We’re in that time of year when we refresh our homes, and paint remains the most commonly used finish for walls and ceilings. However, architects and designers are constantly seeking innovative materials to set new trends.
Recently, Weco launched W180 Plaster Finish™, a dry mortar that creates a thin coat mimicking polished concrete or exposed cement. It allows users to experiment with textures and tones, breaking away from uniform finishes across entire surfaces. W180 Plaster Finish™ is made from a careful blend of ultra-fine aggregates, cement, polymers, and chemical additives. It’s ready to mix with water and provides a highly workable and easy-to-apply finish. It can be applied as thinly as a coat of paint, making it useful for patching imperfections in old painted surfaces before repainting. Thanks to its high adhesion, it can be applied durably over painted surfaces, concrete, fiber cement panels, wood, and more. The final color is a light cement gray, and after 28 days it reaches compressive strength exceeding 4,000 psi (pounds per square inch).
Preparing and applying W180 Plaster Finish™ is simple. Here’s how to do it:
- In a clean container, pour 1¼ gallons of clean water.
- Add the full bucket of W180 Plaster Finish™ (35 lbs of dry material) to the water to reach the correct consistency.
- Mix slowly using a variable-speed drill. For best results, use the Cortag® HM-140 electric mixer at a maximum of 600 RPM for 4 minutes.
- Ensure the surface is clean and free of dust or contaminants that could affect adhesion.
- Apply the product directly with a metal trowel in a layer no thicker than ¼”.
- Create your desired finish using circular motions with a damp sponge or rubber float. Drying time may vary depending on thickness and air/temperature conditions.
- To protect the surface and highlight its color, we recommend sealing it with 511 Seal and Enhance by Miracle Sealants®.
You can find W180 Plaster Finish™, the HM-140 electric mixer by Cortag®, 511 Seal and Enhance by Miracle®, and other Weco® Professional System products at Interior Systems in Ponce, Maderas 3C / DecoCentro in San Juan, Cabo Rojo Lumber Yard, Ferretería Dunas in San Juan, Ferretería Oronoz Hermanos in San Sebastián, any Ace Hardware in Puerto Rico, True Value stores in Puerto Rico, and other local hardware stores.
Engineer Julian Motta is Weco’s Business Development Manager and a specialist in adhesives and mortars. To learn more about this and other construction industry topics, visit www.wecopr.com, facebook.com/wecopr, or call 787-739-3751.