Transforming your wall with polished concrete: A step-by-step guide
Want to add a modern, industrial, and sleek touch to your home? Polished concrete is the ideal coating for transforming any wall into a unique and durable decorative element. Whether it's for a kitchen splashback, a living room wall, or a bathroom, polished concrete offers an incomparable finish. Follow this detailed guide to successfully apply polished concrete to a wall.
For this project, we will be using a complete polished concrete kit from Arcane Industries , designed to simplify application. This kit contains all the necessary products, from primer to finish. For a standard-sized wall, a 10 m² kit is generally sufficient.
The Arcane Industries kit consists of:
1 liter of primer: Essential to ensure optimal adhesion to the surface.
2 doses of tinted polished concrete: Each dose is composed of a powder (mixture of cement, fine sand, pigments) and a colored liquid resin. One dose is used per layer.
1 can of “Hydro Surface” water-repellent finish: To protect walls from water and stains.
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Step 2: Preparation and application of the first layer of polished concrete
Once the primer is dry to the touch, you can move on to applying the first coat of polished concrete.
Tools: For optimal application, use a stainless steel coating blade . Its flexibility will allow you to work the material with precision. An application knife can also be useful for smaller areas.
Mixing Preparation: Carefully follow the proportions indicated by Arcane Industries. Mix one part polished concrete powder with one part tinted resin. Ensure the resin is thoroughly mixed before gradually incorporating the powder. Use an electric mixer mounted on a drill to obtain a perfectly homogeneous paste, without lumps, with a creamy consistency. The mixture can be used for approximately 3 hours.
Applying the first coat: Take a small amount of polished concrete on your blade and apply it to the wall in a very thin layer, about 1 millimeter thick . Press evenly and firmly on the blade to spread the material evenly. For edges and corners, use a knife for greater precision.
Step 3: Preparation and application of the second layer of polished concrete
After about 6 hours of drying of the first coat (at 20°C), you are ready to apply the second coat, which is the finishing coat.
Preparation: Prepare the mixture in the same way as for the first layer, respecting the proportions of Arcane Industries.
Application: Apply the second coat of polished concrete using the same technique, still very thinly. This is where you can create the effects and shades by playing with the movement of your plastering blade. Press regularly and firmly to obtain a smooth and even surface.
Ironwork (recommended): Before the concrete is completely dry, you can "iron" the surface. Use a small stainless steel trowel and, by pressing and smoothing the material, you will achieve a softer appearance and a unique finish, characteristic of polished concrete.
Drying before finishing: Allow the polished concrete to dry for 48 hours for light shades and 72 hours for dark shades before moving on to the protection stage.
Step 4: Protective finish (water repellent)
This last step is essential for the durability and protection of your polished concrete wall.
Product: For walls, use Arcane Industries' Hydro Surface , a specially designed impregnating water repellent. This product will protect your polished concrete from water, grease stains and everyday damage.
Application: Hydro Surface is a very liquid product. It can be applied with a brush, sprayer, or ideally with a spalter (a wide, flat brush often used for varnishes). Apply it in a single coat, making sure to work the product well into the polished concrete. You will notice that the surface will darken slightly as the concrete soaks in.
Drying and maximum protection: The surface is dry to the touch in 24 hours, but maximum protection is reached after one week.
Your wall is now transformed with a beautiful Arcane Industries polished concrete ! You've created an elegant, unique, and durable decorative element.
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