How do I choose the right size trowel?

Finding the right trowel for the job is quite simple when you know that, generally speaking, the trowel size should match up to the tile size – the smaller the tile, the smaller the trowel; the larger the tile, the larger the trowel.

What size notched trowel do I need?





Size Matters



All tile manufacturers offer a recommended trowel size. Mosaic installations up to 2 inches can use a 1/8-inch notch, as can wall tiles of up to 4 inches, as a general rule. 16-inch tiles need a 1/2-inch-deep notch, and anything over 24 inches should use a 3/4-inch notch.

What size tile trowel should I use?

Floor tiles: Use square-notched or U-notched trowels for all sizes. The ¼” is suitable for 4″ and 6″ floor tiles. For floor tiles ranging in size between 8″ and 12″, you may want to use a ¼” x ⅜,” and for floor tiles 12″ wide and larger, go with a ½.”

What size trowel should I use for 12×24 tile?

Generally, for the 12×24 inch floor tiles, you should use a square-notched trowel that has either ¼-inch by ½-inch or ½-inch by ½-inch notch. The notch size is vital as it determines the area where the mortar will collapse after installing and pressing down the tiles.

How much height will thinset add?

When a tile is pressed to this thinset, it spreads to fill the spaces between the ridges, resulting in a thinset layer 3/16ths of an inch thick.

Should you back butter tile?





All corners and edges of the stone tiles must be fully supported, and back parging, or back buttering, is recommended in all areas.

What size notched trowel for 300×300 floor tiles?

12mm notched trowel

mm tiles – use a 8mm notched trowel • 250 x 250mm tiles – use a 10mm notched trowel • 300 x 300mm tiles – use a 12mm notched trowel • 400 x 400mm and larger size tiles – use a 12mm notched trowel + back buttering of tile.

What size notched trowel for 24×24 floor tiles?

3/8” square



For example; you have two different 24” x 24” tiles for two different floors. Although they are the same dimension, each tile may require a different trowel size. If one of the tiles is fairly flat with minimum warping (cupping), you may meet the proper coverage requirement using a 3/8” square-notched trowel.

What size notched trowel for 12×12 mosaic tile?

A ¼ inch x ⅜ inch square notch trowel works well for most 12 x 12 tiles (30cm x 30cm).

What happens if thinset is too thick?

If the thinset is too thick, this creates an uneven surface that’s difficult to clean and maintain. It also increases the drying phase causing the project to come to a halt. It’s recommended to be methodical with the use of thinset mortar.

How much thinset do I need for 12×24 tile?



Thinset & Grout Coverage Info

TILE SIZE RECOMMENDED SPACING Sq Ft COVERAGE (based on 25lb sanded)
12 inch 3/16 inch 115 – 125 Sq Ft
18 inch 3/16 inch 140 – 150 Sq Ft
12 x 24 inch 3/16 inch 130 – 140 Sq Ft
24 inch 3/16 inch 190 – 200 Sq Ft

What is the spacing for 12×24 tile?

Installing 12×24 Tile: Grouting



We used 1/4 inch spacers to achieve the perfect grout lines that you see here and I would definitely recommend using them, even if you think you’re pretty comfortable with tiling.

How do you lay 12×24 tile?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So for a 12 by 24 tile you'd offset each row by 8 inches. For small rooms I begin laying out the tile. And I work my way to the back of the room.

How wide should grout lines be?

Actual finished grout spaces will vary from 1/8″ to 1/4″ if 3/16″ spacers are used. If smaller spacers like 1/8″ are used, it will accentuate the size difference of handmade tile. Finished grout lines will vary from 1/16″ to 3/16″.

What is the most common grout size?



Grout Lines for Wall Tiles



They have small protrusions called lugs that fit against adjoining tiles and create an automatic space for grout, normally 1/32 to 1/16 inch wide. Grout lines on walls usually do not exceed 1/16 inch because the tiles need to be stacked to help support them during installation.

What is the thinnest grout line possible?

Smallest size grout lines should not be less than 1/16″. This is an acceptable space that can be properly grouted. When the space between tiles is so little like 1/32″ which is often referred to as “credit card lines” or “penny lines”, it’s not possible to fill that space all the way through the bottom of the tile.

How many spacers do I need?

After your first tile is laid, put a spacer on each corner of the tile (ensuring they are flush). Note: When using floor tiles it is also recommended to use two “square” spacers per side (in addition to the plus spacers on each corner). This provides additional accuracy along the length of the tile.

How do you calculate grout coverage?

To work out how much grout you’ll need, follow this easy 6-step calculation: Step 1: Tile width (mm) + tile height (mm) = A. Step 2: Size of spacers (mm) x tile thickness (mm) = B. Step 3: A x B x 1.2 (this number is the coverage ratio of all UltraTile grouts) = C.

How do I calculate how much thinset I need?



Amount of Thinset Needed



Divide the square footage of your project by 95 (the maximum coverage of a 50-pound bag of thinset. For example, a 10-by-12-foot room is 120 square feet; divided by 95, the result is 1.26. Round the number up to the next whole number.

How do you calculate grout volume?

Typically, weight of a bag of grout is about 50 pounds and their density is about 100 lb/ft^3 or 2700lb/yd^3, regarding this, How do you calculate grout volume, generally you calculate grout volume by dividing mass of one bag of grout to their density, such as 50lb/100lb/ft^3 = 0.5 CF, or 50lb/2700lb/yd^3 = 0.0185 CY, …