Notched Adhesive Spreaders for Flooring & Wall Applications

Which trowel should you use for flooring adhesive? The answer starts with the adhesive specification, flooring type & required adhesive bed—not simply the biggest notch available. Soudal Trowels are professional notched adhesive spreaders for applying compatible flooring & wall adhesives in controlled ridges across prepared substrates.

For Australian flooring installers, builders, carpenters & fit-out crews, the Soudal range includes Fine No. 3 & Large No. 11 V-notch trowels. Both are 180mm wide, German made & manufactured from high-quality stainless steel. Their key difference is the notch geometry: No. 3 produces a finer adhesive pattern while No. 11 creates larger adhesive ridges.

Working on floor installation? Browse Flooring Tools & Adhesives for related installation products. For compatible specialist bonding products used across flooring work, explore Soudal Specialty Adhesives.

A notched flooring trowel does more than move adhesive from the bucket to the substrate. Its notch profile affects how much adhesive is spread & the ridges created beneath the flooring. Choose the spreader around the specific adhesive, floor covering, substrate & current application instructions.

What Are Soudal Trowels?

Soudal trowels are professional V-notch adhesive spreaders used to distribute compatible adhesives across floors & walls.

Pulling the notched edge through fresh adhesive creates controlled ridges instead of an uncontrolled flat layer. The flooring, parquet, panel or other compatible covering is then positioned into that adhesive bed to achieve the contact required by the installation system.

Soudal's range includes two principal adhesive spreaders:

► Fine V-Notch Trowel / No. 3 – 112946 – fine 3mm profile
► Large V-Notch Trowel / No. 11 – 112945 – larger 5mm profile

Both options are:

► 180mm wide
► German made
► Manufactured from high-quality stainless steel
► Intended for applying compatible adhesive to floors or walls
► Designed for comfortable handling during spreading

The important distinction is the notch size & adhesive pattern left behind.

Why Choose a Soudal Trowel?

Control the Adhesive Bed

An adhesive bucket doesn't determine how much material reaches each part of the floor. The spreader helps do that.

Passing a notched trowel through the adhesive produces repeatable ridges, helping the installer distribute material consistently across the working area.

Choose Between Fine & Large V-Notch Profiles

The two Soudal adhesive trowels serve different spreading requirements.

Fine No. 3 has approximately:

► 3mm notch depth
► 3mm notch width
► 3mm notch spacing

Large No. 11 has approximately:

► 5mm notch depth
► 6mm notch width
► 8mm notch spacing

The larger No. 11 profile therefore leaves a different adhesive bed from the finer No. 3.

Match the Trowel to the Flooring System

Asking “What size notched trowel do I need?” is useful—but flooring type alone doesn't provide the complete answer.

Check:

► The exact adhesive being used
► The manufacturer's specified trowel profile
► Flooring or parquet dimensions
► Substrate condition
► Required adhesive contact
► Working & open-time requirements

For Soudal SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus timber flooring adhesives, No. 11 is specified for general parquet application while No. 3 is recommended for parquet pieces smaller than approximately 60mm wide & 300mm long.

Built for Repeated Adhesive Spreading

Both Soudal trowels use high-quality stainless steel & are designed as professional adhesive-spreading tools.

That makes them a practical fit for flooring installers & trades regularly applying bucket adhesives across prepared floors or walls.

Common Applications

Timber Flooring Adhesive

A timber flooring adhesive trowel creates the ridged adhesive bed used before timber boards are positioned.

Soudal specifies its notched trowels with SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus timber flooring adhesives.

For general parquet installation, No. 11 is specified. For parquet pieces smaller than approximately 60mm wide & 300mm long, Soudal recommends No. 3.

Parquet Flooring

Searching for a parquet adhesive trowel usually leads to the next question: which notch size?

Rather than choosing by eye, use the trowel profile specified for the adhesive & parquet dimensions. With compatible Soudal SMX timber flooring systems, this is where the No. 3 versus No. 11 distinction becomes particularly important.

Engineered & Solid Timber Floors

Soudal's timber flooring adhesive range covers engineered boards & various solid timber or parquet applications.

The trowel spreads adhesive across the suitable prepared subfloor before the timber is positioned into the adhesive bed.

For related timber installation equipment, browse Carpentry Tools & Fasteners.

Concrete & Screed Subfloors

Compatible Soudal flooring adhesives can be applied over suitable concrete, screeds & other specified substrates.

The trowel cannot compensate for a contaminated, unstable or incorrectly prepared surface. Complete the preparation required by the chosen flooring adhesive before spreading begins.

Existing Suitable Flooring Substrates

Selected Soudal timber adhesives can also be used over suitable non-porous substrates including existing ceramic tiles.

Preparation can differ significantly between concrete, timber, screed, tile & other substrates. Follow the current adhesive instructions rather than applying one preparation method to every floor.

Floor & Wall Adhesive Spreading

Soudal describes its V-notch trowels as adhesive spreaders for wall or floor application.

The key is compatibility: the adhesive, substrate & installed material should determine the required notch profile rather than the location alone.

Product Selection Guide

Which Soudal Trowel Size Do I Need?

Check the adhesive specification first, then the flooring type & dimensions.

For Soudal SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus:

► General parquet application → No. 11
► Parquet below approximately 60mm wide & 300mm long → No. 3

For another adhesive, don't automatically transfer those recommendations. Use the notch profile specified for that product.

Fine V-Notch Trowel – No. 3

Choose Soudal Fine No. 3 – 112946 where the compatible adhesive system specifies the finer profile.

Approximate dimensions:

► Trowel width – 180mm
► Notch depth – 3mm
► Notch width – 3mm
► Notch spacing – 3mm

Its smaller V-notch geometry creates a finer adhesive pattern than No. 11.

With Soudal SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus, No. 3 is recommended for parquet pieces below the specified 60mm × 300mm dimensions.

Large V-Notch Trowel – No. 11

Choose Soudal Large No. 11 – 112945 where the flooring adhesive system calls for the larger Soudal spreader.

Approximate dimensions:

► Trowel width – 180mm
► Notch depth – 5mm
► Notch width – 6mm
► Notch spacing – 8mm

Soudal specifies No. 11 for general parquet application with SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus.

Is a Fine Trowel Always Better for Small Jobs?

No.

“Fine” describes the notch profile, not the size of the project. A large floor area may still require a fine profile if that is what the adhesive system specifies.

Likewise, a physically small installation doesn't automatically require No. 3.

Can I Use No. 3 or No. 11 With Every Flooring Adhesive?

No. Notch specifications vary between adhesives & floor coverings.

Treat the Soudal trowel recommendation as part of the specific adhesive system, not a universal rule for every flooring product.

Getting the Adhesive Spread Right

Start With the Adhesive Instructions

Before opening the bucket, identify the specified trowel.

This is particularly important when moving between timber flooring, resilient coverings, wall installations & other adhesive systems. Similar-looking adhesives can have different spreading requirements.

Prepare the Substrate First

A notched adhesive spreader controls the adhesive bed. It doesn't correct the surface underneath it.

The substrate should meet the requirements of the selected adhesive for cleanliness, stability, flatness, moisture condition & any necessary preparation.

Where concrete or screed requires repair before installation, explore Concrete Repair & Restoration before moving to the adhesive stage.

Keep the Trowel at a Consistent Angle

Changing the trowel angle changes the way its notches pass through the adhesive.

Keep the spreader consistent & follow the application method specified for the adhesive. Some Soudal floor & wall products provide a specific trowel angle, so don't assume one technique applies to every adhesive.

Spread Manageable Areas

A perfectly notched adhesive bed is no use if the adhesive progresses too far before the flooring reaches it.

For Soudal SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus, installers are instructed not to spread more adhesive than can be covered with parquet within approximately 30 minutes under the stated conditions.

Work in sections that can be installed properly within the product's working window.

Read the Ridge Pattern

The ridges give useful visual feedback.

If they suddenly become inconsistent, stop & inspect the trowel. Dried adhesive, contamination or damaged notches can change the pattern being produced.

Check Adhesive Transfer

The ridges are intended to transfer adhesive to the flooring—not remain untouched underneath it.

With SMX-20 Plus & SMX-30 Plus parquet installations, Soudal specifies a minimum of 80% contact coverage.

Where appropriate, checking transfer early in the installation can reveal a spreading or placement issue before a much larger area has been laid.

Expert Tips

Don't Choose the Biggest Notch for “More Bond”

More adhesive isn't automatically better.

An oversized notch can leave more material than the system requires while an undersized profile may not provide the intended adhesive bed. Follow the specified notch.

Board Dimensions Can Change the Recommendation

Two jobs can both involve timber flooring but still require different trowel choices.

Soudal's SMX guidance distinguishes smaller parquet pieces from general parquet installation when selecting between No. 3 & No. 11.

Keep the Notches Clear

Cured or partially cured adhesive around the V-notches changes their effective geometry.

Clean the trowel according to the adhesive instructions before residue interferes with the next application.

For practical tool-care information, read How To Clean Your Gear Without Ruining It.

Don't Spread the Whole Room at Once

Open time matters.

Work progressively so flooring can be positioned while the adhesive remains within its specified application window. Temperature, humidity, substrate & product choice can affect working conditions.

Watch What Happens Under the Board

A tidy-looking spread isn't the final measure of the installation.

Adhesive transfer & contact underneath the flooring matter more than how uniform the untouched ridges looked beforehand.

Protect Your Hands During Installation

Floor installation combines adhesive handling, substrate preparation, timber edges, cutting & repeated tool work.

Browse Hand & Arm Protection when selecting suitable protection for the work being carried out.

Don't Reuse a Trowel Recommendation Blindly

Finished one flooring adhesive & moving onto another?

Check the new product instructions again. A familiar trowel isn't necessarily the specified trowel for the next adhesive.