How To Use A Notched Trowel

22/05/2024

If you're diving into a tiling project, understanding how to use a notched trowel is essential. This tool plays a pivotal role in ensuring your tiles adhere properly and uniformly to the surface. Pro Tiler Tools is your ultimate destination for top-quality tiling trowels, and in this guide, we’ll explore key questions about the notched trowel, covering everything from its purpose to selecting the right size for your project.

What Is A Notched Trowel?

A notched trowel is a hand tool used to evenly spread tile adhesive or mortar with a grooved pattern when tiling, ensuring consistent and even application and a strong bond between the tile and substrate.

Read more: Your Tiling Tools Essentials

Types Of Notched Trowels

There are several types of notched trowels, each suited for different tasks. The two most common types are the square notch and the U-notch trowel.

Square/Standard Notched Trowel: This trowel has square-shaped notches and is versatile, suitable for a variety of tile sizes.
Multi Notch Trowel: With H45-shaped notches, this trowel is typically used to undercut tile adhesive and help provide maximum coverage.
U Notched Trowel: Ideal for fixing large format wall and floor tiles with recessed/keyed back patterns. A couple of great examples are the BAL Thick Bed U Notched Trowel and the Kubala Large Stainless Steel Trowel.

What Size Notched Trowel Should You Use?

Choosing the right trowel notch size is crucial. The size of the notches determines the thickness of the adhesive layer. So, if you’re wondering what size notched trowel to use for a specific project, consider the tile size and the substrate. For example, a 12mm notched trowel is excellent for larger tiles that require a thicker adhesive layer to ensure proper adhesion and level placement. Here’s a rough guide to refer to:

6mm Notched Trowel: Ideal for small tiles (less than 100mm).
8mm Notched Trowel: Suitable for medium tiles (100mm-200mm).
10mm Notched Trowel/ 12mm Notched Trowel: Perfect for medium to large tiles (greater than 200mm).
15mm Notched Trowel/20mm Notched Trowel: Great for very large tiles.
6/8mm & 10/12mm trowel for large format tiles (6mm for back-buttering the tile)

An appropriately sized notched trowel is so important for achieving proper adhesive coverage on both the substrate and the back of large format tiles. Pro Tiler Tools features tiling trowels designed specifically for large tiles, ensuring an even distribution of adhesive for a secure and robust bond.

Our key suggestion is that you would want to be back-buttering the tiles, using a 10mm notched trowel for floor adhesive and then a 6mm notched trowel for the tile. Choose from a variety of notch configurations to suit the requirements of your specific tile project: If you’re looking for large-format tiling tools, and a notched trowel is on your list. Here are four recommendations of notched trowels for large-format tile applications:

We stock notched trowels from a variety of trusted brands in a broad range of sizes from 3mm to 20mm. For example, this Genesis Trowel Set includes a variety of blades ranging from 6mm to 12mm. A handful of other notched trowels that are available in a wide range of sizes are:

How to Use a Notched Trowel

Using a notched trowel effectively involves a few key steps:

Preparation: Ensure your surface is clean, dry, and level. Any dust or debris can prevent the tile adhesive from bonding properly.
Applying the Tile Adhesive: Scoop the adhesive with the smooth side of the trowel and spread it over a small area of the surface. This helps to initially spread the adhesive evenly. Our key suggestion is that you would want to be back-buttering the tiles.
Creating the Grooves: Hold the trowel at a 45-degree angle and run the notched edge through the adhesive. This motion creates even grooves, ensuring uniform thickness.
Setting the Tiles: Place your tiles onto the tile adhesive, pressing firmly and with a slight twisting motion to ensure they are set correctly and the adhesive spreads evenly underneath.

Are you unsure of which tile adhesive to use? Take a look at these helpful articles:

Tips for Best Results When Using A Notched Trowel

Work in Small Sections: Only spread tile adhesive over a small area at a time. This prevents the adhesive from drying out before you set the tiles.
Check for Coverage: Periodically lift a tile to ensure that the adhesive covers at least 80-90% of its back.
Clean as You Go: Clean any excess adhesive from the tile surface and your tools as you work to avoid a messy finish. Shop cleaners.

Mastering the use of a notched trowel is essential for any tiling project. By choosing the right size and type of trowel and applying the tile adhesive correctly, you can achieve a professional finish that ensures your tiles are securely and attractively set. Explore our wide range of notched trowels today, and if you need any assistance with your order, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts should you have any questions, via email at [email protected] or give us a call at 01604 859800.