How to choose a microcement varnish to effectively protect the surface?

Floors and walls made of microcement are becoming more and more popular. This is related to the general trend towards minimalist and industrial designs, which microcement fits perfectly into. Additional advantages are the uniqueness of floors made of the material in question and a wide range of colors.

At the same time, for the microcement floor to enjoy the eye for many years and to be easy to clean, it should be properly protected. The surface unsecured with polyurethane varnish will be a surface that absorbs water and other impurities and will tend to dust. There is one conclusion - all microcement surfaces should be additionally secured. What protection varnish to choose?

Microcement varnishes vary depending on the place of application 

The multitude of available polyurethane varnishes on the market does not make your choice easier. At the beginning, it is worth considering where the area will be used and consider the intensity of use depending on the type of room. Otherwise you should approach the matter in the case of walls and floors , even differently in the case of wet zones or offices.

First of all, you should answer the question: what finish of the coating we are interested in. The surface can be:

• fully matte,
• semi-matte,
• in full gloss.

Painting microcement on the wall

When varnishing microcements on the walls, it is worth paying a lot of attention to visual aspects, in this case the matte varnishes work best. They reflect less light, eliminate reflectors, and the surface has a more natural concrete -like appearance. A product that works well on the walls is the Varnish neodur in mat , which is characterized by a deep matte finish.

Varnishing floors

When varnishing floors, you should additionally pay attention to the chemical and mechanical resistance of the surface. This is especially important in the case of applications in offices (mechanical resistance) and, for example, in kitchens (chemical resistance). In the case of mechanical resistance, pay attention to the results of the taber test, in the case of chemical resistance, pay attention to what means of floor can be exposed and check that the varnish is resistant to the agents used.

Concrete varnish and abrasion resistance, or what the Taber test means

Unfortunately, not every concrete varnish offered on the market has information on abrasion resistance. Abrasion resistance is examined during the taber test. This test consists in checking the loss of the mass of the test sample during the research cycle. The smaller the result (administered in MG, i.e. in milligrams), the more resistant to abrasion .
Below you can see a comparison of abrasion resistance Neodur Varnish, Neodur Varnish in mat and one of the varnishes available on the market.

How to apply polyurethane varnish to concrete correctly?

When protecting microcement or concrete, the knowledge and skills of the varnishing person are a very important element. Appropriate conditions must be maintained when applying the varnish. The temperature of the substrate, air and varnish itself should not exceed 12-35°C.

It is inappropriate practice to apply varnish in too thick layers - in this case, we are exposed to the effect of visible roller marks. Paint should be applied in thin layers using an appropriate roller (with short bristles and resistant to solvents). The roller itself must not leave any bristles during application. To prevent this, you can wash the rollers the day before with water or remove loose hairs using painter's tape. It is very important to paint each protected surface in good light. Due to the fact that the varnishes are colorless, it is difficult to apply them properly in inappropriate lighting levels.

Depending on the effect you want to achieve, it is also worth considering using a systemic primer. It evens out the absorbency of the substrate and maintains its natural appearance. If you apply a solvent-based polyurethane varnish directly to the substrate, without primer, you will achieve the effect of wet concrete.  

Product preparation 

Polyurethane clear varnish for concrete and microcement is a two-component product, which means that it consists of a base and a hardener. Of course, remember to mix the ingredients properly, it is important not to confuse the weight and volume proportions. Proportion by weight means that the ingredients must be weighed on a scale before mixing. The volumetric proportion, on the other hand, requires that you first measure the appropriate amount of ingredients in milliliters/litres, using, for example, a cup for mixing paints and varnishes. 

If the proportions are incorrectly selected, the varnish may not harden completely or have a shorter application time. Neodur Varnish polyurethane varnishes are given by weight.

Selecting the right varnish to protect surfaces made of microcement is a very important element to make the surface pleasing to the eye. The quality of the security is also a very important element.