Tools required for application

• Protective tape
• Scissors or cutter
• Sander
• 40-grit sandpaper
• 180-grit sandpaper
• Spatula. Steel trowel
• Microfiber roller
• Paint tray
• Electric mixer
• Vacuum cleaner
• Measuring cup or digital scale

CimentArt products required

• CimentArt PLUS or STD Primer
• CimentArt fiberglass mesh
• KONCRET BASE floors + MIX resin or Microcement BASE walls + MIX resin or Aqua BASE 100% waterproof
• iCem microcement
• STD sealer
• WB two-component polyurethane varnish (water-based) or HARD SB (solvent-based) CIMENTART (Comp A and Comp B).

Before starting

Check the surface where it will be applied and make sure that the surface is:

• Straight
• Firm and without movement
• Dry and without moisture
• Clean
• Free of dust, grease, etc.

Preparation of substrates

Any floor, uneven or cement wall, tiled walls, shower floors and, in general, any substrate that is not completely smooth and perfectly flat needs to be leveled beforehand. To do this, we have three types of BASE microcements for leveling the substrate:

• KONCRET BASE (FLOORS): Can be applied to all indoor and outdoor floors, without exception. Two-component product. Mix 4 parts Koncret Base with 1 part Mixing Resin. Coverage: 1.25 kg/m² per 1 mm layer, with 2 layers always required.
• Microcement BASE walls: Applied to walls that need leveling, both indoors and outdoors. Two-component product. Mix 3 parts Microcement BASE walls with 1 part Mixing Resin. Coverage: 1 kg/m² per 1 mm layer, with 2 layers always required.
• Aqua BASE 100% waterproof: Apply to walls that need leveling and shower floors. Interior and exterior. Ready-to-use and 100% waterproof. For complete color homogenization, mix with an electric mixer. Coverage: 1 kg/m² per 1 mm layer, with 2 layers always required.

Step-by-step application

Apply protective tape where necessary.

For application on completely smooth walls (i.e., walls without joints, imperfections, or small roughness’s, such as completely smooth, sanded, and filled walls or painted plasterboard), only perform steps 2, 3, 4, and 5 (skip step 1).

For application on floors, walls in poor condition or with tile joints, follow steps 1, 3, 4, and 5 (skip step 2).

1.  Cement floors or walls, uneven or tiled:

Spread the CimentArt fiberglass MESH and apply a coat of CIMENTART PLUS PRIMER. 

Apply the first coat of any of our BASE Microcement products.

• Using a steel trowel at a 45° angle, apply a maximum thickness of 0.7 to 1 mm (the thickness is determined by the grain of the mixture and the pressure applied during application).
• Finish the first coat, leaving it as smooth as possible and without irregularities.
• Remove the protective tape before the Microcement BASE hardens.
• Allow the first coat of Microcement BASE to dry completely.
• Drying time depends on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc.
• Remove any irregularities that may have remained after applying the first coat of Microcemento BASE using a spatula or 40-grit sandpaper.
• Remove any dust created by sanding. You can also wipe it with a damp cloth.
• Apply protective tape where necessary.
• Apply the second coat of Microcemento BASE with a steel trowel, using a 30° angle and applying a maximum thickness of 1 mm (the thickness is determined by the grain of the mixture and the pressure applied during application).
• Finish this second coat, leaving it as smooth as possible and without any irregularities.
• Tip: for both the first and second coats, you can spray lightly with water using a spray bottle and smooth with the trowel to correct any irregularities.
• Remove the protective tape before the Microcemento BASE hardens and allow the second coat of Microcemento BASE to dry completely.
• Drying time depends on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc.
• Sand the second layer of Microcement thoroughly with 40-grit sandpaper, correcting any irregularities until the surface is completely smooth.
• Remove the sanding dust with a vacuum cleaner. You can also wipe it with a damp cloth.
• Apply protective tape where necessary.

2. Completely smooth walls: 

Apply a coat of CementArt PLUS or STD Primer.

Wash the roller and tray with water.

3. iCem Microcement

• The coverage of iCem Microcement is approximately 350-400 g/m² when applying the product in a 0.1 mm layer. Two layers must be applied, and a total of 700 to 800 g will be needed to cover 1 m².
• Tip: if you are applying iCem Microcement to completely smooth walls, you may need to apply 3 coats to cover the substrate.
• The product is supplied ready to use, but it is advisable to mix it well with a spatula or electric mixer until you have a homogeneous mixture of color.

Applying the first coat of iCem Microcement

• Use a steel trowel with rounded edges, such as those used for stucco.
• Apply in short strokes in layers with a maximum thickness of 0.1 mm.
• The thickness is determined by the grain of the mixture and the pressure applied with the trowel.
• Tip: To achieve maximum hardness, the mixture must be applied with pressure. This pressure may cause marks (darker spots) from the friction of the trowel with the Microcement. If you want to avoid this, apply all layers of iCem Microcement with the CimentArt plastic trowel.
• Finish the first coat, leaving it as smooth and even as possible.
• Remove the protective tape. Allow the first coat of iCem Microcement to dry completely.
• Drying time varies depending on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc.
• Sand the first coat of iCem Microcement with 180-grit sandpaper, correcting any unevenness.
• Remove the dust created by sanding with a vacuum cleaner.
• Tip: before applying the second coat in very hot environments, you can lightly spray the surface with water using a spray bottle. This will help with application.
• Place protective tape where necessary.

 Apply a second coat of iCem Microcement following the same procedure as for the first coat.

• Using the steel trowel, apply in short, circular movements at an angle of 30°, applying a maximum thickness of 0.1 mm (the thickness is determined by the grain size of the mixture, applying a certain amount of pressure with the trowel).
• Tip: while applying the second coat, you can lightly spray the applied surface with a spray bottle filled with water and smooth it again with the trowel. This will help the application to be smoother.
• Finish the second coat, leaving it as smooth and even as possible.
• Tip: to ensure that no joints are visible, the final coat of iCem Microcement should be applied continuously without stopping.
• Drying time depends on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc.
• Tip: to ensure that no joints are visible, the final layer of iCem Microcement should be applied continuously without stopping.

Remove the protective tape and allow the second layer of iCem Microcement to dry completely:

• Drying time depends on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc.
• Sand the second layer of iCem Microcement with 180-grit sandpaper, correcting any irregularities.
• Remove the dust created by sanding with a vacuum cleaner. Never use a damp cloth at this stage.

4. STD Sealant

• Apply protective tape where necessary.
• Pour the STD Sealer onto a tray and apply an even coat using a short-pile roller or microfiber roller.
• The coverage of the STD Sealer is 100 g/m². To cover 10 m², you will need 1 kg.

Wash the roller and tray with soap and water.

• Allow the Sealer to dry. Drying time depends on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc. It usually dries fairly quickly.

5. CimentArt Two-Component Polyurethane Varnish

Water-based two-component WB varnish

Recommended for: indoor and outdoor use on all walls and ceilings and on floors with moderate foot traffic.

Preparation:

• Mix 5 parts of Component A of the 2-component water-based varnish with 1 part of Component B.
• To make 1 kg of varnish with the 2 components, you will need 840 g of Component A and 160 g of Component B.
• The approximate coverage is 50 g/m², applying a thin layer of 0.1 mm. It is always necessary to apply 2 coats. To cover 10 m² with 2 coats, you will need approximately 1 kg of the mixture.

HARD SB solvent-based 2-component varnish

Recommended for: indoor and outdoor use on floors with heavy foot traffic.

Preparation:

• Mix 2 parts of Component A of the 2-component solvent-based varnish with 1 part of Component B.
• To make 1 kg of 2-component solvent-based varnish with the 2 components, you will need 666 g of Component A and 333 g of Component B.
• The approximate coverage is 100 g/m², applying a thin coat of 0.1 mm. It is always necessary to apply 2 coats. To cover 10 m² with one coat, you will need approximately 1 kg of the mixture.
• Apply a first coat of varnish 0.1 mm thick with a microfiber roller or spray gun (combing the surface well if using a roller) and leave to dry for at least twelve hours.
• Apply a second coat with a microfiber roller or spray gun, exactly the same as the first coat.
• You can apply a third extra coat for greater protection, especially in areas that come into direct contact with water, such as showers, outdoor terraces, etc.
• Don’t forget to wash the roller and tray with water or solvent, depending on the type of varnish used.

Important

• iCem Microcement can be applied to any surface, except for substrates with capillary moisture, swimming pools, parking lots, and factories with heavy machinery traffic.
• We do not recommend applying iCem Microcement to shower floors or outdoor terraces, as it has a very smooth finish and can be slippery when in contact with water.
• Never apply layers of Microcement BASE thicker than 1 mm.
• Never apply layers of iCem Microcement thicker than 0.1 mm.
• Microcement Fino Traditional, iCem, Oxide, or Microstucco CIMENTART should not be used on shower floors or outdoor terraces (horizontal areas that receive a large amount of water). For these types of surfaces, we recommend using the AQUA range, which is ready to use and 100% waterproof.
• In high-traffic areas such as shops, offices, shopping centers, etc., we recommend applying a third coat of HARD SB solvent-based 2-component varnish.
• Always apply any of our CimentArt 2-component varnishes in thin layers of 0.1 mm.
• Make sure you cover the entire microcement surface perfectly with any of our 2-component varnishes.
• We recommend finishing any flooring with any of our CimentArt 2-component varnishes with a GLOSS or SATIN finish.
• It is not recommended to finish microcement with a porous or rustic finish and/or light colors on floors, as they will be more difficult to clean.