First of all, what is skimcoat? Skimcoat is a surface preparation product and an alternative plastering material that corrects surface imperfections, giving concrete walls a smooth appearance.
It’s great at repairing bubbles, honeycombs, and other concrete defects like waviness and plumbness. While formulation may vary depending on the manufacturer, skimcoat can usually correct imperfections that are 2 mm to 3 mm thick.
An example of a skimcoat product is Konstrukt Permaplast K-201 High-Performance Acrylic Skimcoat! Need it for an upcoming project? Here are things you need to know before you start.
Always Prep Your Surface
The importance of surface preparation before the application of a product—whether skimcoat or paint—cannot be stressed enough. It helps ensure good adhesion, which is vital if you want your product to perform at its best, and that you get a smoother and easier application process.
For skimcoat, you will need to scrape the surface first with a painter’s spatula to remove any loose concrete. If you previously applied render, this will remove excess lumps that have formed. Clean your surface too. Make sure it’s free from dirt, oil, grease, and other contaminants that will interfere with adhesion.
Be Mindful of Pot Life
Pot life pertains to how long your skimcoat can be used after it’s been mixed with cement. After the pot life has elapsed, it will thicken or harden and be difficult to apply. You cannot apply water to loosen up the mixture once this happens.
The pot life for Konstrukt Permaplast K-201 High-Performance Acrylic Skimcoat is 1 hour. It’s for this reason that you also cannot store it for later use once it’s already been mixed. Be smart and mix only what you can apply within the pot life.
Yes, You Need to Apply 2 Coats
We do get questions from both homeowners and painters asking if they can apply just 1 coat of skimcoat. We’re guessing this is to save time and money.
However, Konstrukt engineers say it’s best to follow the recommended 2 coats to get the best results. Applying 2 coats will ensure that all cracks or holes are covered, and all waviness and plumbness are smoothened out.
Spot Prime Hairline Cracks on Skimcoat with Skimcoat
Let’s say you’ve applied your skimcoat coats and notice after that hairline cracks have formed. This is a normal occurrence and shouldn’t be a problem. You can spot prime these minor imperfections with the same skimcoat, as advised by Konstrukt engineers.
Just make sure you’ve checked for debonding, or kapak in Filipino, which would indicate that the skimcoat was not properly applied. You’ll notice it as a hollow sound when you knock on the surface.
There’s an Easy Way to Clean Your Concrete Mixer
A concrete mixer makes it easy to mix your Konstrukt Permaplast K-201 with sifted cement. After you work, you’ll need to clean it. You can try hosing it down but there’s a faster and easier way to do it.
Place your concrete mixer in a bucket with water. Turn it on and allow it to spin until all the cement residue on it has been removed. Dispose of the waste water accordingly and you’re done!
Bonus Tip: Head to Worldbex to See Skimcoat in Action
Worldbex is one of the biggest construction expos here in the Philippines. So, of course, Konstrukt is going to be there! It’s going to be sharing a booth with Boysen and will showcase several of Konstrukt’s star products like Tileworks, Durafill, and the beautiful cement faux finishes of the Lunar series. Konstrukt engineers will be there as well, ready to answer questions or just chat about constructions chemicals.
Sound like something you’d be interested in? Catch the Konstrukt and Boysen booth at Worldbex happening on March 14 to 17, 2024 at World Trade Center Metro Manila and SMX Convention Center Manila.
Hope to see you!
If you have any questions or inquiries about Boysen products, our technical team will be happy to assist you. Send an email to ask@myboysen.com or call (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for a one-on-one consultation.
