What is microcement? Uses, types, application and advantages

One of the main properties of microcement is its high adhesion. Thanks to this, it is possible to apply microcement over tiles, speeding up renovations and avoiding the demolition of the original coating. As long as the tiles are firm and not loose. In these cases, the use of mesh is necessary to solidify the support.

Microcement over tiles, stoneware or terrazzo

Optimal conditions and state of the surface to be coated
The preparation of the support is as important as the application of microcement. If the support does not meet the necessary conditions we will not be able to apply the microcement with guarantees. The surface must be levelled, consolidated, free of dirt and with a humidity level below 5%.

In the event that the support on which the microcement is to be applied is a mortar, it must have set at least four weeks before applying the microcement, to control the cracks that may appear during the process of curing.

Microcement pools
At Topciment we have developed Atlanttic, a line of two-component microcement designed exclusively for spaces in constant contact with water such as pools. And it is that microcement pools are a trend and will continue to be so due to the wide advantages of this decorative coating.

Microcement on natural wood or parquet
Parquet or natural wood floors have a large number of joints, the boards expand in different directions causing difficult to control tensions, which can cause cracks in the coating, so they are not suitable for applying microcement directly on them. In these cases it is necessary to lift the existing floor and prepare the support prior to the product placement.

The start-up protocol will be as follows:

1. Turn on the heating at least 4 weeks after the cement mortar has been laid.

2. Keep the water entering the circuits at 25 °C for 2 or 3 days. Then, gradually increase the water temperature to 45 °C and maintain it for several days.

3. Turn off the heating at least 48 h before starting the microcement installation. The maximum floor temperature should be 18 °C.

Microcement pavements must be applied on cementitious mortars that have reached an advanced stage of setting. This happens after three or four weeks, depending on the weather. In any case, we must ensure that the mortar is practically dry. For this, there must be a maximum of 5% humidity in the support, which we will check with a relative humidity meter.

We recommend using quality self-levelling cement mortars.

Supports with powdery mortars are not suitable as the state of the application base must be consistent and otherwise it will need to be consolidated.

After applying the microcement, we should wait at least 48 hours before gradually turning the heating back on (+5 °C each day).

Always change the temperature gradually at the beginning and end of the heating usage period.

Make sure the relative humidity of the air in the rooms is not too low.

Always avoid heat build-up caused by carpets and rugs or lack of space between furniture and the floor.

Important! Between the slab and the vertical walls there will always be a dilation joint so that it can dilate. If this indication is not respected, cracks may appear.

Thanks to microcement, we can achieve any anti-slip surface. Depending on the type of microcement and texture, greater or lesser slip resistance (degree of slipperiness) is obtained. From least to most slippery we have: Microstone for being highly textured, Microdeck with a smooth texture, and finally Microfino which is not suitable for floors.

The different finishes for floors and their textures
Floors are classified based on their slip resistance value, and from least to greatest resistance there are 3 classes, class 1, 2 and 3.
With Topciment microcements we can achieve any of the required classes. Microdeck sealed with polyurethane corresponds to class 1 but if simply a coat of pore filler and one of polyurethane is applied, class 2 can be achieved. If Microstone is used, which contains particles of aggregate coarser than traditional microcement, class 3 is reached. The difference in texture can be appreciated at first glance.
The anti-slip characteristics of the surface and difficulty of cleaning must be taken into account. The greater the slip resistance, the more difficult it is to clean the surface due to the texturing.
Here we inform you more about the cleaning of microcement.

Anti-slip finishes and classification according to their slipperiness
In order to limit the risk of slipping, the floors of buildings or areas of Public Residential, Health, Educational, Commercial, Administrative and Public Attendance use, excluding the null occupancy areas defined in annex SI A of the DB SI, will have a suitable class according to point 3 of this section.
The floors are classified according to their slip resistance value Rd. This value is determined by the pendulum test described in Annex A of the UNE-ENV 12633:2003 standard. The Technical Building Code (CTE) in the document DB SUA-1 (Basic Documents for Use Safety and Accessibility) regulates the slipperiness indices and determines the class that a floor should have depending on its use. The floor is more anti-slip as the Rd value increases.
The floors are classified, according to their slip resistance value Rd, in accordance with what is established in this table:

Class required for soils based on their location and characteristics
La tabla indica la clase que deben tener los suelos, como mínimo, en función de su localización.
Dicha clase se mantendrá durante la vida útil del pavimento
Zonas interiores secas:
superficies con pendiente inferior al 6% -> Clase 1
superficies con pendiente igual o mayor al 6% -> Clase 2
Zonas interiores húmedas, tales como las entradas a los edificios desde el espacio exterior (1), terrazas cubiertas, vestuarios, baños, aseos, cocinas, etc:
superficies con pendiente menor que el 6% -> Clase 2
superficies con pendiente igual o mayor que el 6% -> Clase 3
(1) Excepto cuando se trate de accesos directos a zonas de uso restringido.
Zonas exteriores, piscinas (2), duchas -> Clase 3
(2) En zonas previstas para usuarios descalzos y en el fondo de los vasos, en las zonas en las que la profundidad no exceda de 1,50 m.

Differences between Microcement and polished cement (trowelled concrete) for pavements in terms of components

It is necessary to differentiate between, cement, cement mortar, and concrete. Cement is a component of both mortar and concrete that acts as a binder. Mortar is obtained by mixing sand and water with cement and concrete is a cement mortar to which gravel is added.

While all are solutions for creating pavements, in the case of microcement it is continuous and in the case of polished cement, stamped concrete or trowelled concrete it is discontinuous (requiring expansion joints).

CONCRETES
Both the polished concrete, and the stamped concrete, as well as the trowelled concrete, consist of a reinforced concrete slab that is given a surface treatment to achieve the final finish. They are discontinuous pavements, as they are slabs, expansion joints are required to prevent cracking.

Trowelled concrete: In the case of trowelled concrete, a mechanical smoothing is carried out with trowelling machines or helicopters.
 

Stamped concrete: Whereas in stamped concrete a stamping with moulds is carried out. Both during the setting process (hardening process of the concrete).

Polished concrete: On the other hand, polished concrete involves applying a surface treatment to achieve the final finish but on fully cured concrete. It consists of a mechanical process of devastation and polishing through which the surface is sanded with a polisher with diamond heads, leaving in view the section of the aggregates that make up the concrete, the final appearance is similar to terrazzo.

MICROCEMENT

The microcement is a coating that is applied both on walls and floors, it has an approximate thickness of between 2 and 3 mm, it does not need joints and it does not crack. It adheres very well to any material, it is applied using a steel or rubber trowel.

MORTAR

The troweled mortar would be the smoothing that is done manually to a rendering (layer of mortar about 2 cm thick used to coat a wall)

In this table we summarise features and compare the differences, as well as possible applications.

This is a coating that is worked with a prior conditioning of the surface, an application of the material in different layers, and a final protection with sealer.

Each layer of material has its execution and drying time. In addition, special care must be taken in its first week (once the work is finished) as it gradually acquires all its hardness and resistance.

The care of microcement is similar to that of a natural wood parquet. We advise preventing permanent puddles and prolonged contact with moisture. We must avoid leaving wet rugs and towels on the floor or pots that lose liquid. We should also keep the surface free of stones or grit, which can scratch the coating when stepped on. Avoid hitting and rubbing with hard objects.

Although microcement offers high resistance to chemical products, the cleaning of microcement should be done with neutral soaps, never with aggressive products or descalers. We will avoid products such as chlorine, bleach, ammonia, soaps and detergents in general, as they can damage the protective film.

Initial care

The microcement reaches the values of hardness, chemical resistances and desired watertightness one month after its application. The greatest risk of damage is in the first two weeks. It will be walkable with great care two days after the sealing of the floors, and walkable as normal one week later.

We recommend avoiding dragging heavy objects so as not to damage the surface. To move furniture: better to lift and support, never drag. It will be necessary to protect the flooring from furniture (metal legs, sharp surfaces), and from objects with abrasive or considerably heavy contact surfaces, with covers or felts.

Permanent care

Aconsejamos mantener periódicamente los pavimentos de microcemento con Ceraciment o Ceraciment PRO o ceras acrílicas. La frecuencia del encerado dependerá del uso y de las características del lugar (tránsito, polvo circundante, etc). Recomendamos el uso de mopas pasaceras para garantizar la correcta aplicación del producto.

The pigments we use to make our dyes are of mineral origin. It is worth distinguishing between mineral origin pigments and organic origin pigments. Mineral origin pigments are the ones that behave best against the alkalinity of cement. Organic pigments (molecules containing carbon), are not stable to the weather, they end up transforming into other compounds without pigmentation properties or migrating to the surface, so initial tones end up disappearing almost completely after some time. Inorganic pigments generally maintain stability in mortars and concretes.