Limecrete
Tadelakt microcement of great hardness and artisan finishes
Discover a new range of high-performance microcements where technology blends with craftsmanship.
Limecrete EXTRA: tadelakt microcement for preparation and finishing
Limecrete BASIC: tadelakt microcement for base and finish
Limecrete MEDIUM: tadelakt microcement finish for floors and walls
Limecrete THIN: tadelakt microcement finish for walls
Why choose Limecrete tadelakt microcement?
Limecrete is a decorative coating made in the most sustainable way possible that is capable, through its application, of achieving surfaces full of textures and unique nuances. It brings naturalness and delicacy to any room but, however, it behaves like one of the most resistant microcements on the market and has a series of advantages that we detail below.
Continuity never interrupted
By not needing expansion joints, Limecrete becomes a coating capable of generating infinite surfaces, wider and brighter, of endless beauty since this is a material in which cracks or crevices do not appear.
Exquisite adherence
As a decorative coating, Limecrete demonstrates an extraordinary adaptability. Thus, it can be applied and perfectly adapts to existing supports regardless of whether the material that forms it is concrete, cement, ceramic, cardboard, plaster or drywall.
Maximally workable
This represents a great advantage over other coatings since with such maneuverability you can obtain the finishes you want.
Finishes full of naturalness and color
Being able to be reviewed, Limecrete offers a huge range of effects and textures. Thus, the tadelakt or exposed concrete effects that can be obtained may be in different finishes: matte, satin and gloss.
Applicable with the "wet on wet" technique
This coating is decorative because it accepts to be applied with techniques that would be unthinkable in other materials. Thus, it can be worked with the "wet on wet" technique to achieve those appreciated effects.
Hardness and durability in any space
Limecrete is a tadelakt microcement with great decorative qualities due in part to the resistances it treasures and that give it an extra hardness that allows it to last much longer when applied indoors or outdoors or on walkable or non-walkable surfaces.
Maintains constant hygiene
Being lime-based, Limecrete has great antibacterial properties that keep any surface in perfect hygienic conditions. In addition, it is very easy to clean as stains or dirt do not stick.
The continuous coating with infinite aesthetic possibilities
Limecrete is a decorative coating that has been created with the purpose of being able to obtain an infinite number of finishes. Thus, we take inspiration from the Moroccan decorative trend used on the walls of luxury riads and objects, such as vases, that decorated these traditional Moroccan buildings.
Respecting tradition, at Luxury concrete, we have modernized this material so that its effects can be adapted to any decorative style, both those that were trendy some time ago and those that are today.
In this way, this tadelakt microcement, characterized by achieving effects and nuances that are only within its reach, such as tadelakt or exposed concrete, is capable of combining these with multiple decorative styles such as Nordic, rustic, classic or vintage.
Tadelakt: the tradition that is in fashion
Smoothness, naturalness, tradition, warmth, elegance, artisanal appearance... All these attributes are present in the walls and floors that are coated with Limecrete as our coating is based on this ancestral material that emerged in Morocco 2,000 years ago.
Exposed concrete: a touch of modernity
Limecrete also allows achieving visual effects like those of a material such as concrete, which when left in sight becomes a very used aesthetic element in industrial environments. Thus, with this coating, rooms can be endowed with this appearance that combines very well with the industrial or minimalist decorative style.
Fresh on fresh: total customization
To achieve the highest level of customization on any surface, Limecrete allows application with the "fresh on fresh" technique. Thus, to apply the last layer, there will be no need to wait for the previous one to dry completely so that it can absorb all the decorative nuances that are always provided in the final layer.
The tadelakt microcement of maximum technical performance
Limecrete is a microcement that not only guarantees exceptional results at a decorative level. With this coating, it is not necessary to use large amounts of material to achieve the desired results.
Of course, when applying it, we will have to take into account the support that is going to be coated, since the performance will depend, among other things, on this. Next, we are going to see how the different products in the Limecrete range behave in a standard application:
- LIMECRETE EXTRA – (Two hands): 2 kg/m²
- LIMECRETE BASIC – (Two hands): 1.4 kg/m²
- LIMECRETE MEDIUM – (Two hands): 1 kg/m²
- LIMECRETE THIN – (Two hands): 0.5 kg/m²
How to apply Limecrete tadelakt microcement on floors
Step 1. Support preparation
Firstly, and for the application to be successful, it is necessary to clean the surface of grease or dirt, as well as repair it if it has cracks or other irregularities.
Step 2. Floor priming
To increase the adhesion of the microcement, the support must be primed, always with the correct primer depending on the support.
Step 3. Place flexible fiber mesh
It is essential to use a fiber mesh to prevent cracks and fissures, prior to the application of Limecrete.
Step 4. Mixing microcement with resin
(see proportions in technical sheet)
In this step, first you have to pour the resin into a container and then add the pigment and stir both until achieving a homogeneous mixture. Once we achieve a homogeneous finish, add the Limecrete mortar and mix for 4 minutes at low revolutions.
Step 5. Apply 2 coats of Limecrete EXTRA/BASIC microcement
Apply two coats of Limecrete EXTRA or BASIC with a metal trowel, allowing 4 hours of drying time between coats. Then sand with 40 grit. This step is important because the final finish will depend on it.
Step 6. Apply 1 coat of the tadelakt Limecrete EXTRA/BASIC/MEDIUM microcement
To achieve the desired finish, a coat of Limecrete MEDIUM, EXTRA or BASIC tadelakt microcement must be applied. This layer will be left to dry for 4 hours and at the end of its drying, it will be sanded with 40 grain.
Step 7. Sealing
Once the last coat of Limecrete has been applied, it must be sealed. The sealer will be applied between 24 and 48 hours later. The procedure will be as follows: first, 2 coats of Primacrete Finish will be applied (leave 4 hours between coats) to finish using the Concrete Finish WT varnish (with a drying time between coats of 8-24h).
How to apply Limecrete tadelakt microcement on walls
Step 1. Conditioning of the support
Clean or repair the wall so that there is a consolidated and regular support on which Limecrete can be applied.
Step 2. Wall priming
Use the adhesion promoter that best suits the wall you want to cover, taking into account the material characteristics of it.
Step 3. Add the resin to the mortar
Mix the resin and pigment until a homogeneous finish is achieved. Then, incorporate Limecrete microcement and mix at low revolutions for 4 minutes.
Step 4. Apply 2 coats of the tadelakt Limecrete EXTRA / BASIC microcement
Apply, with a metal trowel, two layers of Limecrete EXTRA or Limecrete BASIC, letting each one dry for 4 hours. After the drying time, sand with 40 grain.
Step 5. Apply 1 layer of the tadelakt microcement Limecret EXTRA / BASIC / MEDIUM / THIN
To finish decorating and achieve the desired finish, apply 1 coat of EXTRA, BASIC, MEDIUM or THIN tadelakt microcement. Drying time between coats: 4 hours. Once dry, sand each layer with 40 grain.
Step 6. Sealing
Seal with 2 layers of Primacrete Finish 24-48 hours after applying the finishing layer. Leave 4 hours between the two coats. Then, use 2 layers of varnish, we recommend Concrete Finish WT, leaving a drying time between layers of 8 to 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions about tadelakt microcement
1. What is tadelakt?
Composed of various limes, tadelakt is a stucco effect coating that ensures finishes full of naturalness and very high levels of impermeability. It is a handmade decorative technique that is used when it is intended to obtain areas full of softness and spaces full of warmth.
2. What does tadelakt consist of?
Tadelakt is a decorative technique that emerged about 2,000 years ago, obtained by dyeing lime with natural pigments. Although it is an eminently traditional resource, which is manually applied with a trowel, its formula has evolved to mix lime and marble powder. This is obtained by dyeing the lime with natural pigments and then polishing it with pebbles.
3. What is the origin of tadelakt?
Tadelakt originated in Morocco, two millennia ago, as a decorative technique that was used to protect the walls of hammams from moisture, giving them a special touch. Likewise, due to its aesthetic qualities, it was also used in riads or to create decorative elements such as vases or jars.
As a term, it comes from the Arabic verb "dakala" and means "to polish, massage".
4. Main advantages of tadelakt
The tadelakt microcement has a series of virtues, both technical and aesthetic, that make it one of the most used stuccos in the sector when creating resistant surfaces with certain aesthetic effects. Next, we are going to detail the most outstanding ones:
100% sustainable
Tadelakt is made with natural materials and through processes that respect the environment to leave no trace on the planet. This ancient coating continues to be manufactured in a traditional way to reduce its ecological footprint.
Great Waterproofing
This coating is the most suitable to apply in spaces where very high ambient humidity can appear. It is recommended to apply in bathrooms and other rooms where water vapor is common as it prevents mold or other problems derived from humidity from appearing.
Multiple finishes
For its effects and nuances, tadelakt adds a wide variety of colors with which to achieve the most personalized finishes and create spaces that adapt to the maximum to the tastes of the customers.
High durability
This coating allows to create surfaces that remain in perfect condition, resisting blows and other threats thanks to its lime content.
Applicative versatility
The tadelakt microcement, due to its great constructive properties, can be used on any surface or location. Thus, it can be applied on walls and floors whether they are indoors or outdoors. Applicable from facades to furniture, this coating has been demonstrating its great versatility for 2,000 years.
5. Is Limecrete applicable outdoors?
Having outstanding chemical and mechanical resistances, Limecrete is a tadelakt microcement that can be applied on surfaces that are outdoors with total guarantee.
6. Does it require mesh when the tadelakt microcement is applied?
Being lime-based, Limecrete has hardly any shrinkage, which makes it a very durable microcement in which cracks are rare. Even so, for the best results, the use of mesh is recommended, especially when the surfaces to be covered are pavements.
7. What primer is the most suitable?
At Luxury Concrete we have a range of adhesion promoters that can be applied with Limecrete. We recommend using Primacrete ABS or Primacrete Plus and, in case of damp rooms, the Impoxy primer, our two-component epoxy system.
8. Can new colors of tadelakt Limecrete microcement be created?
The Limecrete color chart has 34 colors but, as a demonstration of its great adaptation to the customer's tastes, other shades can be created without any problem.
9. Are all Limecrete particle sizes suitable for floors and walls?
No. Although the EXTRA, BASIC and MEDIUM granulometries can be used both on pavements and on vertical surfaces, the THIN grain size can only be applied on walls.
10. Can water or resin be added to the Limecrete tadelakt microcement?
Yes, but it must be done meticulously. Thus, if you want to give it more fluidity, you can add resin without exceeding 2%. However, it is recommended to check the technical sheet.