Microtoppings - The Most Diverse of All Decorative Overlay Types

This is an excerpt from the new e-book “Concrete Overlays Today,” part of a series of reports from ConcreteNetwork.com on trends and insights about decorative concrete applications.

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Microtoppings, or thin-section overlays, run the spectrum from spray deck products for driveways and pool decks to high-end trowel-grade materials for interior residential and commercial spaces. They also run the spectrum when it comes to strength. Knock-down systems can reach 3000 psi, while higher-end interior systems used in high-traffic situations can top 6000 psi. “Of all decorative overlay systems, microtoppings command the largest portion of the market,” says Terry Grimble, director of technical services for Bomanite Co.

Microtoppings also offer the most variation in regard to color and finishes. They can be applied plain, colored integrally, or be topically colored with stains and dyes. The ability to manipulate the look of a microtopping to create a wide range of finishes and colors is a big selling point. In recent years, microtoppings have grown in popularity because of their competitive price. “People are looking for the most inexpensive floor with the best look,” says Ryan Connors, owner of Modern Concrete Surfaces, Signal Hill, Calif.

This is where microtoppings excel. You can offer so much with a microtopping that it really comes down to what the client is willing to pay and how creative the applicator wants to get. “It does not matter if the job is residential or commercial. The look is what is important, and then we match the product to realize that look,” says Connors. Modern Concrete Surfaces offers a wide range of “stock finishes” but takes advantage of the flexibility of microtoppings to find products and finishes that meet the demands of their clients.

The demand for more utilitarian exterior microtoppings is also growing. The exterior microtopping market is not quite as demanding in color and unique finish, but every bit as demanding in terms of performance and weathering the elements. In the warmer Sunbelt climates, spray deck or knock-down microtopping finishes have long been popular. These are the most common finishes found around pool decks, and for exterior concrete surfaces such as driveways, walkways and patios, and they continue to grow in popularity as the technology improves and more people realize the aesthetic benefits. These types of finishes have proven themselves reliable to a point that they are now becoming more common in colder, more environmentally demanding areas. “Residential homeowners are becoming more comfortable with topping exterior concrete,” says Chris Becker, managing director of the architectural concrete division of Stockness Construction, Hugo, Minn. In his locale, microtoppings have to endure a harsh environment, so weather-resistance is one of the top factors he considers in material selection, followed by the client’s artistic demands and budget constraints.

Another application where microtoppings are establishing a niche is in the area of specialty and designer finishes, including vertical wall coverings, bathroom showers, and countertops. “The multiple colors and textures you can get with a microtopping are not achievable with regular concrete. These systems give the installer a lot more options,” says Trevor Foster, western sales manager with Miracote Products. Foster has seen a big jump in specialty applications such as showers and walls, and feels that trend will continue as more installers see what can be done with these products. The design community, in particular, is realizing the clean look that microtoppings can provide. “You can produce a large surface area without any grout lines,” says Foster. This is very attractive not only for specialty applications such as walls and vertical surfaces, but also on large commercial flooring projects.

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