How to sand base microcement
All of our Base Microcements are sanded after the final coat is complete and dried, prior to application of the finishing Microcement.
The sandpaper used will be 40 grit. Superior sandpaper grits will not get a good sanding. The sanded base must be completely smooth, without showing any imperfections in the application.
Poor sanding of the Microcement base will make the fine Microcement not look good, it will use more product to cover the imperfections, and when using more product, there will be more layer in the finishing Microcement, leaving the material softer.
DIY sanders are not suitable for sanding a large area of micro-cement base. You will need a profesional sander machine with coupling to a vacuum cleaner to collect dust.
For floors of more than 25 m2, it is best to rent a polishing machine with a sanding disc. These machines achieve perfect planimetry and save time. As an example: 100 m2 of Microcement base on a pavement, 2 workers with two manual DIY sanders, it is very difficult that, in 8 hours, they can finish sanding 100 m2. With a polishing machine, in 1 hour approx 1 person has the job done, leaving the Base Microcement completely smooth.
After each sanding process, thoroughly vacuum the dust and / or remove it with a slightly damp cloth.
Finish with microcements
Once the substrate has been prepared, sanded and sucked well, you can continue with the application of any of our finishing Microcements.
The support where we are going to apply, the smoother it is and the less imperfections we have, much better will be the finishing Microcement that we are going to apply now.
Traditional fine microcement 2 components: marble finish
The Fine Microcement is mixed with the CimentArt Mixing Resin in the following proportion: 1.5 kg of Fine Microcement + 1 kg of CimentArt Mixing Resin. It is better to mix small amounts and use little by little, since the product has a lot of performance and dries quickly.
2 coats are applied. Each layer must have a maximum of 0.1 mm.
If the application will be made on Base Microcement, you do not need to apply Primer CimentArt.
If the application will be made on completely smooth and / or painted walls, apply a coat of Primer CIMENTART and then begin the application of traditional Fine Micro Cement (in this case you must apply a minimum of 3 coats).
The Application is made with short and semi-circular movements, never with long movements. The application is made with the CimentArt plastic trowel. If you apply with the steel trowel, you will see dark burned stains and these stains do not come out with the sandpaper.
Each coat should be completely smooth and flawless. If it is not perfect, you should sand between coats to remove those imperfections with 150 grit sandpaper. If necessary, you can apply a 3rd coat.
Once the last coat dries, sand it with 150 to 200 grit sandpaper, softly, without pressing and without much insistence.
The objetive of sanding is to remove small imperfections, not to polish the Microcement.
Vacuum the dust. Never clean the dust with a damp cloth, on any finishing Microcement.
Finish with 1 coat of STD Sealer and 2 coats of any of our Varnishes.
The last layer should always be done without stops and avoid drying areas in the Fine Microcement applied and continue, because that “joint” of dry Microcement with wet Microcement will be seen.
The last layer must be done quickly and can never stop in the middle and continue later. If the surface is large and dries (faster than our performance to apply), we need more people applying the Microcement.
The only reasons why this coating does not achieve the necessary hardness is because the mixing proportions were not respected (1.5 kg of Fine Microcement + 1 kg of resin) or each layer was not applied with the recommended thickness (0.1 mm).
ICEM: microcement ready to use, marble finish
ICem Microcement is a ready-to-use product, you don’t need to mix with another product. We recommend mix it with the electric mixer before starting the application.
If the application will be made on Base Microcement, you do not need to apply Primer CimentArt.
If the application will be made on completely smooth and / or painted walls, apply a coat of Primer CIMENTART and then begin the application of iCem Microcement (in this case, you may need to apply a 3rd coat).
2 coats are applied. Each layer must have a maximum of 0.1 mm.
As you go through applying with each coat, you can spray water lightly and this will help make it smoother, flawless and will have higher product performance. Do not puddle or abuse by spraying.
The Application is made with short and semi-circular movements, never with long movements. The application is made with a steel trowel.
Each coat should be completely smooth and flawless. If the coat is not like this, you must also sand, between coats, to remove those imperfections with 100 grit sandpaper.
Once the second coat dries, sand it with 120 to 150 grit sandpaper, softly, without pressing and without much insistence.
The objetive for sanding is to remove imperfections, not to polish the Microcement.
Vacuum the dust. Never clean the dust with a damp cloth, on any finishing Microcement.
Finish with 1 coat of STD Sealer and 2 coats of any of our Varnishes.
The last layer should always be done without stops and avoid drying areas in the iCem Microcement applied and continue, because that “joint” of dry Microcement with wet Microcement will be seen.
The last layer must be done quickly and can never stop in the middle and continue later. If the surface is large and dries (faster than our performance to apply), we need more people applying the Microcement.
The only reasons why this coating does not achieve the necessary hardness is because water was added (+ 5% only in cases where the product is drier because the container is open for a long time) or it was not applied with the recommended thickness (0,1 mm).
Aqua Quartz, homogeneous or burned finish
Aqua Quartz Microcement is a ready-to-use product, you don’t need to mix with another product. We recommend mix it with the electric mixer before starting the application. This Microcement is 100% waterproof, ideal to apply it in areas that receive water.
If the application will be made on Base Microcement, you do not need to apply Primer CimentArt.
If the application will be made on completely smooth and / or painted walls, apply a coat of Primer CIMENTART and then begin the application of Aqua Quartz (in this case, you may need to apply a 3rd coat).
2 coats are applied. Each layer must have a maximum of 0.1 mm.
This Microcement has a uniform color. It does not have marbling effects. Pressing with the trowel can create burned effects. These burnt effects also appear if there are imperfections in the sufarce where it is applied.
As you go through applying with each coat, you can spray water lightly and this will help make it smoother, flawless and will have higher product performance. Do not puddle or abuse by spraying.
The Application is made with short and semi-circular movements, never with long movements. The application is made with a steel trowel.
Each coat should be completely smooth and flawless. If the coat is not like this, you must also sand, between coats, to remove those imperfections with 100 grit sandpaper.
Once the second coat dries, sand it with 100 to 150 grit sandpaper, softly, without pressing and without much insistence.
The objetive for sanding is to remove imperfections, not to polish the Microcement.
Vacuum the dust. Never clean the dust with a damp cloth, on any finishing Microcement.
Finish with 1 coat of STD Sealer and 2 coats of any of our Varnishes.
The last layer should always be done without stops and avoid drying areas in the Aqua Quartz Microcement applied and continue, because that “joint” of dry Microcement with wet Microcement will be seen.
The last layer must be done quickly and can never stop in the middle and continue later. If the surface is large and dries (faster than our performance to apply), we need more people applying the Microcement.
The only reasons why this coating does not achieve the necessary hardness is because water was added (+ 5% only in cases where the product is drier because the container is open for a long time) or it was not applied with the recommended thickness (0,1 mm).
Aqua Micro-concrete, finished concrete thin
Aqua Microconcrete CimentArt is a ready-to-use product, you don’t need to mix with another product. We recommend mix it with the electric mixer before starting the application. This microcroncrete is 100% waterproof, ideal to apply it in areas that receive water.
If the application will be made on Base Microcement, you do not need to apply Primer CimentArt.
If the application will be made on completely smooth and / or painted walls, apply a coat of Primer CIMENTART and then begin the application of Aqua Microconcrete.
2 coats are applied. Each layer must have a maximum of 0.5 mm.
This Microcement has a uniform color. It does not have marbling effects. Pressing with the trowel can create burned effects. These burnt effects also appear if there are imperfections in the sufarce where it is applied.
As you go through applying with each coat, you can spray water lightly and this will help make it smoother, flawless and will have higher product performance. Do not puddle or abuse by spraying.
The Application is made with short and semi-circular movements, never with long movements. The application is made with a steel trowel.
Each coat should be completely smooth and flawless. If the coat is not like this, you must also sand, between coats, to remove those imperfections with 100 grit sandpaper.
Once the second coat dries, sand it with 100 to 150 grit sandpaper, softly, without pressing and without much insistence.
The objetive for sanding is to remove imperfections, not to polish the microconcrete.
Vacuum the dust. Never clean the dust with a damp cloth, on any finishing Microcement or microconcrete.
Finish with 1 coat of STD Sealer and 2 coats of any of our Varnishes.
The last layer should always be done without stops and avoid drying areas in the Microconcrete applied and continue, because that “joint” of dry Microcement with wet Microcement will be seen.
The last layer must be done quickly and can never stop in the middle and continue later. If the surface is large and dries (faster than our performance to apply), we need more people applying the Microcroncrete.
The only reasons why this coating does not achieve the necessary hardness is because water was added (+ 5% only in cases where the product is drier because the container is open for a long time) or it was not applied with the recommended thickness (0,5 mm).
Aqua Nature, natural cement finish
Aqua Nature CimentArt is a ready-to-use product, you don’t need to mix with another product. We recommend mix it with the electric mixer before starting the application. This Microcroncrete is 100% waterproof, ideal to apply it in areas that receive water.
Apply 2 coats at the same time in this way: Apply the first coat of Aqua Nature in a thin layer of 0.7 mm, with pressure with the trowel and cover a surface of 1.5 m2 to 2 m2 maximum. Never apply thicknesses greater than 1 mm.
Immediately afterwards apply a second coat over the first coat, the first coat is still fresh (undried). We call this application method fresh on fresh. Lightly spray the last coat with water to achieve a completely smooth finish with the steel trowel. Do not abuse by spraying.
Joining the first layer with the second layer will give a final thickness of approximately 1 mm (maximum). Never apply larger thicknesses because will lose hardness.
If the application will be made on Base Microcement, you do not need to apply Primer CimentArt.
If the application will be made on completely smooth and / or painted walls, apply a coat of Primer CimentArt and then begin the application of Aqua Nature.
This Microcement has a uniform color that imitates a natural cement.
As you go through applying with each coat, you can spray water lightly and this will help make it smoother, flawless and will have higher product performance. Do not puddle or abuse by spraying.
The Application is made with short and semi-circular movements, never with long movements. The application is made with a steel trowel.
The two layers applied with the fresh on fresh system must be completely smooth and without blemishes.
Once the coat dries, sand it with 80 to 120 grit sandpaper, softly, without pressing and without much insistence.
Once the second coat dries, sand it with 80 to 120 grit sandpaper, softly, without pressing and without much insistence.
The objetive for sanding is to remove imperfections, not to polish the microconcrete.
Vacuum the dust. Never clean the dust with a damp cloth, on any finishing Microcement or microconcrete.
Finish with 1 coat of STD Sealer and 2 coats of any of our Varnishes.
The last layer should always be done without stops and avoid drying areas in the Aqua Nature applied and continue, because that “joint” of dry Microcement with wet Microcement will be seen.
The last layer must be done quickly and can never stop in the middle and continue later. If the surface is large and dries (faster than our performance to apply), we need more people applying the Aqua Nature.
The only reasons why this coating does not achieve the necessary hardness is because water was added (+ 5% only in cases where the product is drier because the container is open for a long time) or it was not applied with the recommended thickness (1 mm in total, in the two layers applied with the fresh on fresh system).
Aqua Stone, natural stone finish
Aqua Stone CimentArt is a ready-to-use product, you don’t need to mix with another product. We recommend mix it with the electric mixer before starting the application. This product is 100% waterproof, ideal to apply it in areas that receive water.
Apply a single white layer of Aqua Stone, 1.2 to 1.5 mm maximum thickness in zones of 1 to 2 m2 maximum, with a steel trowel and start texturing. Texturing should be done immediately after application before Aqua Stone begins to harden.
To do this, we need to use the CimentArt Texture Roller.
Wet the CimentArt Texture Roller with water and pass it over the applied surface from top to down (on walls) or front to back (on floors), a distance of 25 to 30 cm maximum. This is the distance that the moistened roller runs, if you continue for a longer distance, the roller can stick.
Wet the CimentArt Texture Roller again with water and continue for another 25 to 30 cm, and so on.
Once the texturing is finished in that area, continue applying the 1.2 to 1.5 mm layer of Aqua Stone for another m2 to 2 m2 and texturing in the same way.
Aqua Stone is always applied in the same way; it is applied and textured immediately, another area is applied and textured, a wall or floor is never fully applied and then textured.
With Aqua Stone without drying we achieve the effects of natural stone. If Aqua Stone hardens we cannot do the texturing.
The texturing is done without any pressure. If the texture roller sticks to Aqua Stone, wait a few minutes and try again.
Pigmentation process: Once the textured layer of Aqua Stone has completely dried, we wet a sponge trowel with the CimentArt Mixing Resin (with the chosen color) and pigment with the sponge, with short circular movements, the Aqua Stone. Once this application dries, we repeat the operation one or two more times until we like the finish.
Do not do this pigmentation process with the sponge in a uniform way, make areas darker and other areas lighter.
Be careful that the more layers of pigment with the sponge, the Aqua Stone will have a darker color.
Also, if you spread the CimentArt Mixing Resin a lot with the sponge, the finish color will be lighter. Make a sample (in a part where it is not visible) until you control this process.
If the application will be made on Base Microcement, you do not need to apply Primer CimentArt.
If the application will be made on completely smooth and / or painted walls, apply a coat of Primer CimentArt and then begin the application of Aqua Stone.
The application is made with short and semi-circular movements, never with long movements. The application is made with a steel trowel.
Aqua Stone does not sand, you can use a spatula to remove (or use sandpaper) any larger peaks (especially on floors, before the pigmentation process).
Sealer is not applied on Aqua Stone. Finish the application with 2 coats of any of our Varnishes.
The layer and texturin should always be done without stops and avoid drying areas in the Aqua Stone applied and continue, because that “joint” of dry Microcement with wet Microcement will be seen.
The last layer must be done quickly and can never stop in the middle and continue later. If the surface is large and dries (faster than our performance to apply), we need more people applying the Aqua Stone.
The only reasons why this coating does not achieve the necessary hardness is because water was added (+ 5% only in cases where the product is drier because the container is open for a long time) or it was not applied with the recommended thickness (1,5 mm máximum).