Before You Start Your Microcement Project
Preparation is everything when it comes to Microcement. Microcement is strong when applied very thinly, the finished depth will be no more than 3-4mm, so it’s extremely important that the surface is flushed out and the chance of movement eliminated before microcement is applied.
There’s loads of information below on choosing the right surface for your job and getting the prep work done right.
The Golden Rules
Whatever your project, there are a few golden rules to follow when choosing and preparing surfaces for microcement. We’ve summarised these for you here:
These are the golden rules to follow when preparing surfaces for Microcement:
- Surfaces should be completely smooth – as if you were going to paint onto them
- Surfaces should be well consolidated, so that any chance of movement is eliminated
- Surfaces should have a minimum compressive strength of 16N/mm2
Additional Important Rules to remember when applying Microcement
- Never Microcement directly onto natural timber or across cold joints/expansion joints
- Surfaces should be free from oil stains, dirt, dust and excessive laitance
- Surfaces must be dry to within 5% moisture content before microcement is applied
- Surfaces must be damp-proofed and edges silicone so that no water can get to the Microcement fro underneath at anytime
- Allow 3-4mm as the finished depth.
For kits containing MicroRock base (Sauna / Steam Room Kit & Outdoor Surfaces)
- MicroRock can only be installed on a substrate with a minimum compressive strength of 25N/nm2 and a Tenstile Strength of 1.5N/mm2
- MicroRock is waterproof both above and below, so as long as the substrate is less than 10% moisture, it can be applied.
Choosing the Right Surface For Your Microcement Project
Microcement is incredibly strong, durable and hard-wearing, but because it’s applied in very thin coats, it relies heavily on the surface that it’s applied to for support. Choosing the right substrate for your job, can make all the difference to the quality and longevity of your work. We have gone into more detail for each type of surface that you might be considering below.
