How to apply microcement on stairs in 8 STEPS
- Assess the quality of the substrate before applying the microcement
- Protect the surface around the work
- Grinding the staircase in its bare state
- Priming the surface of the staircase
- Levelling the steps
- Priming of levelled steps
- Application of microcement on stairs
- Varnishing the microcement on the stairs
For a contractor, stairs are a much bigger challenge than walls or floors. They require a lot of preparation, careful protection of the surface around them and great precision in execution. The challenge is well worth it, because the end result is impressive. Below we describe how to make microcement on stairs step by step.
1. ASSESS THE QUALITY OF THE SUBSTRATE
Proper assessment of the quality of the substrate is extremely important and determines the success of the entire project. The substrate for microcement should be load-bearing, with no loose elements, the screed should not be too fresh (wait a minimum of 28 days). Ideally, the stairs should be made of precast concrete. Then we have practically nothing to worry about, as they are almost perfectly straight and smooth. Worse if they have been sloppily poured or are covered with dried mortar that has fallen off when plastering, or if they are old and crumbling. In the following paragraphs, we describe how to prepare the substrate for microcement. However, it is worth saying at the outset that when the substrate is of questionable quality or you do not feel able to move it out properly, it is better to say no to the client than to risk cracks or other surprises. Microcement is a very versatile product, but sometimes it is better to explain to the client that another material (e.g. decking) will be better in the given conditions.
2. SECURING THE SURFACE AROUND
When carrying out finishing work, especially on stairs, protecting the remaining surface from accidental damage is crucial. One of the basic steps you should take is to protect the walls near the steps with strong painter's tape. Be sure to choose a heavy-duty tape that adheres well to the surface and does not leave marks. This will protect the walls from possible dirt or mechanical damage.
The second step is to adequately protect the floor at the bottom of the stairs. For this purpose, the use of paper, thick painter's foil or painter's felt is recommended. Choosing the right protective materials can significantly reduce the risk of damage and make the renovation process easier.
3. STAIRCASE SANDING
Unfinished/developer condition stairs, which do not have a finish, require special attention and preparation prior to further microcement application work. Staircases in the development state may have all sorts of unevenness or even residues from concrete or other building materials. Grinding allows these imperfections to be removed, which is a key step in preparing the substrate for further work. What do you grind concrete with? The unfinished staircase should be grinded with an angle grinder with a concrete grinding wheel. This type of tool effectively and quickly removes irregularities and unnecessary layers of material from the surface of the staircase.
Then, once the grinding of the concrete stairs is complete, it is important to vacuum the surface thoroughly to remove dust and any loose parts. We recommend using industrial hoovers, which are more effective at removing large amounts of dust and dirt.
4. PRIMING (FIRST)
The next step in finishing the stairs is to level them. Before this can be done, however, the stairs need to be primed to even out the absorbency of the substrate and improve the adhesion of subsequent layers. Levelling a stair involves bonding a cement board to the treads and then pouring a self-levelling screed over the treads. By priming the stairs before levelling, we improve the adhesion of this screed to the stair treads.
To prime the stair surface before levelling, use our acrylic primer, FESTGRUNT, which will improve the absorbency of the substrate and improve the spread of the self-levelling mortar.
5. LEVELLING STEPS
Depending on the quality of the substrate, the steps must be levelled to achieve perfect right angles and the same step height. How do you level concrete steps? For this purpose, the technique of reprofiling the steps with cement boards (e.g. Cementex) works well.
First cut the boards to the right length and prime them.
Then glue them (e.g. with tile adhesive) to the treads and, if necessary, make a formwork of gypsum boards and seal the joints with foam.
Then pour a suitable amount of self-levelling screed onto the treads.
Once this has set, any irregularities should be sanded down and the next step can be started.
6. PRIMING (SECOND)
Before proceeding to the application of the microcement, the levelled steps must be primed. For this step, we also recommend using our surface primer, FESTGRUNT, which seals the substrate, prevents water extraction from the mortar, increases the adhesion of the mortar to the substrate, improves the spreading of self-levelling mortars and is vapour-permeable. If you lay microcement without priming, it can become loose or poorly bonded and soft.
The surface should be cured, dry and clean.
Apply the primer with a roller or brush.
Allow to dry for 2 to 4 hours. After this time further work can be carried out.
7. MICRO-CEMENT APPLICATION
Use our staircase-dedicated microcement kit Festfloor Go! Spread the mixture using trowels and other metal tools to a thickness of no more than 1 mm. Apply in quick, vigorous movements in different directions depending on the desired effect, always using the wet-on-wet method. After about four hours, when the material has completely set and is dry, the stairs should be sanded using an eccentric or orbital sander with 60-80 grit sandpaper. After sanding the stairs, the entire surface should be thoroughly vacuumed. The second coat is then applied in the same way as the first.
You can find out what the entire microcement application process looks like:
- from the technical sheets of our microcement systems,
- from our YouTube channel, where we present the whole process step by step,
- in our training course ‘MICROCEMENT STAIRS’. Sign up to ‘Notify availability’ to be informed of the training date.
8. SEALING
Before applying the sealer, it is a good idea to apply FESTPRIMER, which improves the adhesion of the varnish to the substrate and increases resistance to dirt. Finally, we cover the staircase with two coats of varnish. The staircase is exposed to abrasion, so the sealer must be very resistant. In this case, a two-component polyurethane varnish for micro-cement and concrete, PU FEST 2K or PU FEST TURBO varnish with very high surface hardness will work best . It is also important to use a good quality roller. Cheap rollers leave lint on the sealer, which can ruin the end result. Before using a roller, we recommend wrapping it with painter's tape to remove loose lint. Sealing requires wearing a protective paint suit with a hood and shoe protectors. This way, no pollen from clothes, sand from shoes or hair will fall on the freshly painted stairs.
FAQ
What is the price of a microcement staircase made by a qualified microcement contractor?
The completion of a staircase is more demanding than flooring, as stairs always require careful levelling, repairs and great precision in the application of microcement, sanding and varnishing. The price of making a microcement staircase depends on its current condition, the number of steps, the experience of the contractor and the location of the project.
What can be applied to internal stairs instead of tiles?
Microcement is the ideal solution for refurbishing stairs, especially if they already have a ceramic tile covering. You can apply microcement over tiles without scraping them off, slowly saving you time and money and eliminating a lot of disarray during the renovation.
What to finish concrete stairs with?
Concrete stairs can be finished in a number of different ways, depending on your aesthetic preferences, budget and requirements for durability and ease of maintenance. Microcement is suitable for finishing concrete stairs because it is durable, application-friendly, abrasion-resistant, available in many colours and easy to maintain.
Can microcement be used to finish the treads themselves?
Yes, of course, you can finish the treads with microcement. The microcement finish of the treads can be matched with the finish of the treads (e.g. wood) or other elements of the staircase, thus achieving a coherent and harmonious appearance of the whole construction.
With what to level concrete stairs? / What to level an internal concrete staircase with?
To correct unevenness on stairs, we recommend using cement boards on the treads and self-levelling screed on the treads.