This may also be a good trowel size for thicker 5 16 mosaics.
Trowel for wall tile.
A great trowel for installing small ceramic tile such as 4 25 x 4 25 6 6 and 3 6 subway tile is this 1 4 inch square notch trowel.
As 1 2 trowel means that both measurements are the same.
A tile trowel with only one measurement i e.
Anytime you use 12 x 12 or smaller vertical wall tile you always use a v notched trowel rated for tile installations since it is made specifically for vertical surfaces to bond the mastic mortar successfully.
Also make sure the thin set mortar you hand mix yourself is also rated for vertical surfaces.
1 4 x 3 8 square notch.
Use this for 8 8 s and some of the 5 16 thick 12 12 builder grade tile.
Twelve inch square tiles for instance are best applied using a trowel with 1 2 inch by 1 2 inch notches.
When you use a 1 4 x 3 8 square notched trowel you will leave 1 4 wide by 3 8 high ridges of thinset on the substrate with spaces between each ridge.
Mosaic tiles and wall tiles up to about 4 by 4 inches call for a v notch trowel with 3 16 by 1 4 inch notches while larger tiles require a trowel with a square or u shaped notch to obtain proper adhesive coverage.