Every tiler has a notched trowel, probably more than one. We need different sizes and shapes depending on the job, whether it's small, delicate bathroom tiling or larger and more complex projects. The trowel is simple, but it’s a workhorse, and each notch shape serves its own purpose to make sure the adhesive can do its job properly. We use this simple tool to apply and prepare our adhesive so we can set tiles properly, and so today we want to explore everything you might need to know about using notched trowels effectively. We'll cover what they are, the types we can use and the right-sized trowel for each job you might undertake.

What is a Notched Trowel?

To start with let us look at what a notched trowel is. Notched trowels are robust and flat metal surfaces attached to a handle for grip and to better control the trowel. On one side of the trowel, you'll see a smooth, flat edge. Flip it, and there are serrated notches—which give the trowel its name. These notches come in different shapes: Square, V, and U. And when you spread adhesive, those notches leave ridges behind. We need those ridges to make sure the tile grips perfectly to the surface, with no air bubbles or gaps. A good notched trowel ensures your tiles are stuck down and bonded thoroughly, which amounts to peace of mind and high-quality tiling installations.

Types of Notched Trowel

By now, you’re probably wondering, 'What’s the real difference between these trowels then?' Well, it’s all about the shape of the notch, that is what determines how much adhesive you’ll lay down. For bigger tiles, you’ll need bigger ridges. For smaller tiles, a finer touch. You’ll handily find that the names correspond to the notch’s shapes, and the shape determines its function, so you’ll know easily at a glance the best trowel to use.

Square-Notched Trowels: The notches in these trowels are squared, giving them a larger opening than the other notched trowel varieties. The larger opening ensures a thick ridge will form, creating a consistent layer of adhesive that is suited to floor tiles and larger tiles that need extra adhesive and assurance of consistent contact.
U-Notched Trowels: These trowels have rounded ridges which makes them slightly smaller than the square-notched trowel but also better suited to medium-sized tiles that won't require as much adhesive, but do require more than the next type of trowel is suited for.
V-Notched Trowels: These trowels have a narrow opening in them that comes to a point in a classic ‘v’ shape, so the ridges they create in the adhesive are going to be much smaller too. Their smaller size makes them excellent for smaller tiles and delicate projects where only a thin layer of adhesive is required and too much adhesive would begin to cause problems.

What Size Notched Trowel Should You Use?

As we mentioned in the previous section, the different notches on the trowel give a good indicator of whether they should be used for large, medium, or smaller tiling projects. Let us break it down here, relating the size of tiles to the correct notched trowel.

For small tiles, that is tiles under 6 inches, using a ¼ inch V-notched trowel would be most suitable for ensuring just enough adhesive is applied and the ridges are sized appropriately to the tile.
For medium tiles, that is tiles between 6 and 12 inches, using a ¼ inch square or U-notched trowel will work best. Choose the notch type based on how large and deep you want the ridges for the most even coverage.
For large tiles, which are any tiles over 12 inches, an ½ inch Square-notched trowel will be your go-to choice, as it can safely provide enough adhesive in a layer of appropriate thickness to hold those larger tiles securely.

How to Use a Notched Trowel

Using a notched trowel effectively is simple to understand, although it takes experience to master, but our little guide should happily get you started:

Begin by Preparing the Surface to ensure that it is clean and dry. We don't want any dirt or grit left behind to interfere with the bonding process, so make sure you clean thoroughly and understand its importance.
Once that is done, we can now Spread the Adhesive over the surface to be tiled by scooping it with the flat side of the trowel and spreading it out in an even layer. We can then use the same flat edge to smooth the adhesive down and spread an even coverage across the area.
Notch the Adhesive by flipping the trowel to its notched side and holding it at a 45-degree angle as you comb through the adhesive, creating even ridges.
You can now Lay the Tile by pressing the tile into place on top of the ridges and wiggling it slightly to set it into the adhesive properly, remembering to use spacers to maintain even gaps between tiles, if needed.

Conclusion

The use of a notched trowel can create all the difference in achieving a smooth and evenly tiled surface and by selecting the correct type and size of trowel you can ensure you are following the best practices for applying adhesive and ensure your tiling project withstands the test of time.

For top-quality notched trowels and our wider range of professional tiling tools, check out Beava’s product page today and get a head start on your next project.