Plastic trowels have been growing in popularity over the last few years, as some have favoured the new material over a traditional steel trowel. There is a clear division between people in trade who argue whether plastic or metal is the best.

There is a huge range of trowels available nowadays, for every finish, for every preferred technique, you name it, there's a trowel for it. The plastering industry has seen significant advancements in tools, accessories and plaster itself in recent years, which is only positive for the industry moving forward.

But which trowel is best? Drywall Tools Direct is here to settle it...

METAL TROWELS

The traditional trowel and one favoured by more old fashioned plasterers in the trade. Usually made from stainless steel the metal trowel offers a range of benefits and let's face it, has done a great job for over a century.

The metal trowel will usually require a little more maintenance, but the finish you can get off a metal trowel is worth it and these particular tools, if well looked after, can last a lifetime.

Although their strength and reliability is unrivalled, metal trowels are usually heavier than plastic, which can have an impact on your ability to plaster a wall effectively if you're working on a long job. It's not rocket science that plastering with a metal trowel for three hours straight is going to be more of an ache than a plastic trowel.

The benefits of a metal trowel are clear - consistent, strong and the longevity of the tools working use is unmatched. However, the rise in popularity in plastic trowels has opened up more diverse opinions on the effectiveness and convenience of a metal trowel.

PLASTIC TROWELS

A more modern approach to a classic trowel has begun to revolutionise the plastering industry - the plastic trowel is one of the new favourites of tradesmen.

Most plasterer's will tell you they converted mainly because of how lightweight plastic trowels can be. After years of using heavy metal trowels, the plastic trowel must be a breath of fresh air to the industry and is why so many plasterers champion it.

There is a huge range of plastic trowels on the market and even the most traditional brands are creating plastic alternatives to keep up the pace with the fast moving and modernisation of the plastering trade.

Plastic trowels are not without their faults though, you will find that because of their lightweight benefits, they will be very unlikely to offer you the longevity and reliability of the metal trowel. They are much more susceptible to damage and more likely to need to be replaced sooner than a metal trowel.

It's fair to say, both have their pros and cons, and it seems like the trowel choice is down to personal preference. Most plasterers don't like to change their tools too often, so it is understood why although plastic trowels offer a lightweight alternative, metal trowels provide a consistency and reliability that can't be matched by its counterpart.