TT - Fiberglass Mesh & Reinforcement Guide
Installation Guide / Reinforcement Fiberglass Mesh & Reinforcement Selection. Instructions for mesh selection, substrate preparation, corner execution, and bubble remediation.. π‘ Important Pre-Startβ¦
Updated
by tomas martinsson
Installation Guide / Reinforcement
Fiberglass Mesh & Reinforcement Selection
Instructions for mesh selection, substrate preparation, corner execution, and bubble remediation.
π‘ Important Pre-Start Note: The surface must be completely clean, level, and dry before installing the reinforcement mesh. Microcement builds only a few millimeters in thickness and will not conceal underlying irregularities.
1. Fiberglass Mesh Selection
Select the appropriate mesh weight based on your application surface:
β’ 50 g Mesh: The most pliable mesh, primarily used on walls, but also performs excellently on countertops and small floor areas. Installed with a 1β5 cm overlap. For larger floor areas, 58 g mesh is recommended instead.
β’ 58 g Mesh: The standard mesh for larger floor surfaces and stairs. It can also be installed on walls, though it feels slightly stiffer to work with. The mesh can be overlapped, but if the microcement is troweled very thinly, the seam risks telegraphing through. For thin coats, butt-joint the mesh edge-to-edge with high precision.
β’ 58 g Mesh: The standard mesh for larger floor surfaces and stairs. It can also be installed on walls, though it feels slightly stiffer to work with. The mesh can be overlapped, but if the microcement is troweled very thinly, the seam risks telegraphing through. For thin coats, butt-joint the mesh edge-to-edge with high precision.
2. Preparation and Fixing Method
The fixing method depends on whether the substrate is absorbent or non-porous:
β’ On non-absorbent materials (e.g., waterproofing membrane, vinyl sheet, tiles, or laminate): Roll the mesh directly onto the surface with Primacem Plus.
β’ On absorbent materials (e.g., concrete, plasterboard, or self-leveling screed): Seal and prime the substrate first with Primacem ABS or Acricem Resin. Once the primer is dry, roll the mesh into place with Primacem Plus or embed it directly into the first base coat.
3. Installation in Corners
In both internal and external corners, bring the mesh and cement precisely to the edge without rounding off the corner.
Why? If the substrate or building shifts, a sharp corner profile prevents structural stresses and micro-cracks from traveling outward across the flat wall surface. Settlement cracks confined to an internal corner are also easily detailed with an elastic joint sealant afterward.
Why? If the substrate or building shifts, a sharp corner profile prevents structural stresses and micro-cracks from traveling outward across the flat wall surface. Settlement cracks confined to an internal corner are also easily detailed with an elastic joint sealant afterward.
4. Managing Air Bubbles
It is completely normal for minor air pockets to form in the mesh during installation. Address them as follows:
β’ Carefully slit and remove the bubble using a utility knife, either immediately during installation or once the first base coat has dried.
β’ Sand the surface completely flat with 40 grit after the first base coat dries to ensure no protruding mesh strands or high spots remain.
π§Ή Remember: Keep the surface entirely free from sanding dust and loose fiberglass filaments before troweling subsequent coats to ensure optimal adhesion and a smooth finish.
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