Application Tools & Substrate Prep Guide
Planning your bucket quantities? Use our standalone MyCROCEMENT™ Coverage Calculator to calculate exact square footage requirements and material quantities for your room before prepping your workspace.
Substrate Preparation Matrix
Proper surface preparation prevents telegraphing lines (ghosting), delamination, and structural cracking. Ensure your substrate meets these requirements before opening your MyCROCEMENT™ pails:
| Surface Type | Prep & Cleaning Requirements | Required Primer / Reinforcement | Surface Readiness Check |
| Drywall & Backerboard | Patch screw heads, tape joints, and sand flush. Remove all dust with a vacuum. Make sure that any silicone caulk has been removed. | MyPRIMER | Completely flat, dry, and dust-free |
| Existing Ceramic Tile | Deep-clean grease/soap scum, sand* glazed tile, fill grout lines level. | MyPRIMER + Optional Fiberglass Mesh embedded in MyBASE Coat | Rigid, clean, grout lines filled and sanded* smooth and flush |
| Concrete Slabs & Floors | Grind loose debris, repair active cracks, ensure moisture vapor barrier is intact. | MyPRIMER + Fiberglass Mesh embedded in MyBASE Coat | Original Concrete needs to be fully cured (28+ days), dry, free of oil/wax, max 3% moisture |
| Wood & Countertops | Fill seams with a non-shrinking filler such as Ready Patch or Bondo, reinforce sub-framing to eliminate flex. | MyPRIMER | Mandatory Zero deflection or movement under pressure |
In all cases and in all stages, it’s critical to remove all dust as it will inhibit adherence of subsequent layers!
Essential DIY Tool Checklist
Having the correct application and finishing gear ready ensures a seamless application workflow without intermediate drying delays.
Application & Troweling
- Bi-Flex Stainless Steel Trowel: Italian-style flexible trowel with rounded edges to prevent gouging and dark metal burn marks on light microcement tints.
- Margin & Corner Trowels: Dedicated inside/outside corner trowels ensure clean, sharp transitions along shower niches, wall edges, and risers.
- 3/8″ Short-Nap Microfiber Rollers: Delivers an even, lint-free application for primers and polyurethane protective sealers.
What You DON’T Need
In a regular MyCROCEMENT™ application, with a Regular Kit 1 which covers most applications, You definitely DON’T need: mixer, scale, pigment measuring to apply the microcement. That eliminates the possibility of mixing errors. While you do need to mix the 2 MyGUARD ingredients, they are premeasured and that also minimizes the chance of errors while ensuring the best protection of your MyCROCEMENT™ application for reliable waterproofing and enhanced durability.
Surface Refinement
Sanding* is to adjust the desired texture and tactile feel.
- Random Orbital Sander*: Variable-speed sander required to knock down trowel ridges between base coats and polish final coats .
- Aluminum Oxide Sanding* Discs: 80-120-grit for smoothing earlier coats; 220-grit (up to 400-grit as needed) for burnishing finish coats without scratching.
- Alkali-Resistant Fiberglass Mesh Matrix: Critical for reinforcing tile joints and wood seams to prevent telegraphing cracks (ghosting).
- Sanding* discs: It’s highly recommended to use light sanding discs as to not leave color behind on light MyCROCEMENT™.
- It’s recommended that you use a HEPA vacuum system, but it’s not necessary. Just ventilate the area during sanding* and wear a mask (at least N95, preferably N100) to avoid inhaling dust and particles. After the application, remove dust from the area and any others where dust may collect.
Jobsite Protection & Mixing
- Crisp-Line Painter’s Tape & Plastic Sheeting: Masks surrounding fixtures, drains, trim, and glass from MyCROCEMENT™ splatters.
- Variable-Speed Drill & Helical Paddle: Re-homogenizes premixed paste after transit without whipping air into the material.
- HEPA Vacuum & Microfiber Tack Cloths: Complete dust extraction between sanding* passes is mandatory for long-term coat-to-coat adhesion.
Jobsite Environmental Checklist
- Temperature Control: Maintain ambient and surface temperatures between 55°F and 80°F during application and throughout the 48-hour cure window.
- Humidity Threshold: Keep relative indoor humidity below 70%. High humidity slows moisture evaporation and delays topcoat sealing schedules.
- Airflow Management: Disable HVAC forced-air vents directly blowing over the work area to prevent premature surface skinning while troweling.
Technical Resources before you start
*PPE & Cleanliness Notice: Sanding and mixing powders create airborne dust hazards. Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including a fitted dust mask/respirator (N95+), protective eyewear, and gloves. Use adequate ventilation or active dust extraction. Wear suitable footwear to avoid transferring dust outside the work area.