Decorative Microcement: Applications, advantages, tips and tricks for excellent results
All you need to know on this elegant, resilient and functional textured render, which, thanks to the innovative products by KRAFT Paints is elevated to artistic levels.
Despite being a contemporary trend in the building and renovation industries, this technique actually has a long history. In fact, using microcement is a practice known since ancient times in civilizations such as the Middle East, China, the Roman Empire, even in Classical Greece; furthermore, for centuries it has been a traditional decorative practice in the Cyclades. Its name is mainly owed to its application method: craftsmen mainly use the trowel to place and compress the material on the intended surface.
The standard ingredients of pressed cement screed are inorganic materials (e.g. earth, sand), however there are more innovative products in the present day, among others containing special resins and nanotechnology additives that allow optimization of microcement-style. Such a product family is Arterra Patiti by KRAFT Paints, the pinnacle of sophistication and quality in its class, offering truly impressive results in terms of resilience as well as functionality and taste. More than anything else, microcement-style is synonymous with modern, minimal appearance, a lean presence that offers interiors a blend of sober superiority and subtle opulence.
Decorative Microcement: Applications
Microcement-style can be applied in homes (on interior as well as exterior surfaces), as well as settings such as stores, hotels, restaurants or bars, on vertical as well as horizontal surfaces. In particular, it can be applied on walls or floors of any general purpose room or in kitchens, bathrooms, stairwells or balconies; it can also dress built-up surfaces and facilities such as showers, wash basins or sinks.
It is a material highly resistant to time and to water. This makes it a great alternative to tiles and a solution for coverage of exterior surface exposed to weather effects. Its core advantage is enhanced elegance. Using this technique provide spaces with charm and a subtle elegance.
Decorative Microcement: Advantages
This technique offers remarkable advantages. With the extra benefit of improved sophistication - a fact demonstrated in the attached photos - it really stands out as a truly smart, state-of-the-art upgrade and renovation solution.
There is a comprehensive range of benefits. Let’s take a brief look at a few:
- The required investment cost is not excessive; it represents a value for money solution that allows swift payback of a modest investment.
- Provides increased adhesion on various substrates. It cab be applied in virtually any surface without stripping of old layers. Can be applied on top of bricks and drywall and also on tiles, plaster render, mosaic floors and naturally cement.
- Application results in a compact, solid and smooth, jointless surface; this prevents a variety of other issues (such as surface hygiene).
- It provides longevity and is resistant to rubbing, solar radiation and humidity. As mentioned before, it constitutes a waterproof and water repellent layer.
- It is available in several tens of shades; this allows you to match it to your personal taste as well as the requirements of any space.
- Application is quick, without protracted processes. It does not hold stains and is especially easy to clean. Also, its maintenance requirements are negligible.
- The end result constitutes an enhancement of your property and its value, especially with respect to renovation of old houses or apartments, commonly in apartment blocks constructed between the 1960s and the 1980s.
Decoratve Microcement: A guide to success
Certainly there are a few critical points of attention that will aid in obtaining perfect results with microcement-style. There are two key factors to success: The contractor to undertake the construction and the actual products to use. We are speaking of the contracted crew (or tradesman) and of the products.
The crew plays a key role, since no rework is possible once application is finished. Moreover, each microcement-style project is unique, in the sense that there are no two identical rendered surface and the technique is exclusively manually applied. A thorough survey is necessary to find qualified tradesmen, experienced in the specific technique, to avoid unexpected moisture or cracking issues, and to ensure an elegant, pleasing outcome.
Regarding products, KRAFT Paints proposes the Arterra Patitiseries, a comprehensive decorative microcement system with pressed cement screed texture. Its products support the whole application process and offer impeccable results in terms of functionality as well as aesthetics. These are innovative product, the result of meticulous research even utilizing nanotechnology to turn this traditional technique into true Art. These products address all phases of the process in the most advanced and reliable ways.
Application phases: Tips & tricks
The optimal climate conditions for such a project are 5 °C to 35 °C temperature, up to 65% relative humidity and absence of strong sunlight or wind currents. Pressed cement screed application is divided in four main phases.
- Substrate preparation: Nano-Hybrid Primer is a polyurethane based hybrid clear-coat water impregnation primer, a nanotechnology product used for substrate preparation, before and after the levelling course, but also subsequent to the decorative coat. The Quartz Primer is used to the same end as well; this is an acrylic quartz-based adhesion improving primer for decorative renders. The former is used on highly absorbing surfaces (e.g. concrete, drywall), while the latter on non - absorbing surfaces (e.g. tiles, marble, mosaic). These are two all - purpose products, widely used on all pressed cement screed applications.
- Levelling Course: The application substrate needs to be level to allow the application of the Arterra Patiti system. Surfaces that require levelling (up to 10mm per layer) and supplementary crack proofing treatment, the specially designed resin-based, fiber-reinforced, carbon fibre enhanced mortar, Arterra Patiti Level Base needs to be applied.
- Decorative Course: This phase includes the application of the ready to use viscous decorative render Arterra Patiti Fine / Ultra Fine. It is applied using flat steel or plastic spatter. There are two variants, Fine and Ultra Fine, as names suggest. Please note that application of a second course is recommended, after drying of the initial course, to attain the required mechanical strength. Following spreading of the last course, before this has dried, the surface will be suitably worked with the spatter (pressed texture effect), to form the finished surface with the desired coarseness and texture or effect. Please note that both products are easy to paint by way of the KRAFT Inspired Color system (there are numerous colours available).
- Protection and Water Sealing Course: After the substrate has dried well, the top coat, protection and waterproofing varnishes (water-based or solvent-based) are applied for a thorough result from the Arterra Patiti system. These are Varnish PU-Aqua and Varnish PU-S, respectively. They are applied all over the surface using varnish roller in at least 2 coats, allowing each previous coat to thoroughly dry. We recommend light sanding and surface cleaning between coats. The two varnishes are available in three finishes: mat, semi-glossy and glossy.
Possible issues and solutions
Any issues in pressed cement screed application mainly result from improper application and poor assessment of local conditions. It is especially important to stress that apart from selecting an experienced crew, the role of other KRAFT Paints supporting products is also important. Fitters should pay particular attention to system protection against possible humidity ingress through the application substrate (negative pressure), in areas such as: balconies, patios, outdoor floors or corridors, baths etc. Thus, contractors should apply beforehand a cement-based sealing system from the Hydroguard Systems series, where deemed necessary.
Furthermore, upon placement of the levelling layer, it would be appropriate to integrate antialkaline glass mesh Clima Net 160, on the upper 1/3 of course thickness. Mesh stripes should overlap by 10cm.