FAQs

Microtopping® is a 2-3mm overlay and draws its strength from the substrate. Assuming the substrate meets the minimum surface strength of 25N/mm2, which is satisfied by concrete, tiles, sand and cement screed and many other screeds, the residual effect is similar to a wooden floor giving rise to the same sort of wear and tear such as dents and scratches.

Certainly. Microtopping® is suitable for these types of application because it provides good protection against water penetration. In the restoration or refurbishment of existing surfaces, an appropriate assessment is required by the installer as well as adequate preparation of the base.

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Microtopping® is ideal for external applications such as terraces, footpaths, swimming pool decks, porches and walls, unlike the majority of resins that cannot be applied in exterior environments. Microtopping® is provided with good protection from: water penetration, climatic stress, de-icing salts and UV rays.

After carefully assessing the base and with proper preparation, Microtopping® can be installed on any type of surface. Your Ideal Work installer will know how to advise you on the feasibility or otherwise of the operation and help you to choose the most suitable solution for your requirements.

Certain effective precautions are recommended:

• Provide a doormat at the entry to the house that can retain dust, sand and abrasive particles
• Sweep or vacuum regularly
• Use protective felt under furniture, especially under furniture that is often moved, such as chairs
• In the event it is necessary to move heavy furniture, it is recommended to place woollen cloth under the feet or base of furniture to avoid ugly lines
• Before carrying out painting, electrical jobs, plumbing, moving and handling furniture, protect the floor with cardboard, woollen blankets and nylon sheets.

Cleaning a Microtopping® floor is very simple. A damp cloth is sufficient to clean the surfaces, with the addition of a little neutral detergent for floors (for example PERFETTO! Ideal Work: a specific detergent for decorative Ideal Work surfaces). It is recommended to periodically treat the pavement with protective, superficial products based on self-polishing waxes dispersed in water (for example, Ideal Cera) or beeswax (for example, EASY WAX). Detergents based on soap, acid, ammonia, chlorine or any abrasive detergent products are absolutely prohibited. It is recommended to use only NON AGGRESSIVE, neutral PH detergents.

Microtopping® has perfect adhesion even on surfaces with underfloor heating systems. It is fundamental to choose a suitable support for the heating system installed. Microtopping® has a heat conductivity value of λ =0.46.

Tests of the heat resistance carried out on the material obtained excellent results. Microtopping® was heated to a temperature of 115°C without displaying any defects. However, it is inadvisable to lay boiling objects directly on the surface so suitable heat resistant mats should be used. Moreover, in the case of kitchen tops, it is recommended to use a suitable chopping board, avoiding cutting or chopping directly on the top.

Ideal Work offers a very wide range of protection. The choice of the right protection depends on the requirements of the end customer. There are solvent and water based products. Even though the resin treatment protects the flooring from rapid penetration of accidentally spilled liquids, it is well to remember that all liquid substances, especially those most used in the domestic environment such as wine, oils, vinegar and coffee, must be eliminated quickly from all Microtopping® surfaces before they can penetrate to any depth. Dropped ice cream has particularly penetrative qualities.

Ideal Work Microtopping® is not a resin but a cement-polymer coating for use as a decorative finish (thickness 2-3 mm) for interior and exterior surfaces. Considered an example of a coating with great architectural and aesthetic value, Microtopping® was formulated for the purpose of cladding, restoring and recreating vertical and horizontal surfaces whilst providing the much sought after effect of “cement finished” flooring. The material can be levelled manually.

In addition to being an EC certified product, Microtopping® has been subjected to multiple tests.

Nuvolato Architop® is specially formulated to be finished using a power trowel. It cannot be finished in any other way. The power trowel gives it its style which is similar to its deep laid cousin, power floated concrete. A selection of 31 colours is available and virtually any colour can be specially created using pigments.

Absolutely, yes. It is recommended that the underfloor heating be run through at least three heating cycles to test the substrate’s response to thermal variation prior to application. The underfloor heating must be off during the installation of the Nuvolato Architop® floor.

Nuvolato Architop® will not crack of its own accord but is likely to crack if the substrate below it cracks, known as transfer cracking. Substrate cracking can be caused by a number of reasons including movement or settling of the building materials. The chance of transfer cracking occurring can be significantly reduced with proper substrate evaluation and preparation. Application of epoxy and mesh prior to Nuvolato Architop® is an excellent substrate treatment.

Nuvolato Architop® is a rigid system requiring a rigid substrate with minimum substrate requirements which are typically satisfied by sand and cement screed, tiles, concrete or any other substrate having a minimum surface strength of 25N/mm2 and minimum pull off strength 1.5N/mm2. We or your nominated professional installer will know how to advise you on the necessary preparation for your particular project.

Cleaning a Nuvolato Architop® floor is very simple. A damp cloth or mop is sufficient to clean the surfaces, with the addition of a little neutral detergent for floors (for example perfetto! Ideal Work: a specific detergent for decorative Ideal Work surfaces).You can periodically treat the floor with protective, sacrificial products such as Ideal Cera. Aggressive cleaners containing soap, acid, ammonia, chlorine or other abrasive detergent products must not be used. Our Care & Maintenance Guide  can be found here.

Nuvolato Architop® performs in a similar manner to a power floated concrete floor, and therefore is a very popular choice for very high traffic areas such as restaurants, bars, shopping centres, and galleries.

Nuvolato Architop® floors require joints if, and only if, the substrate to which it is being applied has control joints. These must be respected and mirrored when laying Nuvolato Architop® to prevent any movement along those joints in the substrate causing cracking.

Absolutely, yes. As monolithic concrete flooring, Nuvolato Architop® is extremely resistant to impact as well as vehicular traffic and is often chosen for use in high-traffic areas such as restaurants and commercial retail.

Although Ideal Work Rasico® and Rasico® Touch systems have been specially designed for external use, Nuvolato Architop® can also be used for external applications such as driveways, footpaths and swimming pool decks, assuming the substrate requirements are met. Different sealants with anti-slip beads can be used to enhance slip resistance. The Nuvolato Architop® system is resistant to UV rays and other climatic stress.

The application of acid stain is a relatively quick process, and the amount of time the process takes will depend on the area you need to cover. Typically, acid staining will add at least one day to the overall process.

Certainly, it is possible to create stairs or even vertical surfaces. When dealing with projects that require special processes, it is important to assess the most suitable technical solution with your Ideal Work installer in order to obtain the final result you require.

The coloured acidic solution containing metallic salts comes in contact with the cement flooring and reacts with the alkalinity of the concrete itself, condensing the metallic salts that release the colour. The result is unique for every surface and depends on many variables: the chemical composition, the mix design, porosity, age, texture and colour of the concrete, the number of applications and other factors.

Ideal Work offers a wide range of protection. The choice of the right protection depends on the requirements of the end customer. In principle, even if the surface treatment effectively protects the concrete from rapid penetration of accidentally spilled liquids, it is well to remember that all liquid substances, especially those most used in the domestic environment such as wine, oils, vinegar and coffee, must be eliminated quickly from all surfaces before they can penetrate to any depth.

Absolutely not. Ideal Stain acids are formulated to react only during the 4 hours following application. Once the application is finished and the flooring has been treated with surface protection, even where there is underfloor heating, no substance is released that could be harmful to health. Tests carried out discovered that the acid stain flooring come within class A+ as regards the quality of the air measured inside interior environments.

Rasico® and Rasico Touch (Rasico with an extra, finer coat) is a blend of cement, aggregates, special ingredients for strength and workability, and a binder. Rasico and Rasico Touch are applied mostly externally but Rasico Touch especially, is suitable internally too. Being textured it offers high slip resistance. It can be mixed in many colours including the colours our Classic style which gives the option to continue an interior surface, finished in the Classic style, externally with a similar but slip resistant surface.

In seaside environments, or in areas with cold climates subject to freeze/thaw cycles, it is possible to apply a special sealant to the surface that makes it water repellent and therefore resistant to extreme agents.

Sassoitalia® can be kept clean simply by sweeping and washing the surfaces. It is recommended to wash the floor periodically with water and a Ph neutral (not acidic) detergent.

The aggregate size options vary from 5 mm to 20 mm, both round and split. It is essential that the aggregates are of high quality and have excellent resistance to compression. Marble aggregates are perfect for Sassoitalia® applications.

Sassoitalia® requires joints if, and only if, the substrate to which it is being applied has control joints. These must be respected and mirrored when laying Sassoitalia® to prevent any movement along those joints in the substrate causing transfer cracking.

Sassoitalia® is a 3cm decorative layer over a concrete or suitable screed sub-base. The thickness of the substrate will depend on the traffic. As a guide only, the thicknesses of the concrete or screed required are as follows: 6-8 cm, pedestrian only areas, 8-12 cm, light vehicle traffic areas (cars), 13-20 cm, medium-to-heavy vehicular traffic (cars-lorries).

Certainly, by adapting the joints and using different colours of aggregates and Ideal Work Colourmix, it is possible to create decorations of many types. An example can be seen here.