Also make sure the thin set mortar you hand mix yourself is also rated for vertical surfaces.
Trowel for wall tile.
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.
Twelve inch square tiles for instance are best applied using a trowel with 1 2 inch by 1 2 inch notches.
As 1 2 trowel means that both measurements are the same.
Use this for 8 8 s and some of the 5 16 thick 12 12 builder grade tile.
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.
A tile trowel with only one measurement i e.
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.
1 4 x 3 8 square notch.
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.
The larger the tile the larger the trowel.