Tile Notch Trowel sizes. Which trowel size do you need for ....? [Full vid]

Tile notch trowel sizes.
Do you ever wonder why tile installers use notch trowels? What do the notches do? Why the different sizes of notched trowels?
Which trowel size do you use for subway tile? Which trowel for 12x24 tile? What about glass tiles?
In this video, you will learn about:
The following are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
1/8 x 1/8 square notch trowel: amzn.to/3agZbyf
1/4 x 3/16 V-notch: amzn.to/3tWEwY0
1/4 x 1/4 square notch: amzn.to/3tZgtrh
1/4 x 3/8 square notch: amzn.to/2NoF0pd
1/2 x 1/2 square notch trowel: amzn.to/37dL1vS
Euro notch trowel: amzn.to/2LPnbit
margin trowel: amzn.to/3b6rTRr
Also covered in this video:
Kerdi membrane
Ditra uncoupling membrane
other uncoupling membranes
glass mosaic tiles
subway tile
large subway tile
12x12 tile
12x24 tile
6x24 plank tiles
cement board trowel size
Ditra-Heat uncoupling membrane
Apologies in advance for the echoed audio towards the end of the video.

[@karldore8800]

Ok. I was looking at how to replace a Kohler toilet seal. Your video popped in the suggestions. Like an idiot, I ended up watching the entire thing. Man, this is an excellent video! No BS, no annoying music and stupid FX. It is straight to the point and very informative. You did an excellent job on this one! Now I know what Trowel to use for my 12x24 tile (1/2 x 1/2) but I have no clue on how to replace my toilet seal! 🙂

[@darrylmacleod9231]

Thank you for not adding distractive & unnecessary 'music' background. "Just the facts". Excellent video.

[@DIYTileGuy]

You're welcome!

[@ReyGaljour]

My friend... you're doing the Lord's work, thank you SO much! Excellent video.

[@jbrian53]

Good comprehensive video. Great you were willing to waste some product to demonstrate the differences.

[@mannys.5126]

Amazing block of instruction. I was going to install 12x24 tiles in my bathroom and I didn't knew what throwell would I need to use for the job and you did an incredible video explaining all this to us. Thank you !

[@DIYTileGuy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@anthonyflores3267]

What he said 👏 🙌

[@falconmack]

FANTASTIC JOB!!!!, this is what I had been trying to find on some of the most popular tile coach/guru channels, but could not find this type of breakdown of trowels. They only mentioned the particular size they used for a given application, but nothing like this complete coverage of all the sizes and corresponding applications. Thank you so much for this information and a very well structured video. I'm renovating my entire house by myself, and tile setting has been the most time-consuming and intricate tasks for me as I could not find an explanation of when, where and how to use each trowel size. Now I know. Thank you so much.

[@DIYTileGuy]

Thank you for your feedback. I'm glad it was helpful!

[@cynthiamills9163]

Wonderful presentation. Extremely informative. This guy is a real professional

[@foggymtnbreakdown]

Wow. You cover it all, tile and membranes. Excellent! I like your comment about putting thinnest under floor backer board. A lot of people skip that.

[@DIYTileGuy]

Thank you very much!

[@EXPERIENCEDTeachingSince1992]

Thank you, for your expertise, Sir ,

[@mattb9664]

Thanks for the info- went with the nicer 6x36 plank tile from a tile store..guess I should be using a 1/2" x 1/2" trowel.

[@DIYTileGuy]

I would

[@locktherock]

Absolutely superb explanation! Excellent job dude👍

[@asilvers1163]

Thank you for your excellent explanation.

[@marioderis5966]

Nicely explained!

[@zeusgyd422]

Very well done. Glad I came across this. Doing my first DIY tile job at home soon and this was very helpful. Thank you!

[@toddcallahan783]

Finally! What a great video...really helpful across many topics.

[@DIYTileGuy]

Thanks!

[@arthursleep8307]

Fantastic vlog thank you

[@johnpark7414]

Unreal ! Thanks buddy !!

[@zane770]

love your work, mate

[@DIYTileGuy]

Much appreciated!

[@paulmagwood2872]

Great job , thanks.

[@vantuanma5967]

thank you for your video: munch appreciated!!!

[@tomcase8582]

Excellent !!!

[@markgonzales1970]

Thank you.

[@mw-kh2kq]

Hello, Thank you for all of your clear & detailed explanations...much appreciated. I will be installing 6" x 18" real Cararra marble tile over Kerdi board using Schluter All-Set with staggered 1/16" joints What trowel size(s) would you suggest.

[@grcooley]

thanks so much for this video. a big help for me

[@DIYTileGuy]

Glad it helped!

[@DitNg516]

Quarter inch notch trowel sold at Lowe’s

[@JT-rc7vx]

TY!

[@susanneharvey4034]

Thank you!!! This was so very helpful! Any other tips when installing 3”x6” glass subway tiles?

[@DIYTileGuy]

Yes. On this channel, I have a video about cutting glass tiles. Additionally, I have two posts about installing subway tile on my blog DIYTileGuy. One for beginners and one has more advanced tips. www.diytileguy.com/subway-tile-installation/ and www.diytileguy.com/ceramic-subway-tile/

[@susanneharvey4034]

@@DIYTileGuy thank you so much!

[@mariadeprisco2357]

What size trowel for stack stone? Also what kind of mortar for linear glass backsplash? Thanks!

[@chrisoakman7102]

I watch tons of your videos while building my house. I've done odd and end jobs for 20 years but this is my first full build. Right now I'm stuck on trowel size. I have 7x20 ceramic plank tile. Some say use 1/4 trowel some say use 1/2 trowel. Which should I use being the first time I've ever laid ceramic tile?

[@DIYTileGuy]

Your going to want a towel that is either 3/8 or 1/2 inch deep. Whether it's a 1/4 wide or a 1/2 is more a matter of preference.

[@pattyleonard1045]

Hi, What size trowel would I use for a 9x40 blank ceramic tile?

[@nerycaduada7010]

What is the trawlers teeth suitable for 60cmX60cm tiles?

[@ericastier1646]

I am concerned that when using the 1/2 x 1/2" notched trowel that you need at least 1/4" room to wiggle the tile sideways when setting itand that's fine for all tiles except when you get against the end of a row and the last tile only has 1/8 "against the wall and 1/16 on the grout line against the previous tile on the other side. Then you cannot wiggle sideways to collapse a 1/2" ridge. I thought you could change the ridges directions horizontal for that tile so you can wiggle forward backward instead of sideway but now your ridges extend the full length of the LF tile and that is more risky to leave trapped air. I am preparing to install 15"x30" porcelain tiles 11 mm thick and hesitate between trowel sizes. If you could pitch in would be good. Thanks

[@jeffmiller8950]

Well done video! One question is would the 1/4 x 3/8 trowel be overkill for a 4x12 subway tile?

[@DIYTileGuy]

It'll probably work just fine.

[@Teleman01]

For 12 x 24 slate tiles, would you recommend combing the back of those? Or just using a flat trowel? This would be for outdoors on a sidewalk.

[@DIYTileGuy]

You definitely want to flat trowel. Sometimes they are high in the centers and you might have to fill the centers in a little more. Check how well the mortar is covering by pulling the tile back up after it's set. Then adapt as you go.

[@EdStaniszewski]

Hi, thanks for these videos! I am laying some linear glass mosaic and aluminum tiles on a 12x12" backing. I am searching for good blade to cut with. What do you recommend for a 7" benchtop wet saw?

[@DIYTileGuy]

I really like this Pearl P4 blade that runs around $50 in the 7-inch version. But this Rubi blade is at Home Depot and is only $28. The challenge that you will run into is being able to push the tile through and keep them from moving. At the very least, I think you're going to want to put a small piece of wood, backer board, or a chunk of bigger tile over the back of the mosaics to hold them down and keep them flat. You might check out my post on cutting glass tile but it doesn't address mosaics specifically. www.diytileguy.com/how-to-cut-glass-tile/ Rubi blade: www.homedepot.com/p/Rubi-PORCELAIN-7-in-Diamond-Blade-31912/301288817 Pearl blade: www.tiletools.com/collections/diamond-blades-for-tile-and-stone/products/pearl-abrasive-p4-turbo-mesh-blade

[@EdStaniszewski]

@@DIYTileGuy i see what your saying about putting a board or something underneath. Maybe i can try keeping them in the package to cut? Or duct tape them onto a 1/4" thick board?

[@DIYTileGuy]

Maybe. I think keeping pressure on them evenly from the top as you push them through will help keep things stabilized. But experiment and see what works best.

[@jpjp9111]

I want to install new 12x12 tiles in the bathroom of my new house....old house but new to me. I didn't even know that you had to put in lines. I'm getting from this video that I'd use a 1/4 for my purpose?

[@DIYTileGuy]

I'd probably try a 3/8 inch notch trowel first and see how that goes

[@DwFritz23]

About to tile my bathroom, first time ever tiling. Are you supposed to lift up every tile you put down to check the coverage? I'm using 12x24" tiles.

[@DIYTileGuy]

No. It's good to pick up the first one, for sure, and, after that, any that you feel might not have bonded well.

[@kristagehlbach7938]

I’m using a kit with various sizes. There are large sizes like 16x16 and 16x24, and some smaller that are 8x8 and 8x16. Should I use the 1/4” for the smaller tiles, or is it bad to use two different trowel sizes on the same floor?

[@DIYTileGuy]

You're going to want to use the same trowel even though you are installing different sized tiles. Set your trowel size to the largest tile and use it for all of the. You'll probably want a 1/2 x 1/2 and back butter every tile.

[@denisepattavina522]

What size trowel for an 8x8 tile?

[@testtest2609]

I spread some simple set pre-mixed and went to cut some tiles and took longer than I expected plus it was a hot, humid day....as a result the thinset dried out and I layed the tile anyway thinking it still had moisture...some tiles popped up the next day and some didn't. Will the ones that didn't eventually pop out too or are those ok? I finger checked them for adherence and didn't want to pry to hard lest I pop them out. Any advice is welcomed.

[@DIYTileGuy]

Typically, Simple Set isn't what you want to use but I'm not sure what the application is so... maybe it's an OK situation to use it? But that could be the problem. It could be that you didn't let it dry long enough. It could be a lack of bond. The good news is that Simple Set is one of the easiest adhesives to scrape up and redo. So there's that. In the future, mastic isn't the best choice. I'd much rather see you use a thinset mortar for most everything.

[@fearlv1rattata]

I used 1/2" x 1/2" on 12" x 24" porcelain tile. It just seems so excessive while I was doing it. I feel like maybe I wasn't using the trowel properly. I'm not a professional (so probably). It just seems like every tile video I've watched online has smaller trowel lines. I used Laticrete LHT mortar which maybe could be why? Great video though. Thanks!

[@DIYTileGuy]

You can use a trowel with narrower teeth but I still recommend going with 1/2 inch deep teeth.

[@bbgunwb1]

So when you pick up a tile to check coverage - what do you do when you put it back down... just put it back down on the thinset you just laid it on because there's coverage? Or do you clean and start over since all you were doing is verifying your technique?

[@DIYTileGuy]

If the coverage is appropriate then there is no need to remove any mortar. Just put the tile back down and continue on.

[@bbgunwb1]

Thank you! @@DIYTileGuy

[@jbrady5979]

How about a 12x12 /18x18 natural stone, marble tile with a smooth/unhoned back? Over Ditra

[@DIYTileGuy]

1/2 inch deep notch

[@2YLITE22]

Great info! What is recommended for glass subway tile?

[@DIYTileGuy]

This video has a demonstration of how to spread mortar for glass tile kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYvccnelad-ob9E

[@testtest2609]

What's the best trowel size for 2 inch by 2 inch ceramic mosaic hex tile? Thanks.

[@DIYTileGuy]

try a 1/4 square notch

[@testtest2609]

@@DIYTileGuy thanks!

[@jaylevan3769]

I was told to use a 1/4 x 3/8 trowel for 3x12 "subway" tiles and it seems too deep. Might it be better to use 1/4x1/4?

[@DIYTileGuy]

Could go either way depending on the tile. You'll probably have to experiment and see which one works the best

[@mohsiniftikhar1922]

Hello, what trowel size to use with glass subway tile 3x 9

[@DIYTileGuy]

I'd probably use a 1/4x3/8 and use the smoothing technique I showed in the 1/4 x1/4 video

[@justinreid677]

What trowel size would you use for 3 x 12 inch subway tile?

[@DIYTileGuy]

1/4 x 3/8 square notch

[@dennistuzinowski9844]

Nice job.. stop worrying about the manufacturer guidelines.

[@josephmesseri2745]

6"x36" ?

[@brianblithe2271]

He says 1/2 inch

[@vbdino]

Installing 12 x 24 porcelain tile on ditra XL, other than 1/2x1/2 square trowel, could a 3/8 x 1/4 square trowel work too. In this schluter video kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5KzYqh3a6t8h6c, he used it.

[@DIYTileGuy]

As long as you can get proper coverage. I showed how to check for that in the video.

[@chrissilkwood5439]

F the membrane, waste of time & money. Use GoBoard, window seal caulking on the seems & screws, then red guard. Cheaper, better, less weight on the wall and faster.

[@MegaRich7]

A 1/8"×1/8" notch means that the notches are 1/4" apart. Not 1/8th.

[@DIYTileGuy]

1/8x1/8x1/8 means they are all 1/8 apart. I've never seen a 1/8x1/8x1/4 trowel.

[@veiledzorba]

DUDE! 99.99999% of us don't care about membranes - we want to do tiles! Otherwise nice video!