Have you heard about applying burnt cement to floors and walls? This is a trend that arrived in the world of architecture a few years ago and continues to gain strength - and can be used in the most diverse types of environments.
Formerly, burnt cement was widely used on construction sites and outdoor environments, but several modern and sophisticated spaces incorporate this technique to give a rustic touch. Its application can take place on the wall, the floor, and even the ceiling of residential and commercial spaces.
The secret to the popularity of burnt cement lies in its versatility. Despite being a rustic finish coating, burnt cement combines well with various other materials, and makes it possible to create charming decorations, without losing the elegance and sophistication of the spaces.
More than that, it is an economic and resistant choice, easy to apply and that guarantees a unique and exclusive result - after all, the results are always different.
Considering this reality, more and more people want to include the burnt cement technique in the composition of their environments - whether in their own home, office or commercial establishment. New buildings, major renovations or simply small touches can take advantage of this.
But how to apply burnt cement to your works? What are the precautions that must be taken to ensure a good result? And how to preserve an environment with a burnt cement floor or wall? Check it out soon below!
What are the main applications of burnt cement?
The look of burnt cement can be perfectly adapted to various projects - both in more rustic proposals and in contemporary works. For this reason, there are numerous applications of this technique that can be explored in a work.
In addition to an attractive design, burnt cement makes environments feel larger and more integrated, as they seem to form a single piece. And the coating makes it even easier to clean.
With all these characteristics, burnt cement is already used on all surfaces in a room: floor, wall or ceiling. It also reaches the most diverse rooms in a house: kitchen, living room, bedroom, office, balcony, kiosk, among others.
And business projects are not left out of that. Burnt cement is also used in offices, factories, living spaces, stores, and others.
When we talk about burnt cement, the truth is that the limit is your creativity.
What are the advantages of using burnt cement?
Thanks to its appearance and versatility, burnt cement can bring several benefits to your works. Here are the main reasons for opting for this coating technique:
Sophisticated aesthetics
The interior design and decoration guides and specialists make this very clear: burnt cement is a great alternative for creating a sophisticated aesthetic. The industrial and rustic proposal is trending, especially when mixed with more modern items. Therefore, we are talking about a technique that contributes to the creation of modern and beautiful environments.
Versatility
As we have seen throughout this article, burnt cement can be used on floors, walls, and ceilings - but its applications don't stop there. There are also more varied applications - such as American kitchen countertops, washbasin sinks, columns, stairs, and even niches.
Practical execution
You will check it out in detail below, but let's get started: the application of burnt cement is done in a very simple and practical way.
In addition to being a simple technique to apply, another highlight is the absence of grout on the floor - which generally takes a long time. In other words, we are talking about a more practical and agile option.
Low costs
Are you thinking that all these benefits come with a high cost? Nothing like that! The application of burnt cement has a much lower cost than other alternatives - such as porcelain tile floors, for example.
How is burnt cement made?
The effect of burnt cement coating is achieved by applying a simple cement mortar to the wall, with some care to ensure the effect of burnt cement on the final result.
Basically, the coating is made with a simple cement mortar, which requires three basic elements for its manufacture: cement, sand and water. In some cases, it may also be interesting to increase the mortar mixture with additives to improve adhesion and avoid potential cracks or cracks after drying.
As additional materials, it is necessary to use a drill to smooth the floor, a saw for expansion joints, and a product for waterproofing and ensuring a finish with good durability for the surface. When choosing the materials to be used, there are still some precautions regarding the desired floor finish.
While normally the preferred finish is the stained gray itself characteristic of burnt cement, it is possible to obtain shades of gray or even add other colors to the mix with the use of pigments.
8 steps to apply burnt cement to your works
Burnt cement is a coating produced with simple materials, but performing the technique correctly to guarantee a good result requires a series of care.
There are several steps that must be followed in order for the coating to acquire the desired resistance and finish. But what are those steps? Check out the step by step on how to apply burnt cement below:
1. Surface preparation
The first step in applying burnt cement is to prepare the surface that will receive the mortar - be it floor, wall, ceiling, or another option. Regardless of the chosen surface, it must be properly leveled and cleaned.
To do this, remove the furniture from the room and clean the area to remove any loose dust or dirt. If there are stains from oil or other chemicals, you can wash the surface with water and mild soap.
2. Preparing the mortar
With the surface ready for the application of the burnt cement, it's time to make the mixture. To do this, three ingredients will be needed: cement, sand and water.
Normally, a cement and sand trace of 1:3 or 1:4 is used - that is, one measure of cement for three or four of medium sand. Sift each of the materials individually, and gradually add the water until a homogeneous mixture with the desired texture is obtained.
3. Application of the mortar
The time has come to apply the burnt cement to the surface. To do this, it is recommended to moisten the floor that will receive the mortar for better adhesion. Splash some water on the surface, and pour in the mortar mixture, taking care that the thickness of the layer is neither too thin nor too thick.
4. Mortar leveling
As the mortar is applied to the surface, use an aluminum cutter or ruler to smooth and level. For this step, a vibrating ruler can also be used, if available.
5. Burning of cement
We have reached the stage that differentiates the application of the burnt cement technique!
While the mortar is still wet, spread dry cement powder over the entire surface. Wait for the mixture to absorb the powder and then pass the cutter over the entire length again, making circular movements. This will ensure the characteristic effect of burnt cement after drying.
6. Healing process
The process of applying burnt cement is not yet finished after firing. O Healing process it is essential to ensure the strength and durability of the result, avoiding the appearance of cracks and cracks.
To do this, we have to consider that cement takes a few days to dry - and the curing process must be slow and always moist. Prevent the sun from hitting the surface directly for the first 72 hours, and maintain the moisture of the mortar by wetting the floor every 8 or 12 hours, for 5 to 8 days. After that, you can let it dry completely and proceed to the next steps.
7. Expansion joints
When applying burnt cement to floors, it is necessary to make cuts of the expansion joints a few days after concreting. These joints allow the cement to have space to carry out its thermal movements, and prevent cracking or displacing the floor - especially on large surfaces.
Normally, the joints should be at a distance of no more than 4 meters. Demark a 4x4 mesh and make the cuts using a saw.
8. Finishing and finishing
We have reached the final stage of the process of applying burnt cement!
After the burnt cement has dried (and the expansion joints in the floor have been cut), the surface is ready to be finished. For a finer finish, you can sand the surface before applying the waterproofing finisher.
It is important to use a product to protect the surface and ensure the durability of burned cement, and many people use waxes or resins for this purpose. However, be careful when choosing the product, as it can alter the color of the result, or even stain the cement and damage the desired effect.
Care to ensure a good result with burnt cement
To ensure a beautiful and long-lasting result with the application of burnt cement, there are small precautions that must be taken. Let's highlight the main of them:
- Surface preparation. Before starting, it is important that the surface on which the application will be made is well cleaned. The presence of dust, grease, or moisture can make it difficult for the dough to adhere - causing problems such as stains or peeling in the future.
- Form of applying the mortar. Another point to pay attention to is the way the mortar is applied. As we saw in the step by step, the effect of Burnt cement on the wall it is not reached with just one application - a thin coat is required, making circular movements with the sponge or cutter.
- Creation of the burnt cement effect. At the end of applying the mortar, it is still necessary to burn the cement, which is responsible for resulting in the typical effect of burnt cement. With the dough still wet, it is important to sprinkle cement powder on the wall and wait for it to be absorbed and then smooth the surface with a puncher. Only in this way will the appearance of burning in the cement be perceived.
- Be careful with the finishing. To ensure durability and beauty, remove excess dust with a rag after complete drying. After that, polish the surface with fine sandpaper, which will be responsible for preventing moisture and dirt stains on the wall.
How to avoid common problems when applying burnt cement?
To ensure a successful burnt cement application, it is also important to know the common problems that may arise. See which are the main ones:
- When applying burnt cement to a floor, it is essential that the subfloor be porous and that the finish is applied before the cream dries.
- To minimize the appearance of cracks, you can make expansion joints, so as to form square-section cloths. Upon completion, the joints are practically imperceptible, forming a checkerboard mesh of small discreet lines on the floor.
- It is important to pay attention to weather conditions on the day the finish is carried out. Very dry and hot days (with relative air humidity below 40% and temperature above 25ºC) increase the likelihood of the onset of Trincas superficial.
- Since the use of burnt cement results in a monolithic floor, it is recommended to be careful with the formation of cracks. To do this, it is necessary to make cuts of the expansion joints a few days after concreting.
- The shade of the burnt cement varies depending on the drying time. Areas that heal faster tend to be lighter, while those that take longer to dry take on darker tones. Therefore, variation in the coloration may occur, which, in excess, acquires the appearance of a stained surface instead of the expected rustic natural appearance.
- Finish the process of applying burnt cement with a resistant material and waterproof, able to guarantee the protection of the effect of your coating against all kinds of imperfections. This way, you avoid the appearance of stains, cracks, moisture, mold and the incorporation of dirt into the surface.
Count on the help of Blok products!
To obtain even better results by applying burnt cement to your works, you can count on the help of Blok products — which offers high quality products for different types of works.
BlokSeal CC
Cement is a porous material, which needs to be protected by a layer of product after its application. Without it, the burnt cement wall is subject to the most diverse types of problems, such as the appearance of stains, cracks, moisture, mold, and the incorporation of dirt into the surface.
As a result, there is a risk of losing the beauty of the burnt cement effect, requiring reapplication of the material and bearing new costs of maintaining the coating.
Therefore, it is recommended to finish the burnt cement wall correctly, using a resistant and waterproof material, able to guarantee the protection of the effect of your coating against all types of imperfections.
For this reason, Blok developed BlokSeal CC, a high-performance, silane-siloxane-based water repellent, which promotes an invisible layer of protection and prevents infiltrations.
Specially developed for those who work with wall coverings, BlokSeal CC is a product that easily repels water, preserving the entire surface for much longer without altering the color and brightness of the finish.
Avoid infiltration, stains, efflorescence and darkening of the surface with the water-repellent silicone BlokSeal CC, which also prevents dirt from accumulating.
BlokSeal Floors
BlokSeal Floors is a high-performance water repellent, specially developed to offer maximum protection to floors porous.
When applied, BlokSeal creates an invisible layer of protection, which prevents water infiltration and does not modify the appearance of the materials, ensuring that the effect of the burnt cement remains intact after its waterproofing.
In addition to protecting your burnt cement floor from water and humidity, BlokSeal Floors helps to reduce wear and water retention, as well as the accumulation of dirt, reducing maintenance costs and promoting more safety, even in high-traffic areas.
Did you like the tips for applying burnt cement to your works? Do you want to learn more about Blok products for successful projects? Then visit our page or contact our team!
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