Trowels come in many shapes and sizes which are used for numerous applications including gardening, excavating, smoothing, applying, finishing etc. indoors and outdoors.

What are the most common types of trowel and what are their uses?

• Brick Trowel – this is usually an elongated triangular shaped carbon steel blade trowel. Commonly used for spreading, levelling and shaping Concrete The pointed end is helpful in tighter areas and for cleaning up mortar between bricks
• Notched Trowel – is usually a rectangular shaped trowel with notches along one or both sides. Regularly used to apply adhesives for tiles or laying various floorings. It is designed to leave even ridges in the adhesive or mortar so that the air can escape when applying tiles or floor covering to achieve an even level
• Pointing Trowel – these are a scaled-down version of a brick trowel. Quite often used for repair work and smaller or tighter space applications. Used for filling and shaping mortar between bricks
• Gauging Trowel – has a rounded blade. It is used for smaller jobs, in confined spaces. Often used to replace crumbling mortar or repair small areas of concrete
• Bucket Trowel – typically a full-size trowel with a cut off blade. Used primarily to transfer mortar from a bucket
• Margin Trowel – a square ended, narrow bladed trowel. Typically used for finishing cement edges
• Tuck Pointing Trowel – is a thin bladed trowel designed for packing mortar between bricks and hard to access areas
• Finishing Trowel – is a rectangular trowel with a straight or shaped handle for easier handling. Generally these are made in three different materials, stainless steel, blue steel or standard carbon steel. Stainless steel is a high quality trowel and should not rust. They are usually recommended for white finishes as they should not leave any discolouration compared to using a non-stainless steel trowel. Blue steel trowels are typically thinner than carbon trowels which allows the blade to flex more. This is ideal for a smoother finish especially when feathering into an existing surface. Standard carbon steel trowels are the most common type of trowel, they are strong and built to last. However are more likely to rust if not cared for properly
• Corner Trowel – is a trowel with an angled blade. They are typically used for drywall and plaster applications. Usually made from a single piece of flexible steel and help achieve smooth, sharp inside and outside corners. Although most have a 90° angle, there are also adjustable versions
• Edging Trowel – is a straight trowel with one or both edges curved. Used for finishing concrete, creating rounded edges along the perimeter helping the slab resist chipping and other damage