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Mapei Planitop Fine Finish: A Product Overview
When you need to turn rough, uneven, or defective concrete into a perfectly smooth surface, Planitop Fine Finish is the solution that delivers certainty. This is a high-performance, one-component cementitious mortar, expertly formulated for skimming and finishing both internal and external concrete structures. It’s the trade professional’s choice for correcting surface imperfections and preparing walls for a flawless paint finish, ensuring you can stand behind your work with confidence.
Engineered for practicality on site, Planitop Fine Finish mixes to a smooth, trowelable consistency with excellent adhesion. You can apply it in layers up to 3 mm thick or skim it down to a perfect feather edge without needing a separate bonding promoter, saving time and materials. Its rapid-hardening properties mean you're not waiting around; surfaces are typically ready for painting with professional systems like Mapei’s Elastocolor or Colorite lines in just 7 days, keeping your project on schedule.
3mm
Maximum application thickness in a single layer, right down to a perfect feather edge.
Core Features & Specifications
- Ultra-Fine Texture: Made with selected fine-grain aggregates, it delivers a smooth, dense surface that’s ideal for high-quality exposed finishes and paintwork.
- Excellent Adhesion: Bonds tenaciously to correctly prepared concrete substrates without the need for a primer, ensuring a durable, monolithic repair.
- Feather-Edge Application: Can be skimmed down to a zero edge seamlessly, eliminating the need to build up surrounding areas for a perfect blend.
- Rapid Hardening: Develops strength quickly, with surfaces ready for painting in approximately one week under good conditions, accelerating project timelines.
- Versatile Application: Suitable for both internal and external use on a wide range of concrete elements, including walls, beams, pillars, and panels.
The Planitop Fine Finish Advantage
- Eliminate Call-Backs: Its high-performance formulation and excellent bond strength mean your finishes last, preventing delamination and defects.
- Achieve a Superior Finish: The ultra-fine texture eliminates the small imperfections that can ruin a paint job, giving you a result you can be proud of.
- Increase On-Site Efficiency: With a 45-minute pot life and easy trowel application, you can cover more area with less effort, saving valuable labour time.
- Work with Confidence: Complies with EN 1504-2 principles MC and IR, providing documented performance for concrete surface protection that meets specifications.
- Simplified Inventory: One product handles a wide range of skimming and levelling tasks, from repairing minor defects to full-wall finishing.
Applications in Practice: Trade Scenarios
For Remedial Contractors: Repairing Precast Panels
The Professional's Challenge
Precast concrete panels often arrive on site with minor surface defects, chips, or pour lines that are unacceptable for an architectural finish. The challenge is to correct these imperfections efficiently without compromising the monolithic appearance of the structure.
The Adheseal Solution
Planitop Fine Finish is the ideal solution. After preparing the substrate, apply the mortar with a metal spreader to fill defects, then skim the entire surface to a maximum of 3mm to create a uniform appearance. Its ability to be feathered to a zero edge ensures a seamless repair that blends perfectly with the original concrete.
Best Practice Note
For the best colour consistency on exposed finishes, lightly dampen the surface with a sponge float a few minutes after application. This helps to create a uniform, smooth finish.
For Painters & Decorators: Preparing Concrete Walls
The Professional's Challenge
Achieving a high-quality paint finish on a concrete wall is impossible if the substrate has imperfections. Surface defects, unevenness from formwork, and second pours will show through the final paint coat, resulting in an unprofessional job and potential client rejection.
The Adheseal Solution
Use Planitop Fine Finish to skim the entire wall surface after initial preparation. Its ultra-fine texture fills pinholes and minor defects, creating a perfectly smooth and consistent substrate. This ensures excellent paint adhesion and a uniform appearance, delivering a professional finish that won't require rework. The surface is ready for quality paint systems within 7 days.
Best Practice Note
In hot or windy conditions, it's critical to protect the mortar from drying too quickly. After it becomes touch-dry, periodically spray the surface with water for the first few days to prevent shrinkage cracks and ensure maximum hardness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How thick can I apply Planitop Fine Finish?
You can apply Planitop Fine Finish in layers up to 3 mm thick. Crucially, it can also be skimmed down to a perfect feather edge, allowing you to blend repairs seamlessly without creating ridges.
What is the correct substrate preparation for this mortar?
The substrate must be perfectly clean, sound, and free of any loose material or dust. Most importantly, the surface must be in a 'saturated surface dry' (SSD) condition. This means you must thoroughly wet the concrete with water, then wait for all excess surface water to evaporate before applying the mortar.
How long do I have to wait before painting over Planitop Fine Finish?
In good weather conditions, you can apply coloured finishing products from the Mapei Elastocolor or Colorite lines after approximately 7 days. This rapid hardening helps keep your project on schedule.
Do I need to mix this by hand or with a machine?
A low-speed mechanical mixer is strongly recommended to achieve a completely lump-free, homogenous mix and to avoid entraining excess air. Mixing by hand is not recommended as it can result in an inconsistent product.
Applications & Benefits
| Application / Use Case | Key Benefit | Primary Trades |
|---|---|---|
| Smoothing concrete walls before painting | Creates a perfectly uniform, ultra-fine surface, ensuring a high-quality paint finish without imperfections showing through. | Painters, Decorators, General Builders |
| Levelling surface defects in cast concrete | Effectively fills and hides imperfections like gravel clusters, pour lines, and minor damage for a monolithic appearance. | Remedial Contractors, Concreters, Builders |
| Skimming precast concrete elements | Provides a high-quality, durable finish on panels, beams, and pillars, making them ready for installation or painting. | Precast Manufacturers, Remedial Specialists |
Applying Planitop Fine Finish: Protocols & Best Practices
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Step 1: Substrate Preparation
A successful finish starts with proper prep. Your concrete surface must be solid, clean, and correctly saturated to ensure maximum adhesion.
Cleaning and Soundness Check
Mechanically remove any loose or detached areas, laitance, or previous coatings. Wash the surface with clean water to remove all traces of dust.
Achieving SSD Condition
Saturate the concrete with water, then wait for all free-standing water to evaporate. The surface should appear damp with no glistening water. Use compressed air or a sponge to remove any puddles if necessary.
Pro Tip: Never apply Planitop Fine Finish to a bone-dry, highly porous surface or a surface with standing water. Both extremes will compromise the bond and final finish. Getting the SSD condition right is non-negotiable. -
Step 2: Mortar Mixing
Correct mixing is critical to activate the polymers and achieve the mortar's intended workability and strength.
Mixing Ratio
Pour 8.0-8.4 litres of clean water into a suitable container and slowly add one 20 kg bag of Planitop Fine Finish while mixing.
Mechanical Mixing
Use a low-speed mechanical mixer to blend the mortar for several minutes. Scrape the sides and bottom of the container to ensure all powder is incorporated. Continue mixing until the mortar is completely homogenous and lump-free.
Pot Life: You have approximately 45 minutes of working time at 23°C. Do not add more water to the mix once it has started to set. -
Step 3: Application & Curing
Apply a smooth, consistent layer and manage the curing process to ensure a crack-free, durable finish.
Application
Using a smooth metal or rubber spreader, apply a layer of mortar up to 3 mm thick onto the prepared surface. Work the material into any defects to ensure they are completely filled.
Finishing
A few minutes after application, finish the surface with the same spreader or a damp sponge float to achieve the desired smoothness.
Pro Tip: During hot or windy weather, mist the surface with water as soon as it is touch-dry. Continue to do this for the next few days to assist with proper hydration and prevent rapid drying, which can cause shrinkage cracks.
Limitations & Safety
Product Limitations
Do not apply if the temperature is below +5°C or is expected to fall below +5°C during the curing period.
Do not apply on surfaces exposed to strong winds or direct sunlight without protective measures in place.
Never add lime, cement, gypsum, or other additives to the mix. This will alter the product's performance.
This product is not suitable for hydraulic structures or surfaces subject to high abrasion. Use Mapefinish or Mapefinish HD for these applications.
Do not apply on substrates with rising damp or where negative hydrostatic pressure is present.
Safety & Handling Requirements
Personal Protective Equipment
This product contains cement and can cause skin and eye irritation. Always wear protective gloves and close-fitting safety goggles during mixing and application. Avoid breathing dust by using appropriate respiratory protection (refer to AS/NZS 1715-1716).
Ventilation Requirements
Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area to avoid respiratory irritation from dust. If working in enclosed spaces, ensure adequate mechanical ventilation is in place.
Emergency First Aid
Eyes:
Causes serious eye damage. Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing and seek immediate medical attention.
Skin:
Causes skin irritation and may cause an allergic reaction. Take off contaminated clothing. Wash affected area with plenty of soap and water. If irritation or rash occurs, get medical advice.
Inhaled:
May cause respiratory irritation. Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing. Call a POISON CENTER (13 11 26) or doctor if you feel unwell.
Swallowed:
Do not induce vomiting. Get medical attention showing the SDS and the hazard label.
Seek medical attention immediately in all cases of serious exposure.
Substrate & Preparation Guide
Porous & Uneven Concrete
Surface Preparation
Surfaces must be structurally sound and perfectly clean. Remove all loose material, dust, and contaminants using power tools and wash with water. The substrate must be saturated with water but have a dry surface (S.S.D. condition) before application. Do not apply to surfaces with standing water.
Primer Requirements
No primer typically required
Planitop Fine Finish is formulated to bond directly to correctly prepared concrete. However, if the substrate remains powdery after cleaning, this indicates a lack of surface cohesion. In this specific case, a consolidating primer is required.
Consult Mapei Technical Services for primer selection- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.