How Long Does Microcement Take to Install and Cure
Microcement is a thin material with a lot of waiting in it. The trowel work is quick, the drying is not, and most disappointment comes from a programme that ignored the second part.
Where this works
- Planning a bathroom renovation around one working shower
- Sequencing a kitchen floor with the kitchen fitters
- Commercial fit outs where handover dates are fixed
- Winter projects in unheated extensions
- Coordinating with underfloor heating commissioning
How we install it
- 1Day one, preparation
Protection, tap testing, grinding or abrading, crack repair and priming. This is the dusty day and the one most likely to grow if the substrate is worse than the survey suggested.
- 2Days two and three, basecoats
First basecoat with mesh bedded in, then the second once the first has dried. Cold or humid conditions extend this, which is why winter jobs in unheated rooms need an extra day allowed.
- 3Day four, finish coats
Two fine coats with sanding between them. This is the stage where the character of the finish is set, and it cannot be rushed by adding heat.
- 4Days five and six, sealing
Sealer coats with a minimum interval between each. The room must stay empty and ventilated. Full chemical cure of a polyurethane sealer continues for around seven days after the last coat.
Common pitfalls we prevent
Frequently asked
How long before I can walk on a microcement floor?+
Twenty four hours after the last sealer coat in socks or clean soft shoes. Furniture goes back at seventy two hours and rugs or mats after seven days, once the sealer has hardened fully.
How long until I can use the shower?+
Seven days from the final sealer coat. The finish looks ready long before that, but the polyurethane is still hardening and early use is the most common cause of premature wear in a shower.
Does cold weather slow it down?+
Considerably. Below about 10 C the basecoats and sealers slow right down, so in winter we either provide temporary heating and dehumidification or add a day or two to the programme.
Can the work be done faster?+
The application can be compressed slightly with rapid sealers on commercial jobs, but the drying between coats cannot be skipped. Anyone offering a full wet room in two days is leaving something out.
When can underfloor heating be turned back on?+
Gradually from seven days after the final coat, raising in small steps over several days rather than straight to the normal set point.
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