Tools required for application

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

Required CimentArt products

• CimentArt PLUS or STD Primer
• CimentArt fibreglass mesh
• KONCRET BASE flooring + MIXING resin or Microcement BASE walls + MIXING resin or Aqua BASE 100% waterproof
• Any CIMENTART decorative microcement finish
• METALLIC Sealer
• WB two-component polyurethane varnish (water-based) CIMENTART (Comp A and Comp B).

Before starting

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

• Straight
• Firm and stable
• Dry and free of moisture
• Clean
• Free of dust, grease, etc.

Preparation of surfaces

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

• 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 levelling, 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: Applied to walls that need levelling and shower floors. Interior and exterior. Ready-to-use and 100% waterproof product. To achieve complete colour homogenisation, it is recommended to mix it 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 rough patches, such as completely smooth, sanded and filled walls or painted plasterboard), only carry out 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 with tiles: 

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

Apply the first coat of any of our Microcemento BASE 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 layer, leaving it as smooth as possible and without irregularities.
• Remove the protective tape before the Microcement BASE hardens.
• Allow the first layer of Microcemento BASE to dry completely.
• Drying time is relative and depends on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc.
• Remove any irregularities that may have remained after applying the first layer of Microcement BASE with a spatula or 40-grit sandpaper.
• Remove any dust created by sanding. You can also wipe it down with a damp cloth. 
• Apply protective tape where necessary.
• Apply the second coat of Microcement BASE with a steel trowel, using an angle of 30°  , 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 diffuser and smooth with the trowel to correct any irregularities. 
• Remove the protective tape before the Microcement BASE hardens and allow the second layer of Microcement BASE to dry completely. 
• Drying time is relative depending 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 by vacuuming. You can also wipe it with a damp cloth. 
• Apply protective tape where necessary.

2. Completely smooth walls: 

Apply a coat of CimentArt PLUS or STD Primer.

Wash the roller and tray with water.

3.  METALLIC CIMENTART Sealer can be applied to any CIMENTART microcement finish (FINO TRADICIONAL, MICROSTUCCO, ICEM, AQUA QUARTZ, MICROHORMIGON AQUA, AQUA NATURE and AQUA STONE microcement). 

The colour of the microcement must be similar to that of the METALLIC Sealer.

TRADITIONAL FINE microcement:

• Mix 750 grams of Fino Microcement with half a litre of MIX Resin.
• Use our special trowel for TRADITIONAL FINE Microcement and apply with short, circular movements at an angle of 30°  , applying a maximum thickness of 0.1 mm (the thickness is determined by the grain of the mixture, applying a certain amount of pressure with the trowel).
• Once the first layer of TRADITIONAL FINE Microcement has dried, apply 1-2 more layers until the surface is completely covered.
• Sand with 180-grit sandpaper and vacuum up the dust.

MICROSTUCCO / ICEM / AQUA QUARTZ

• Ready-to-use products. Mix with mechanical means to homogenise the product and colour before starting application.
• Apply with a steel trowel or our special trowel for FINO TRADICIONAL Microcement (if you do not want “burn marks” or dark spots caused by friction from the trowel), and apply with short, circular movements, using a 30° angle and applying a maximum thickness of 0.1 mm (the thickness is determined by the grain of the mixture, applying a certain amount of pressure with the trowel).
• Once the first coat of the chosen Microcement has dried, apply 1-2 more coats until the surface is completely covered.
• Sand with 180-grit sandpaper and vacuum up the dust.

MICROHORMIGON AQUA / AQUA NATURE

• Ready-to-use products. Mix with mechanical means to homogenise the product and colour before starting application.
• Apply with a steel trowel or with our special trowel for FINO TRADICIONAL Microcement (if you do not want “burn marks” or dark stains caused by friction from the trowel), and apply with short, circular movements, using a 30° angle and applying a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm with MICROHORMIGON AQUA and 0.7 mm with AQUA NATURE (the thickness is determined by the grain of the mixture, applying a certain amount of pressure with the trowel).
• Once the first coat of the chosen microcement is dry, apply one more coat until the surface is completely covered.
• Sand MICROHORMIGON AQUA with 120-grit sandpaper and AQUA NATURE with 80-grit sandpaper. Vacuum up the dust.

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 the application.

AQUA STONE

• Ready-to-use product. Mix with a mechanical mixer to homogenise the product and colour before starting application.
• Apply with a steel trowel using short, circular movements at an angle of 30°, applying a thickness of between 1.2 and 1.5 mm. Before the AQUA STONE layer dries, moisten the CimentArt texture roller with water and roll it over the applied surface, from top to bottom (in the case of walls) or from front to back (in the case of shower floors or ceilings), at a maximum distance of 25 to 30 cm.

Tip: For more complete and detailed information, read the working method for the chosen microcement.

5. METALLIC Sealer

Metallic Sealer can be applied to any CIMENTART microcement finish, even directly onto plastic paint.

• Apply protective tape where necessary.

Open the METALLIC Sealer container and stir well with a spatula until completely homogenised.

Pour the METALLIC Sealer into a tray and apply an even coat with a sponge, trowel or short-pile microfibre roller.

• The coverage of METALLIC Sealer is 50 g/m² per coat, with a minimum of 2 coats recommended.
• Apply 2 to 3 coats as needed with a maximum thickness of 0.1 mm per coat (less than the thickness of a sheet of paper) until the desired continuous finish is achieved.
• A thickness of 0.1 mm is achieved by applying METALLIC Sealer with a steel trowel at a 30º angle, using circular movements with a sponge or applying very thin, even layers with a microfibre roller.

It is important not to leave a layer thicker than 0.1 mm in order to obtain a perfect finish, and it is necessary for the application of METALLIC Sealer to be completely smooth and free of imperfections.

• Whether the application is carried out with a steel trowel or a sponge, all layers must be applied with short, semi-circular movements.
• Each layer applied must be uniform and smooth. If necessary, you can lightly sand the first layer of METALLIC Sealer applied with 180-grit sandpaper and clean the dust thoroughly before proceeding to apply the next layer.
• The last and final coat of METALLIC Sealer applied must be completely smooth and should never be sanded.
• Wash the roller and tray with water.
• Drying time is relative depending on humidity, temperature, ventilation, etc. It usually dries fairly quickly.

METALLIC Sealer usually dries quite quickly.

6. CimentArt Two-Component Polyurethane Varnish

2-component WB water-based GLOSS varnish

Recommended for: indoor and outdoor application on all walls, ceilings and floors where the CimentArt METALLIC MICROCEMENT system has been applied.

Preparation:

• Mix 5 parts of Component A of the 2-component water-based varnish with 1 part of Component B.
• To make 1 kilo 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.
• Apply a first coat of varnish 0.1 mm thick with a microfibre roller or spray gun (combing the surface well if applying with a roller) and leave to dry for at least twelve hours.
• Apply a second coat with a microfibre roller or spray gun, exactly the same as the first coat.
• You can apply a third extra coat for added protection, especially in areas that come into direct contact with water, such as showers, outdoor terraces, etc.

Important

• You can apply the METALLIC CIMENTART Microcement System to any surface, except for surfaces with capillary moisture, swimming pools, car parks and factories with heavy machinery traffic.
• We do not recommend applying METALLIC CIMENTART 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.
• Always apply CIMENTART Polyurethane Varnish in thin layers of 0.1 mm.
• Microcemento Fino Traditional, iCem, Oxide or Microstucco CIMENTART should not be used on shower floors or outdoor terraces (horizontal surfaces 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.
• Always apply WB CimentArt 2-component varnish in thin layers of 0.1 mm.
• Ensure that the entire microcement surface is completely covered with any of our two-component varnishes.
• We recommend finishing the METALLIC CIMENTART Microcement System with a GLOSS finish.
• It is not recommended to finish microcement with a porous or rustic finish and/or light colours on floors, as they will be more difficult to clean.