What Is This Trowel Used For?

Specifically.

Larger format floor tile... 12x24 16x16... You get the idea. The u notch trowel allows the tile to bed down into the thinset a bit easier, with less build up in height over the subfloor. Also, U notch is less likely to trap air under the tile.

Do I pass?

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I guess. Sounds legitimate.

Im gonna say trowling for the win.

A square notch trowel will leave a bed of 1/2 of the dimensions as a mortar bed when the tile is set---1/4" trowel leaves 1/8" bed.

A U notch trowel will leave 1/3 of the dimension as a mortar bed. A 3/8" U notch will leave 1/8" bed.

U notches are better for floors, you need a larger notch to get the same bed, on walls it can get difficult.

As CP stated a u-notch is a little easier to bed in.

Tom

So it’s made for doing a full mortar bed not thinset

Spoken like a true prophet

No, it's still a thinset trowel.. The mortar bed he's referring to is thinset.

Thin set, medium set, works with either.

The bed is the amount of mortar thickness left under the tile after you push the tile into the mortar (bed the tile).

Figuring the bed is can be difficult or easy, depending on how flat the tile is.

This should help;

https://www.rubi.com/us/blog/tile-trowel-size/

Tom

So basically....for floors getting large format tile.

I wish I knew that a couple weeks ago. I had just purchased two square notch 1/2 x 1/2's. Oh well.

Another tip, something I discovered the hard way...

Porclien tile must be back troweled or back buttered. I found my back butter was inconsistent. I now use the Kerdi or Ditra trowel depending on how flat the tile is and back trowel them all. Ended up being faster for me.

Tom

The 3/8” one pictured is for 1/8” bed so that’s good for 12x12, which is most of my tile.

I’ve always back buttered.

I always figured you get about 1/3 the thickness with a square notch trowel, assuming you spread at an angle. You get about 1/4" ridges with a 3/8 trowel. Then you half that by pressing the tile in and spreading it evenly.

Same here. Every tile gets backbuttered.

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I'm not being snarky or anything else by asking the following questions. You guys may know something I don't, thats why I'm asking.

White backed glass tile--do you back butter? I never have.

Mosaic sheet--do you wipe the backs?

As I said, I found it's easier for me to back trowel with the Kerdi or Ditra trowel.

Anything over 6x6 porcelain or ceramic I hit the back also.

Tom

I do not back butter mosaic.

I premount my mosaics in bath installs.

Backslashes is a different story. I flatten the thinset to achieve recommended coverage.

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Thanks.

Tom

what do you mean by premount? before the wall tile?

Had a row of 2" square mosaic on top of a half wall of tile and I was able to use the Raimondi clips-was nice b/c it pulled them out so they were in plane with the wall tile.