4 Types of Trowel and Their Uses

Every professional in the construction world knows the truth: the quality of your work often rests squarely in your hands, guided by the tools you wield. The trowel is among the most fundamental, versatile, and indispensable hand tools. Understanding the nuances between the different types of trowel is crucial for efficiency, quality, and, ultimately, profitability on-site.

Understanding the 4 Essential Types of Trowel and Their Uses

We'll explore four key types of hand trowels you'll find yourself reaching for constantly, explaining what they are, why they matter, and how mastering them elevates your craft. The right tool makes all the difference, from laying the block to achieving that perfect concrete finish.

1. Understanding the Core "Trowel" and Masonry Trowel Types

When most people picture a "trowel," they often think of the tools used in masonry or plastering. This is the foundational category, and it's where we'll start. Within this broad category are numerous subtly or significantly different masonry trowel types designed for specific materials and applications.

What is it?

At its most basic, a trowel, in this context, is a flat or shaped metal blade attached to a handle. The blade is typically made of hardened steel, designed to be rigid yet slightly flexible, allowing you to manipulate materials like mortar, plaster, stucco, and concrete. The handle is usually wood, plastic, or rubber-coated, shaped for comfort and control during repetitive motions.

Its Primary Purpose: Spreading, Shaping, and Finishing

These trowels are the workhorses for applying, spreading, levelling, and shaping wet materials. They can be used to lay a mortar bed for bricks or blocks, apply a base coat of plaster to a wall, or smooth out a concrete patch.

Key Variations and Their Uses:

Brick Trowel

This is perhaps the most iconic masonry trowel. It features a triangular or diamond-shaped blade. Brick trowels are primarily used to pick up mortar from a board, spread it evenly on a bed joint, and cut off excess mortar.

The point of the blade helps fill vertical joints. Blade sizes vary significantly (from 6 to 12 inches or more), and the size chosen often depends on the user's preference and the specific type of masonry unit being laid (bricks, blocks, stones).

A larger blade holds more mortar, which is helpful for larger block work. In comparison, a smaller blade offers more control for intricate brick patterns. The angle of the handle relative to the blade also varies, impacting balance and leverage.

Pointing Trowel

Smaller than a brick trowel, pointing trowels usually have a more rounded or leaf-shaped blade, often only 4 to 6 inches long.

As the name suggests, we use pointing trowels for filling and finishing mortar joints in existing masonry (repointing). Their smaller size allows precision work in tight spaces between bricks or stones.

They are also excellent for minor repairs, patching, and detail work where a larger trowel would be cumbersome.

Plastering Trowel

This type features a large, rectangular, flat blade, often measuring between 10 and 16 inches in length. Plastering trowels are essential for applying large amounts of plaster, stucco, or joint compound onto walls and ceilings.

We use them to spread the material quickly and evenly, bring the surface to a relatively flat plane (screeding), and provide the initial smoothing. The large surface area helps cover the ground efficiently.

The blade's flexibility is key. A good plastering trowel allows us to apply pressure evenly and work the material without digging into the surface.

Concrete Trowel

A general concrete trowel often refers to a tool with a rectangular or rounded-end blade used to smoot concrete surfaces after screeding. Handheld concrete trowels help embed aggregate below the surface and remove minor imperfections before floating and final finishing.

Fresno trowels are large concrete trowels with a swivel head attached to a long handle. They allow us to reach large concrete areas without getting onto the slab. They are used for initial floating or smoothing.

Why These Trowels Are Indispensable:

These basic trowels are the bread and butter for masons and plasterers. They allow us to:

• Apply material efficiently: Picking up and spreading mortar or plaster precisely where needed.
• Control material thickness: A consistent mortar bed ensures structural integrity and a level course.
• Achieve initial flatness and smoothness: Preparing the surface for subsequent layers or final finishing.
• Perform detailed work and repairs: Filling joints, patching holes, and shaping corners.

Without the right basic trowel for the job, we're left trying to spread sticky, heavy materials with inappropriate tools, leading to wasted material, uneven surfaces, and significantly slower progress.

2. Sanding Tools & Finishing Floats

Sanding trowels are used after the initial material application to achieve a smoother, denser, or more uniform surface. Tools like floats and rubbing bricks also serve a critical "sanding" or refining function on wet materials, similar to how sandpaper refines wood.

What are they?

These are tools with a flat base, usually larger than pointing or brick trowels, used with a sweeping or circular motion over a semi-set surface. They don't typically apply new material; they work the material already in place. Common examples include:

• Wood Floats: Made of wood (often now mimicked by magnesium or plastic).
• Magnesium Floats: Lightweight, durable, and commonly used on concrete.
• Plastic/Resin Floats: Often used for specific plaster finishes (like scratch coats) or with certain additives.
• Rubbing Bricks: Abrasive blocks used on concrete or sometimes plaster.

Its Primary Purpose:

Bringing "Fines," Levelling, and Removing Imperfections.

Key Variations and Their Uses:

After we apply concrete or a base layer of plaster with a trowel and roughly level it (screed it), the surface is still relatively coarse and uneven. This is where floats come in.

• Floating Concrete: Floats are crucial for embedding the aggregate below the surface, bringing a layer of cement paste ("fines") to the top. This creates a smoother, more workable surface that is ready for final steel troweling. Floating also helps to remove minor humps and hollows left by the screeding process. Wood floats create a slightly more open texture, while magnesium floats produce a denser surface.
• Floating Plaster/Render: Floats compact the applied material, level it, and bring a fine layer to the surface, preparing it for the next coat or final finish. Different float types (wood, plastic, sponge) create different textures.
• Rubbing Bricks: These abrasive blocks are used on concrete surfaces starting to set. In a circular motion, we use them with water to smooth out bumps, remove trowel marks, and create a smooth, even texture, almost like sand. They are handy for edging or working on smaller areas. They effectively remove screed marks and produce a dense, hard-wearing surface finish.

Why These Tools Are Indispensable for Finishing:

These finishing tools are vital for achieving a professional-looking and durable surface. They allow us to:

• Improve surface density and hardness: By compacting the material and bringing fines to the surface.
• Remove surface imperfections: Eliminate screed marks, minor ridges, and pockmarks.
• Prepare for final finishing: Creating the ideal base for steel troweling, stamping, or other decorative techniques on concrete or for the final skim coat on plaster.
• Achieve specific textures: Different float materials and techniques produce varied surface textures.

Finding the right finishing tools is as essential as having the proper trowel to apply the material. We understand this process is critical, and we stock a variety of high-quality sanding trowels and rubbing bricks designed to help you achieve that essential, refined base surface.

3. The Ideal Steel Gurmala (Steel Float/Finishing Trowel)

Now, we move to the tool often used after the initial floating phase, particularly on concrete, to achieve that highly desired smooth, complex, and usually polished surface. "Gurmala" is often used regionally for floats or trowels, and "Ideal Steel Gurmala" strongly suggests a high-quality steel finishing float or trowel.

What is it?

A steel finishing trowel is rectangular with a long, flat, highly polished steel blade, typically larger than a plastering trowel (often 12 to 24 inches long, sometimes even longer). The blade is usually made of high-quality stainless steel or tempered carbon steel, designed for optimal flexibility and wear resistance. The handle is mounted centrally, allowing for even pressure distribution.

Its Primary Purpose: Final Smoothing, Compacting, and Burnishing

This tool is used to bring the surface of concrete or sometimes a final plaster coat to a mirror-like or exceptionally smooth finish. This process is called steel troweling or finishing.

How We Use It:

After the concrete has been floated and allowed to stiffen slightly (this timing is critical and depends on temperature, humidity, and mix design – when the surface can support our weight with only a slight indentation), we begin the steel troweling process. We typically use the trowel with the blade held relatively flat against the surface, applying increasing pressure and making overlapping passes.

• First Pass: Removes float marks and further embeds aggregate. We might hold the blade at a slight angle.
• Subsequent Passes: As the concrete stiffens, we progressively flatten the blade and apply more pressure. This action works the surface fines, compacting them and bringing them to a dense, smooth layer.
• Burnishing: If a very hard, highly polished finish is desired (common for industrial floors), we continue troweling as the concrete gets quite stiff, using significant pressure. This "burns" the surface, creating a dense, sealed finish.

Why the Steel Finishing Trowel is Crucial for High-quality Floors and Surfaces:

This is where expertise and tool quality truly shine. A skilled craftsman with a high-quality steel trowel can achieve finishes that are:

• Extremely Smooth: Essential for floors in warehouses, factories, retail spaces, and anywhere wheeled traffic or cleanliness is paramount.
• Dense and Hard: Makes the surface more resistant to abrasion, wear, and chemical penetration.
• Visually Appealing: A well-troweled surface has a clean, professional look.
• Easier to Clean: Smooth, dense surfaces don't trap dirt and are simple to maintain.

When discussing achieving top-tier concrete finishes, the Ideal Steel Gurmala, or a premium steel finishing trowel, is non-negotiable. It's an investment in the final quality of the project. You'll find these crucial tools in our range, selected for their ability to deliver that perfect, smooth finish you and your clients expect.

4. The Teeth Gurmala (Notched Trowel)

This final type of "Gurmala" brings us to a completely different application: Teeth Gurmala. The precise application of adhesives and mortars for setting tiles, stone, or other flooring and wall coverings. The key feature here is the "teeth" – notches along the edges of the trowel blade.

What is it?

A notched trowel has a flat steel blade with uniform notches cut into one or more edges. The opposite edges are typically straight for smoothing. The handle is usually positioned over the centre of the blade.

Its Primary Purpose: Applying Material at a Uniform Thickness and Creating Ridges

Notched trowels aren't for general spreading or finishing like the other types. They apply tile adhesive, thin-set mortar, or sometimes other bedding materials (like those for backer boards) at a consistent depth across a surface.

How We Use It:

We scoop the adhesive onto the surface (floor or wall) using the straight edge of the trowel, much like spreading butter. Then, we hold the trowel at a consistent angle (usually around 45 degrees) and drag the notched edge through the material. This action leaves parallel ridges of adhesive of a uniform height, with empty spaces between them.

When we press the tile or material into these ridges, the adhesive collapses into the grooves, spreading evenly across the back of the tile and the substrate. This ensures complete contact and eliminates air pockets, critical for a strong bond and for preventing tile breakage.

Key Variations: Notch Size and Shape

The "teeth" come in various sizes and shapes (square, U-notch, V-notch), and selecting the correct one is paramount.

• V-Notch: Smaller notches, often used for mosaics, small tiles, or sheet goods. They apply less adhesive.
• U-Notch: Rounder, often deeper notches, suitable for medium-sized tiles.
• Square-Notch: Square or almost square notches, common for larger format tiles, natural stone, or uneven substrates, where more adhesive is needed to achieve levelness.
• Large Square or Slant Notch: Used for huge format tiles (60x60 cm or larger), heavy stone, or exterior applications with maximum coverage and support.

Why the Notched Trowel is Non-Negotiable for Tiling and Flooring:

Using the wrong notch size, or worse, trying to spread adhesive without a notched trowel, is a recipe for failure in tiling. The notched trowel ensures:

• Uniform Adhesive Thickness: This guarantees that tiles sit at the same height and level.
• Proper Coverage: Ensures the adhesive spreads correctly when the tile is pressed, providing maximum contact for a strong, durable bond. This prevents tiles from cracking under load due to voids underneath.
• Allows Air Escape: The channels between the ridges provide air escape paths as the tile is bedded, further ensuring solid contact.
• Material Efficiency: While it uses more material than simply flat-spreading, using the correct notch size ensures you use the right amount, preventing waste from applying too much or bond failure from applying too little.

A quality notched trowel has notches that are precisely cut and durable, maintaining their shape even after repeated use on abrasive materials. Our range includes high-quality notched trowels in various sizes and notch types from brands like Total, so you always have the right "teeth" for the job, ensuring optimal bond strength and a perfect finish on your tiling projects.

Quick Reference Chart: 4 Essential Construction Hand Tools & Their Uses

Understanding the different types of trowels and related tools is key to excelling in various construction tasks. We've created this handy chart to help you quickly recap the essential elements we discussed and their primary roles.

Tool Type	Primary Purpose	Key Features	Typical Applications
1. Trowel (Masonry Trowel Types: Brick, Pointing, Plastering)	Applying, Spreading, Levelling, & Shaping Wet Materials	Flat or shaped metal blade (steel), Various sizes and blade shapes (triangular, rectangular, leaf, etc.)	Laying bricks/blocks (Brick Trowel), Pointing/repairing mortar joints (Pointing Trowel), Applying plaster/stucco/joint compound (Plastering Trowel)
2. Sanding Tool (Floats: Wood, Magnesium, Plastic; Rubbing Bricks)	Refining Surfaces, Bringing Fines, Initial Smoothing	Flat base (often larger than basic trowels), made of various materials (wood, metal, plastic, abrasive)	Initial smoothing and compacting of concrete after screeding (Floating Concrete), Compacting and levelling plaster/render (Floating Plaster), Removing surface imperfections on concrete (Rubbing Brick)
3. Ideal Steel Gurmala (Steel Finishing Trowel)	Final Smoothing, Compacting, & Burnishing Surfaces	Long, flat, highly polished steel blade (stainless or carbon steel), Central handle mount for even pressure	Achieving smooth, dense, and hard finishes on concrete floors, Final smoothing of plaster skim coats.
4. Teeth Gurmala (Notched Trowel)	Precise, Uniform Application of Adhesives and Mortars	Flat metal blade with uniform notches cut into one or more edges (V, U, Square notches in various sizes)	Applying tile adhesive, thin-set mortar, or other bedding materials for setting tiles, stone, or floor/wall coverings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What's the difference between a trowel and a float?

A trowel (like a brick or plastering trowel) is primarily for applying, spreading, and levelling materials. A float is typically used after initial troweling to compact the surface, bring fines to the top, and remove minor imperfections before final finishing.

Q. What size notched trowel should I use for tiling?

The required notch size depends primarily on the size of the tile. Larger tiles (e.g., 60x60 cm and up) generally require larger notches (like 1/2 inch square or U-notch) to ensure adequate adhesive coverage and support. Smaller tiles need smaller notches. Always check the tile manufacturer's recommendation.

Q. When should I use a steel finishing trowel on concrete?

Use a steel finishing trowel after floating when the concrete surface has stiffened enough to support your weight with minimal indentation. Timing is crucial and depends on temperature and humidity. Troweling too early brings excess water to the surface; too late makes achieving a smooth finish difficult.

Q. Is stainless steel or carbon steel better for trowels?

Stainless steel is more resistant to rust and staining, making it ideal for finish coats of plaster or for final concrete finishing where rust marks would be problematic. Carbon steel is often harder and more wear-resistant, preferred by some for base coats or working with abrasive materials like mortar.

Q. How should I clean my trowels?

Clean your trowels immediately after use while the material is still wet. Rinse thoroughly with water and scrape off any residue. For stubborn dried material, you might need a wire brush or scraper. Dry steel trowels to prevent rust (especially carbon steel). Proper cleaning prolongs the life of your tools.

Q. Can I use a plastering trowel for concrete?

While you could use a plastering trowel for tiny concrete patches, it's not designed for the aggregate and weight of concrete. Concrete-specific tools (concrete trowels, floats) are more robust and appropriately sized for the task.

Q. What are the benefits of a FEPY PRO membership?

FEPY PRO membership offers exclusive discounts, special pricing, priority access to new products, and dedicated support. It is designed to help construction professionals save money and time on tool and material purchases.

Final Words

The construction world is built on skill, knowledge, and tools. Understanding the different types of trowels and their specific applications is fundamental to producing high-quality work in masonry, plastering, concrete finishing, and tiling.

We are committed to equipping you with the best tools the industry offers. Explore our extensive range today and discover the difference that quality makes. And if you're a professional looking for an edge, consider joining the FEPY PRO membership program to unlock benefits tailored to your business.

Build better, finish smoother, and tile with confidence. The right tools are waiting for you.