What Size Trowel For 12x12 Wall Tile

When installing 12×12 floor tiles, spread upwards to ¼-inch of thinset mortar under the tile. If the back of your tile is smooth and uniform, use a ¼ X ⅜" square-notched trowel. If you are installing tiles with a rough or irregular back, use a ½ X ½" square-notched trowel. Continue in mind that floor tiles experience more traffic, so yous can use the larger ½ Ten ½" trowel on near floor installations of 12×12 tile. For wall installations, utilise the smaller ¼ X ⅜" trowel size.

What Size Trowel Should You lot Use for 12×12 Tile?

If you lot are installing smooth-backed porcelain or ceramic tile on a flooring or wall, this ¼ X ⅜" square-notched trowel is the all-time choice. Go along the trowel at a 90-caste angle to the wall to spread your thinset evenly over the surface. On wall installations, it's best to opt for a smaller amount of thinset. This ensures the tile adheres well to the wall.

¼ 10 ⅜ X ¼" Foursquare Notched Trowel:

Polish-backed 12×12 flooring tiles.
12×12 wall tile installations.

½ 10 ½" Square Notched Trowel:

Crude-backed 12×12 tiles.
Lug-backed tiles.
12×12 flooring tile installations.

When installing tiles with a crude surface on the back, as well equally lug-backed tiles, use this ½ 10 ½" foursquare-notched trowel. This size is also bully for floor installations, where a thicker layer of mortar can assist the tile installation hold up over fourth dimension. If the back of your tile is especially crude, y'all can even spread a little thinset on the back of the tile to increase adhesion.

How Thick Should Thinset Be Nether Floor Tile vs. Wall Tile?

To properly bail your 12×12 inch tiles to the substrate, a thinner layer of thinset mortar is preferable. This is especially important for wall tile installations where y'all are fighting gravity. Not simply does a thinner layer bond the tile to the wall meliorate, only it also allows for a smoother, more even surface subsequently installation. Although ⅛-inch of thinset is suitable for smaller wall tiles, this layer may be too thin for 12×12 tiles. This is why you lot should step up to a ¼ X ⅜-inch trowel for wall installations.

Pocket-sized wall tiles crave about ⅛-inch of thinset to bond them to the substrate. This is accomplished with a ¼ Ten ¼-inch trowel.
Because 12×12 tiles are big, utilize a ¼ X ⅜-inch trowel. This provides extra mortar to proceed the large tiles in place.
Most flooring tiles tin can exist adhered with the same thinset thickness as wall tiles.
If your floor tiles are rough or are of the lug-backed variety, pace up to a ½ 10 ½-inch trowel. This will provide ¼-inch of thinset beneath your tiles.

Floor installations often benefit from a slightly thicker layer of thinset. That doesn't mean thicker is better though. Too much mortar will bail the tile poorly to the floor and upshot in an uneven tile flooring. The largest size trowel nosotros recommend for 12×12 floor tiles is a ½ X ½-inch trowel. This will spread a layer of thinset that is ¼-inch thick.

How Much Thinset Practice You Demand for 12×12 Tile?

The thinset layer beneath your 12×12 tiles should be thicker than ⅛ inch but should non exceed ¼ inch. For shine-backed tiles and wall installations, use a ¼ X ⅜-inch square notched trowel. This will create a thinset layer only over ⅛-inch thick. For rough-backed tiles and virtually floors, use a ½ X ½-inch foursquare notched trowel. This volition spread a ¼-inch layer of thinset. These thicknesses will hold upwards to use, keep your tiles in identify, and allow for an even tile installation.