Substrate type
Cement and cement lime plaster, concrete surfaces, cement finish, plasterboard, reinforcing layer in EPS-based insulation systems.
Substrate preparation
The substrate should be even, smooth, clean, stable, sound and properly cured (putty, cement finish and adhesives at least 3 days from application, plaster coatings after 28 days from application, cured concrete). Remove brittle and loose material of poor adhesion, patch chipped areas with ALPOL AZ 130 quick-setting mortar or ALPOL AZ 135 levelling mortar. Treat loose or absorbing substrates with ALPOL AG 700 deep-penetrating primer. Even out all surface irregularities using e.g. ALPOL AK 531 or ALPOL AK 532 insulation adhesive. On larger irregularities, use also ALPOL SW 145 fibreglass reinforcing mesh. Possible substrate unevenness may result in uneven aggregate distribution on the surface and, as a result, produce uneven colour. At least 12 hours before planned plaster application, thoroughly treat the substrate with ALPOL AG 705 primer stained to match the colour of the decorative plaster. Fine-grained patterns in dark colours on large continuous surfaces are not advisable. In all cases, in order to obtain the desired visual effect, it is recommended to divide the surface into smaller sections, e.g. imitating bricks, slabs or stone blocks, using painting tapes or ALPOL self-adhesive templates that are glued to the primed substrate. In order to achieve attractive deeper joints that imitate stone slabs, the substrate must be properly pre-treated using a rustic strip.