The insulation portion of Exterior Insulation Finish Systems requires that a notched trowel is used in conjunction with the respective manufacturer’s cement adhesive. The insulation is to be installed in vertical ribbons to facilitate drainage and prevent moisture from becoming trapped.
But what sort of notched trowel is to be used exactly? There are dozens (possibly hundreds) of variations, some for tile, some for stucco, and some for EIFS. Most notched trowels will be 11″ wide x 4.5″ deep, with the blade made from stainless steel. When looking at notched trowels, the following needs to be considered:
- Type of notch: square, rectangular round, elliptical, triangular
- Size of notch: ranging from 1/8″ upwards of 1″ (or more)
- Spacing of notches: ranging again from 1/8″ upwards of 2″ (or more)
- Right handed versus left handed
- Handle material and shape
1/2"x1/2"x2" U-Shaped EIFS Notched Trowel
While each EIFS manufacturer has their own specifications, the “standard” seems to be: 1/2″ deep x 1/2″ wide square-notches with 2″ spacing. Handles (shape and material) and which hand (left vs. right) is usually left up to the contractor, to decide which is more comfortable.
Marshalltown EIFS Notched Trowels can be found at: http://www.marshalltown.com/Products.aspx?D=500&S=503&C=C5004
Don’t forget that there are inside corner trowels, outside corner trowels, various finish coat floats and a wide assortment of handles.