ARCASCREED KIT for bathrooms & showers, decorative microscreed, waxed concrete

Tools

Stainless steel trowel, Plastic trowel (for light colors), Flexible joint knife, roller for beton cire, mixing paddle. Clean tools immediately after use with water before hardening.

Simple method of application in 5 points only (see detailed application step by step below):

• Step 1:
  Apply the primer
• Step 2:
  Mix Liquid Pigments + resin then mix the coloured resin with powder to obtain the paste
• Step 3:
  Apply the 2 coats of Arcascreed
• Step 4:
  Apply pore filler
• Step 5:
  Apply 2 coats of varnish

See the: Illustrated Instructions Pdf

How to prepare the surface

Surface preparation is extremely important to ensure proper adhesion of the product.The surfaces must be sound, dryand free of dust, grease and loose particles.If the substrate is very porous or friable, crumbling or powdery, apply one coat of ARCAFIX and let it dry 24 hours then apply the primer..
If there is rising damp : contact us.
Remove by scraping and possibly sanding (with grid 50-60) the old paints, traces of plaster and mastic and then vacuum.
All irregularities must be eliminated. A primer must then be applied for a better adherence of the microcement.Optimum performance is achieved by using the right combination of products, surface preparation and application procedures.
The surface to be treated must be dry, sound, with no traces of oil or laitance, well prepared prior to application.

Primer application

Our primer is suitable for porous and non-porous substrates such as: wood, concrete, plaster, plasterboard, chipboard, screed,reinforced concrete, MDF, brick, breeze block. For porous substrates : add 20% water. Apply one coat of the primer. dryingtime= 12 hours

Caution: on all exotic wood, plywood, marine ply in order to avoid tanin rise (brown stains) apply an oil-based paint or 2 coats of Highprotect varnish (12 hours drying per coat) and then apply the non porous primer.

Apply the adhesive primer with a roller.

Tiled surfaces (non porous):If you apply microcement directly on tiles, you might see the joints hollow. You will need to fill in these joints (grouts) before.
Apply the primer , then fill the joints with tile adhesive, then apply tile adhesive on the whole surface (2kg/m² for 1 to 2 mm thickness) Let dry 12 hours before applying
microcement.

Microcement preparation

a) Stir all the contents of the colorant bottle, (liquid pigment) into the resin bottle = coloured resin
Caution: Sedimentation can appear at the bottom of the liquid pigment bottle, to avoid this, shake generously and pour the products back and forth from one container to another until removing all pigments at the bottom of the pigment bottle. This step is crucial to obtain a stable colour.

b) Prepare the mixture in the bucket by incorporating the powder in the resin following proportions of 3 weights powder for one weight of resin. Use a scale. Example: if you use 300gr powder you will need to mix it with 100gr resin. To avoid lumps, always stir the powder into the resin.

c) Mix manually or mechanically at very low speed until you obtain a homogeneous paste free of lumps prepare only for 1 coat. The final mixture should be smooth, thick and not too liquid.
Working time of the mixture : max 4 hours. Prepare just the quantity you need for each coat.

Microcement application

a) 1st coat: Using a trowel or spatula .This coat has no effect on the final look This implies a thickness of 1 mm or 1kg / m² for each layer. The hardening takes 1-2 hours depending on the substrate and ventilation. If the trowel has already been used, rub its edges with sandpaper to remove any roughness and do not mark the substrate

b) At this stage, you should have about half the amount provided. 24h later, apply the second coat. Apply this second coat with random gestures made with a relatively smooth movement. This gesture influences the final result (grain effect, nuanced or structured etc.) you will need to tighten the pores with a clean trowel (angle 30°)
Once the second layer begins to dry, run the clean trowel almost parallel to the surface as if you were making a fine caress to crush the grain and close the pores. (every 3-4 strokes, clean the trowel with a damp cloth)

This action increases the shades, smoothes the microcement and makes it less porous and more resistant. If the microcement is harder or has dried too much the strength of the scraping can increase.
If it is not dry enough, it may tear itself up > Fix at best and wait for the right time.
Caution: for all light colours you will need to use a plastic trowel (not stainless steel- the floats stainless revealing gray marks)

Sanding: After 24 hours of drying time, Arcascreed is much harder.Sand the surface with a # 120-150 grit sandpaper, clean and vaccuum the surface thoroughly. A pronounced sanding will produce a floor with less material effects.

Warning: high speed sanding with fine abrasives, “burns” the surface by darkening or whitening the colour. Start always application from the exterior of the surface.
Floor heating caution: It is important to stop floor heating 48 hours before the application. Reactivate floor heating 72 hours after of the finalized application.

Protection and finishing products

PORE FILLER
Apply the pore filler everywhere, with a roller, only 1 coat - 200ml for 2m², 500ml for 5m², 1 liter for 10m² - Avoid excess thickness - Substrate must absorb the product.
Drying time = 12 hours - Do not apply varnish before complete drying

HIGHPROTECT VARNISH (two components)

For Arcascreed Bathroom kit, Arcascreed for Exterior, Floors & Stairs and Kitchen’s Kit (Highprotect varnish):

Incorporate the varnish resin into the varnish hardener in a proportion of : 5 weight of resin for 1 weight of hardener. Caution: Prepare mix only for one coat at the time. Mechanically mix hardener varnish for 1-2 minute. A lack of homogeneity reduces resistance. Re-mix before applying. Coverage : 1kg of the mixture = 20m² when applied in 1 coat and covers 10m² when applied in 2 coats.
Apply coats after pore fillers with a roller - Never sand before applying the varnish - Drying time per coat: 12 hours -Mixture duration: 2 hours - Light satin finish- The white appearance of the varnish disappears in drying.

Within 24 hours, the film is completely dry, but the oxygenation application hardening within 7days. Do not wet, stain the surface before this deadline. Or dry immediately with cloth, towel during those 7 days of drying.
For kitchen kit apply 3 coats (the kit contains 2 coats you should eventually order extra High Protect separately).

HIGH PROTECT VARNISH FOOT TRAFFIC:
Allow to cure for a minimum of 24 hours prior to light foot traffic access, 5 days to heavy foot traffic access and 7 days cure at 20°C prior to exposure to chemicals. Lower temperatures will extend the curing time.

Caution:

Maximum temperature between 5 and 25°C. Ideal between 15 and 20°C.

Cracks:
For all microcracks / joints / junctions: embed a mesh calicot into the primer.
Do not apply microcement if there are too many microcracs or if cracks are larger than 1 mm.

For Anhydrite or painted surface (non porous): Sand the surface with grain 60 ,vacuum

Never add water into resin or powder
After implementation of the material the mortar must be protected from wind, sun and frost during hardening.

Drying time

Drying time primer : 12 to 24 hours
Drying time between 2 coats of microcement : 24h
Lifetime of microcement paste (after mixing) : 3 h
Drying time before application of finishing products: 24h
Curing time of varnish: 7 days before washing with water.

Cleaning Tip:

Wait 20 days before using cleaning detergent.

Arcascreed pack size:

Come in 2m², 5m² and 10m² kit. Kindly note that all our kits (2m², 5m², 10m²) are calculated for 2 coats of product.

example with a 5m² kit :
1st coat = 5m²
2nd coat= 5m²

ORDER ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY:

If you have made a mistake or need to order individually each item:

• Primer (1 coat): 200ml for 2m², 500ml for 5m² and 1l for 10m²
• Mortar (2 coats): 3kg for 2m², 7.5kg for 5m² and 15kg for 10m²
• Resin (2 coats): 0.9l for 2m², 2.25l for 5m², 4.5l for 1l
• Liquid pigment: 100ml for 2m², 250ml for 5m², 500ml for 10m²
• Pore Filler (1 coat): 200ml for 2m², 500ml for 5m², 1l for 10m²
• Varnish (2 coats): 2m² kit, 5m² kit, 10m² kit

Store Arcascreed products in dry, cool and frost free conditions. Shelf life is 12 months if unopened.