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Question:

Which trowel for stone tiles?

I‘m tiling a bathroom counter and have all my supplies but not sure I purchased the right trowel. I purchased a square-notched trowel 1/4x1/4x1/4. What is the difference between this one and the one I see commonly used on tv and on other tiling jobs...the razor tooth edge type?

Answer:

the grout for these tiles are generally available wherever the tiles are sold. It's mixed with water the same as any grout. You will need a grout trowel to push the grout into the crevices. The trowel is kinda spongy. Work on small areas at a time and do your best to get as much grout pushed in as possible for best results. after it dries (the next day) take a rag and some vinegar to clean up the mess on the tile surfaces. let the scent dissapate and then seal the grout with some grout sealer. 2 coats should be enough. exact directions for the sealer will be on the package.
The size of tiles makes a difference in the trowel,say if you where using a smaller trowel it needs less mortar or glue so you would use a smaller notched trowel, for larger tiles you use larger sized trowels, because of needing more mortar or glue to stick to . also they use different trowels with vinyl flooring as well. Id contact the place where you got the trowel and make sure you have the right 1 for the job your doing. hope this helps ........
If you are setting your tiles with thinset mortar, you have the correct trowel. If you are using a mastic glue, then you nee the smaller notched trowel probably 1/8 by 1/8. Thinset needs more thickness for the material to properly bond. If spread too thin it will dry to a power form and fail rather quickly. In the years that I worked in commercial and residential flooring, we always used the 1/4 notched trowel for thinset and 1/8 trowel for all glues. I hope this helps to answer your question.
I tile every day of my life, and I want to assume these Stone Tiles are at least Milled flat on one side, though if they are RAW, not production glazed, I wouldn't be using them on a counter top. I also don't always use 1/4 inch mortar beads on counter tops, often choosing 1/8, (In the same Tool you purchased). Floor tiles yes, always. That's just a personal choice and not a Law set in stone (no pun intended). You have the correct tool for Thinset. The saw edge applicators, are usually used for mastics/Adhesive tile setting materials, which are also, often used for counter tops, Not very practical for tile or stone. Steven Wolf just my two sense

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