tile into the bed. Pushing a tile into the bed of rounded ridges causes the ridge of adhesive to spread out, from the bottom, with less possibility of trapping air. Which trowel size to use?