Choosing the right trowel can make or break your tile project
January 6th, 2025
The Right Trowel
Selecting the correct trowel for tile installation is essential for achieving proper mortar coverage and a strong bond. As tile sizes grow, so do the challenges of applying sufficient mortar while maintaining precision.
For many years, an 8” x 8” tile was considered a large format. Today, ANSI A108.T defines Large Format Tile as any tile with a facial dimension greater than 23 inches (584 mm). With these larger tiles comes the need for deeper and wider trowel notches to ensure adequate mortar support and bonding. The 2024/2025 NTCA Reference Manual highlights issues with the popular 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2" notched trowel. Its wide spacing often makes it difficult to fully collapse mortar ridges, especially with narrow grout joints, limiting tile movement during installation. For better results, the NTCA recommends avoiding this trowel and following proven guidelines for consistent mortar coverage and transfer.
To determine the “right” trowel, testing is key.
1/2X1/4 Euro notch or U notch trowel.
The notches are designed to collapse into themselves, offering a superior tile bond.
ANSI A108.5-2.2.3 specifies that:
- 80% coverage is required for most installations.
- 95% coverage is mandatory for exterior or wet areas.
This coverage must be evenly distributed, paying particular attention to the corners and edges of each tile.
At Tile America, our Tile Experts at Trade Counters are here to provide personalized advice for every type of tile project. Whether you’re working with large format tiles or intricate designs, we’ll help you select the right tools and techniques to ensure a flawless installation.
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