What Size Trowel To Use For 6x24 Tile

What Size Trowel For half dozen×24 Tiles? (Here Are the Details)

A trowel is every bit necessary to grout and tile work as a weed whacker is to maintain a backyard. You cannot perform smooth trowel work without the proper size trowel, and a ¼" 10 ¼" U-shaped trowel is perfect for 6x24 tiles. Whether information technology be the shape of the trowel or the size of the tile, permit's take a wait at how you lot tin can pick out the ideal trowel for your projection.

You are ready to tackle that tile task. It may be the flooring of the laundry room or the tub surround in a bathroom. Yous take selected the tile and everything is ready. In that location remains one small event. What size trowel should you use for the 6×24 inch tile yous have chosen?

What size trowel is appropriate for a 6×24 inch tile? In general, the industry recommendation is to utilize a ¼" by ¼" U or square notched trowel for any tile larger than sixteen". Both the tile manufacturer and the thin-set manufacturer may have recommendations on the size of the trowel. Read both for the all-time communication.

Many other considerations affect the size of the trowel to use when laying any tile. Some of these include:

Warpage or cupping of the tile
The substrate
The thin-set you chose
You personal preference

Understanding these factors is key to choosing the proper trowel size for any tile job. Familiarity with the concepts of tile and sparse-set is also useful for judging which trowel size works better for y'all.

The Goal – Level and Tight Tile

The goal of whatever tile chore is to have a tight and level surface at the terminate of the project. Part of achieving this goal is accomplished by

Using the proper tool
Apply the right thin-set
Using the proper amount of thin-gear up

It shouldn't surprise you that choosing the correct tool makes applying the right amount of thin-set much easier. Choosing the proper tool involves understanding how trowels work and who thin-fix behaves.

For more than information about other tools you may need to complete your project, follow this link.

Trowels – V-shape, U-shape, or Notched?

Thins-set mortar trowels come in 3 common configurations. The first decision is which shape of the trowel is best for your tile application. There is no set or standard criteria. For the nigh part, the trowel style is a personal choice.

V-Shaped Trowels – The Sawtooth Selection

V-notch trowels do look like a saw blade. A 5-notch trowel by design delivers less sparse-fix to the surface than any of the other styles of trowels. A smaller amount of mortar makes the v-notch trowel an fantabulous pick of laying or hanging pocket-sized tiles.

If y'all are installing tile less than 2 inches square or are creating a mosaic pattern, a 5-notched trowel is a great choice. Five-notch trowel sizing measures the distance betwixt each of the pointed tips of the v-shape notch.

U-Shaped Notches – Bigger Tile and More Thin-Set up

When tile sizes go over 4 inches square, it is time to movement to a U-notch or square notch trowel. Many home DIY-ers prefer a U-notched trowel for several reasons

Information technology is easier to control the squeeze out of sparse-set up into grout lines with a u-notch trowel
U-notched trowels typically have more infinite between the notches than square notched trowels
A u-shaped thin-fix ridge tends to spread out rather than fold over when placing a tile

Square Notched Tile – The Vertical Solution

If your project involves hanging tile vertically on a wall or other surface, a square notched trowel is a amend selection. By selecting a wider and shallower trowel notch, you can maintain a good standing ridge on a vertical surface.

The shorter just wider thin-set up ridge will remain standing yet still provide the proper depth of thin-set behind the tile for expert adhesion. The smaller and wider ridges help solve the problem with squeeze out betwixt the tiles into the grout lines also.

Thin-set and Tile – Getting the Proper Coverage

When setting tile on a floor or vertically, the key is having the right thin-set up coverage between the substrate and the tile. Thin-set should exist applied then that:

For floors some wall installations, there must be at least lxxx% coverage of the contact expanse of the tile and substrate.
For bathtub surrounds and shower enclosures, the coverage should be at least 95%
In any instance, the corners of the tiles should exist supported fully by thin-set (ANSI A 108.5 3.3.ii)

Getting the proper coverage between the tile and the substrate may take a bit of trial and error. Your method and skill at applying the thin-set can be a large factor in how your coverage works.

Thin-Set Depth, How Deep Should the Notches Exist?

In general, you should have 3/32nds of an inch of sparse-set between the back of the tile and the substrate. Three-thirty-seconds is the minimum depth. In some cases, a deeper, thin-set layer makes sense.

Warpage – When Things Don't Line Up

Some types of tile are decumbent to warpage or cuppage. Warpage occurs while firing the tile. Some warpage doesn't necessarily make the tile un-useable. It does, however, mean you should allow for these variations in the thickness of your thin-gear up.

Placing a sampling of your tiles dorsum to dorsum is a quick style to bank check for warpage. If the tiles meet up neatly when placed back to back, the warpage is not a cistron. If there are noticeable gaps between the tiles, you must allow for this when applying your thin-prepare.

If yous observe the warpage, measure the gap between the tiles and split up that distance in half. If the gap is ¼', then you will need to let an additional 1/eight" to the depth of your sparse-prepare to compensate for the warpage.

Setting a Proper Sparse-Set Bed

It is vital to take a proper thin-fix bond between your tile and substrate. A proper sparse-ready layer involves several steps.

Stride ane – Key in the Thin-Set

Keying-in your sparse-set by using the apartment or direct side of your trowel to spread a thin layer of thin-set over the substrate. The goal is to strength the thin-set into the surface of the substrate creating a tight bond.

Step 2 – Add More Thin-Set and Comb the Surface

Add plenty more thin-set to your work area to create the depth of the thin-set up y'all want under your tile. Rummage the thin-set in direct lines, post-obit your chalk lines and running the thin-set up to the edge. You lot should pay item attention to the corners to ensure a tight bond in these areas.

Step three – The Direction Matters

If you are laying rectangular tile, especially plank-mode tiles, your ridgelines should come across the narrow dimension of the tile. This orientation allows air to escape more than easily and helps prevent bubbles and voids in the contact area.

Step 4 – Watch the Edges and Corners

More problems occur forth the edges and the corners than anywhere else on the tile. Many DIY'ers skimp along the edges and in the corners to minimize grout getting into the grout joints. Skimping in the thin-set forth the edges and corners tin can leave voids and gaps in the thin-set, leading to collapsed or broken tile.

Choosing the Right Trowel For Your six×24 Inch Tile

Following a few simple guidelines tin get you much closer to your goal of a tight, level tile floor or wall. In about cases, a ¼" by ¼" foursquare notch tile is suitable for laying or hanging your 6×24 inch tile. In all cases, follow the tile and thin-set manufacturer's recommendations. These tips and tricks should brand the task get smoothly.

For more information and communication on tile work, check out this link about removing thin-prepare from a tile confront.

Related Guides

Types of Trowels (And Their Uses)
What Size Trowel For vi×36 Tile Installation?
Modified Thin-Set vs. Unmodified Sparse-Prepare: Which Is Better?

Dennis Howard

Dennis is a retired firewoman with an all-encompassing background in construction, dwelling improvement, and remodeling. He worked in the trades part-fourth dimension while serving as an active firefighter. On his retirement, he started a remodeling and abode repair business, which he ran for several years.

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