Finishing an Interior Wall with a Microtopping // Make Concrete Walls!

[@recoveryrocksMN]

I was trained by Eric Becker and others just a few months ago, and although I lost my position with rhe company I was with, that training that we went through in MPls Minnesota was phenomenal. Thanks for the info and videos!! FENIX group, thank you for the opportunity to learn more how to use these products and installation as well. You guys rock.

[@Laura-yi3eg]

Rockin the Midwestern Apathy couture! 😂🤣 Thank you for showing microtopping in a wetroom setting.

[@maggiestafford1072]

I needed this video 2 weeks ago before I covered my shower wall with the Surecrete Wall Spray product with a Trowel! It was so hard to figure out how to get the right consistency and how to actually use the trowel (technique). Can I use this product over the super textured wall spray product layer? or do i have to start from scratch? Thanks for this!

[@SergioLopez-gf2zp]

Thank you for this video. I was hoping to make a modern self sustainable home by using cheap materials but doesn't look cheap when finished. So I was thinking maybe I should smooth concrete on plywood but I wasn't sure if that was even an option. But I didn't even think to cut out pre electric sockets as well so you knocked out two birds with one stone on this video. Much appreciated 🙏

[@benbalk8925]

Can you apply this material with a thick stucco/paint roller? Like a 3/4” instead of troweling on?

[@inovishion]

Can this be applied directly on none painted plaster? Or does it need to be primed ?

[@kirillkolesnikov566]

Have you tested this out? My plan is to use quickrete concrete adhesive over plaster.

[@Trashpanda_404]

Do you know if you can waterproof that compound to use for shower walls?

[@Zoomy222]

Surecrete sells sealers for this.

[@body-mindbalance34]

Didn’t cracked? What do you think about cement with fiberglass?

[@stevemiljus3568]

Do you need elastoshield if you apply the micro topping to hardie board?

[@haunthunterify]

I have the same question

[@haunthunterify]

Yes, I contacted them and answer is yes as it will help to prevent cracking.

[@milepostchronicles7895]

Very thankful for this video!!! 🙏🏼 Thoroughly combing your website & videos for research for my project - attempting a microcement look on the flooring of our (fairly) new build condo. As its a multistory building we dont have concrete slab under our ugly carpet but looks almost like hardie board cement backer? Or something of the sort. So i have a couple of questions I’m hoping you can assist with - 1) is the elastoshield necessary? Was planning to tape any seams that might exist when I get the carpet up off the cement board but I see here you have used it as a prep stage. Was that just due to the OSB substrate unevenness or is it necessary for all substrates? (trying to keep cost down 💸) 2) I’m going for a matte finish but as this will be an interior flooring (bedroom) I’m worried about finishing it. Had looked in to the satin dk 400wb but unsure if that’s necessary as a protectant or not. Again trying to keep cost down but want to make sure they last. Worried it may effect the finish look too though Thank you for your help!

[@oldowl4290]

Hi, I'm hoping you can help! I want to do something like this on our living room TV wall. However, I want to make it look like wet and or dark concrete / cement, like there is three large 4 x 8 formed panels. The wall is 8ft tall x 12ft wide wall, and is already drywalled, textured with orange peel style, and probably has at least 2 or 3 coats of latex (its an older house). I've looked at everything from easier faux finish painting techniques, to plaster with some extra sand content, but arrived at various micro-cement videos because I really want it to be at least 3/8" to 1/2" thick to create the vertical seams every 4ft apart as well the realistic voids and divots like real formed concrete walls. So I want it thick enough to create the random scattered rough voids and air pockets you typically see with various formed concrete slab walls. Secondly, FYI, for creating this effect I've seen one plasterer use clear plastic sheeting..like 1/8" thick (and I think with a light oil spray on the back) which they pressed onto the wall once the plaster was troweled to create that "faux form effect" if you will to create the voids and pockets and they leave it there overnight then peel off, in essence mimicking a real wall form. So my main questions I guess are with doing this to an old latex painted wall, do I even need a specialty sealing primer first, and should I possibly use some sort of lathe grid or mesh backing over the primer? Because of the fact that I want it to go on fairly thick..up to 1/2" inch, I just don't want it to crack or peel off the wall. Lastly, it looks like this turned out pretty light / white. As said initially, I want mine dark, like a wet look. How.?? Should I just add a colorant ..or use a top sealer, ..or both ??

[@kirillkolesnikov566]

Can you water trowel it like plaster to get a super smooth finish?

[@monicahallner7931]

Can I use this for shower walls

[@jeffreymartens1963]

Hi

[@ZyanyaCruz]

Hello! Did you add a color to mix in from their site? If so, which one?

[@Busyfoster]

can this be used on concrete shower walls as a topcoat?

[@The_Charlatan]

Ok, awesome. Can I apply this to my basement walls on a new construction?

[@FenixTV4Me]

For sure!

[@randybobandy9828]

Looks great. What's the technique to make sure you hid any lines from the trowel?

[@FenixTV4Me]

By sanding the final coat, you'll hide a lot of those imperfections.

[@martymarfishhunt3622]

Can you apply this over sheet rock? Thank you.

[@FenixTV4Me]

Heck yes! It goes great over sheetrock, painted or not.

[@colegiron1209]

Recommend primer first before

[@FenixTV4Me]

@@colegiron1209 We recommend Surecrete's ElastoShield as a primer.

[@pearlperlitavenegas2023]

What sealer do you recommend to make walls wipe/clean friendly?

[@lexedus]

Is there a more widely available sealer? I have a couple bags of surecrete, but the nearest source of elastoshield is 300 miles away. Looking for something I can get at orange or blue big box stores

[@lalwani07]

After applying the sealer XS-327 as a prime coat and it dried in 12 hours, I noticed the concrete change color. The concrete was darker in some areas while normal in the other, creating a patchy look. Any suggestions on how to fix this so it's not blotchy?

[@StreetEdgeMarketing]

I would say that it's more like a soft pudding consistency rather than peanut butter in the first few applications. The final coat is more like peanut butter.

[@FenixTV4Me]

Good call! I'd totally agree with that.

[@The_Charlatan]

He did say he has never seen peanut butter of that consistency.

[@martinaharrison9538]

I haven't decided yet whether to make art with wood or do this straight onto my wall which is not wood. I watched another video and the girl used feather cement and added it to the wall (not a wooden a wall). Do I use feather cement or microcement or just cement (Everbuild Jetcem Rapid Set Cement for example)? Because I'm not sure I need to source a more expensive cement or what particular wording is important? I tried looking up microcement but it's really expensive? If putting onto wood artwork could I use PVA as the sealant, if I need a sealant? If using wooden panels for artwork, can I use plywood or should I be using rougher OSB wood? (The wooden artwork would not be hanging on the wall but sitting on a narrow low shelf and the wood will cover about half the size of the wall in 3 separate parts, in case you wondered about the weight). I was thinking of doing just one light layer of cement for the weight.

[@brianwohn]

Will this crack with house settling or movement?

[@FenixTV4Me]

It can, yes. If you use the ElastoShield, however, it will mediate a lot of that movement.

[@parroyo44]

Can it be applied over a tile fireplace?

[@midnighter9544]

Do you think this will work on a interior concrete wall

[@nickbollinger6765]

Do you need the elastosheild if you’re applying the surecrete to a backer board like Durock?

[@FenixTV4Me]

You'll still want to apply the ElastoShield, as it also helps mitigate cracking. Thanks!

[@endoalley680]

I hear tell they make a thing called a hawk. And a bucket trowel too!

[@perudia2002]

what's the recommendation when applying microtek, using your technique on a concrete slab garage floor? Do i need to prime it first? what primer if so?

[@FenixTV4Me]

Thanks for the question! We actually don't recommend using MicroTek on areas that will receive vehicular traffic. You'd want to look at our SureBroom or SureSpray for that application.

[@Laura-yi3eg]

Does this need a sealer if the concrete overlay is applied to shower vertical wall? If so what sealer do you recommend?

[@FenixTV4Me]

Yes, for sure! You should make sure to properly waterproof the shower (similar to how you would if you were tiling) and then use a resinous sealer, something like TK-2425 from TK Products or DK-180 from Surecrete.

[@MichaelMartinho]

@@FenixTV4Me I got TK-2425 but looks like it's hard to find, and I need more. How do you feel about DK400WB?

[@forzacontractorscorp8638]

Hello, how do we pre for drywall walls ?

[@FenixTV4Me]

You should be able to follow the same steps. Wipe down the drywall to make sure it's clean, then start the application from the Elastoshield application step.

[@condorcoaching8267]

does it 'feel' like concrete? i am looking for something that ultimately sounds and feels like a dense full concrete wall. i realize this is far from a big fat thick wall, but if you knock on it or slap on it does it give you a dense beefy feedback? I assume the construction your applying to make a big difference. Its in a kitchen so everyone will want to touch it and knock on it to verify its real or course :)

[@FenixTV4Me]

Generally speaking, it will mimic the sound of whatever it is applied to. The tactile feel will be very similar to concrete, but again will mimic whatever it is applied to (if the wall is hollow, you'll be able to tell it's hollow.)

[@nikhilseeraj2237]

Great look. What were the products used on this wall? Any chance of getting the exact listing?

[@FenixTV4Me]

We used the Concrete Coatings MicroTek Smooth Grade for this, but you can use Surecrete's MicroTek One-Coat.

[@JL-247]

Can you coat a porcelain tile and is it waterproof?

[@FenixTV4Me]

This would probably not be the best option for going over porcelain tile. It can be made to be waterproof, but you would need to do some additional prep work and apply some specialized sealers.

[@wyattbiker]

Can I use this on top of a concrete floor to resurface it (has some hairline cracks)? Will it last for a while?

[@FenixTV4Me]

That's actually exactly what this was designed for!

[@VentureSD]

@@FenixTV4Me Can you use 2 coats of the microtek on the floor? I noticed you used the smooth coat instead of microtek for the second coat

[@FenixTV4Me]

@@VentureSD For sure! You can apply multiple coats of the smooth grade, either vertically or horizontally.

[@VentureSD]

@@FenixTV4Me Have you ever seen this product crack after it's applied? My only reservation to microtopping is cracking

[@justaguy328]

@@VentureSD Concrete cracks when its hard and brittle. The thinness of this product is what helps the surface from cracking since it is somewhat malleable even when dried.

[@GreenGrassGirl02]

So excited to use this finish in our bathroom! Wondering how important the two coats of smooth-grade micro-topping is? I'm finding it difficult to source. Could I use the Surecrete One-Coat with a sealer and get close to the same result? Thank you!

[@FenixTV4Me]

The MicroTek One-Coat is a great option! You can do this whole process with that coating and achieve a very similar result.

[@frequencyfusion]

Curios to know how your bathroom came out. I’ll be using One Coat this week on a bathroom.

[@deniserhodes4464]

Can you do this technique to the floors ?

[@FenixTV4Me]

Absolutely! In fact, these products were initially intended for flooring applications.

[@pearlperlitavenegas2023]

What would you seal a bathroom floor with?

[@deniserhodes4464]

Can you do this on top of a vinyl floor?

[@FenixTV4Me]

You'd probably have a bad time with that. You'd want to remove the vinyl before doing anything.

[@joshcleverly7395]

I'm her daughter Can you guys Make floor and wall Or maybe a slide

[@planogal70]

It looks like cake batter.

[@edwardjamesjr1]

Don’t put up trim first - it will become the bane of your existence. Just sayin’