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The exposed stone carpet flooring is a type of flooring system that combines natural stones with a binder to create a seamless and decorative surface. It can be applied in terraces, balconies, swimming pool decks and other outdoor spaces instead of using ceramic tiles or other cement materials as a floor. It is also known as stone carpet system, or aggregate flooring. The process requires the mixing of stones (properly selected marble or granite aggregates) with a polyurethane binder, which is then poured and spread over a prepared subfloor. These stones are round in their form, and they become perfectly smooth after being covered with resin. In addition, to the technical and functional aspects of the system the stone carpet also perfectly fulfills its visual and decorative role. Combining several types of aggregates you can also develop for example a stone mosaic pattern type by alternating stripes. How to apply the material Once the mixture is poured, it is leveled and smoothed to create a flat surface. The stones or pebbles are partially exposed, giving to the floor a textured and natural appearance. The binder holds the stones together providing durability and stability to the flooring system. Advantages A stone carpet is an excellent alternative to a floor made of ceramic tiles, stones or micro cement in areas like balconies, terraces or outdoor garage spaces since the stone carpet flooring is available in a variety of colors and stone sizes, allowing for customization to match different design preferences. A stone carpet can be placed in open access spaces e.g. in front of garages, swimming pools, alleys or surroundings right next to the foundations of the building. The greatest advantage of a stone carpet is therefore its great versatility in terms of application areas. In addition, it can be applied also in private spaces, closed environments, as well as commercial or industrial spaces. With a stone carpet the aesthetics go beyond common fantasy using different patterns and colors. There are many alternatives, limited only by your imagination. On large surfaces, a stone carpet system creates interesting geometric patterns, lines, stripes, checks, patterns, circles, etc. enriched with decorative, shiny and slightly shimmering elements. In the technical point of view, a stone carpet is primarily a uniform floor, without any joints. Thanks to their absence, the surface seems to be optically enlarged and creating a great impression. Stone carpet flooring offers several advantages. It is highly durable, resistant to wear and tear, and can withstand heavy foot traffic. The stone carpet offers great durability and long-term performance, it has excellent resistance to mechanical damage, cracks, scratches, to various weather conditions and extreme temperatures (does not heat up during the heat, and does not crack during the frost), to rainfall (perfect water circulation/drainage system), as well as to UV radiation (no risk of discoloration), providing at the same time a non-slip surface. Moreover, a stone carpet does not lose its color or fade and it is also resistant to significant weight pressure, which means that we can place and move, for example, heavier garden furniture on it without fear. A stone carpet also offers great convenience in terms of cleaning and maintenance. It is easy to keep it clean with the use of ordinary detergents, or you can conveniently clean it with high water pressure. The system also has a lot of typical utility advantages. It turns out that it is a surface much easier to apply than, for example, ceramic tiles.  In addition, it is worth emphasizing that a stone carpet based on polyurethane resin will be much more flexible and thus better resistant to all kinds of cracks than a stone carpet with epoxy resin. The latter refers to harder and stiffer coatings. In addition, the polyurethane resin in the stone carpet on the terrace offers a greater guarantee of maintaining the original color, especially with light stones.  The textured surface of the system provides a non-slip finish, making it a suitable choice for areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms, swimming pool decks, and outdoor spaces. It's important to note that while stone carpet flooring is durable and visually appealing, it may not be suitable for every application area. The rough surface texture may not be ideal for areas where smoothness or easy rolling of objects is required, such as offices or spaces with heavy furniture. Additionally, the installation process requires skilled professionals, as the mixture needs to be properly applied and leveled to ensure a seamless and long-lasting result. How to protect a stone carpet? The stone carpet system has a water-permeable surface creating a drainage structure, thanks to which ponding water cannot be formed on the surface. In outdoor areas like a balcony or terrace, before the application of a stone carpet system, a waterproofing membrane should be applied. The waterproofing layer under the stone carpet prevents water from settling on the bottom, which, for example, during frost, can create damages to the system and lead to its cracking. After proper preparation of the substrate, priming should be carried out using a primer that it is ideal with the system. The substrate must be clean, dust-free, without crumbling elements and degreased. On such a prepared substrate, we apply a primer, which is designed to strengthen the substrate and ensure perfect adhesion of the waterproofing membrane.  Often, in order to increase the resistance of the waterproofing membrane to tearing forces, interlining with a geotextile of appropriate weight is used, which is embedded in the resin forming the waterproofing membrane. It is mandatory to use a reinforcing non-woven geotextile (e.g. Geotextile-50 Pressed) in critical places, such as: edges, corners, expansion joints, etc. In balcony stone carpet applications, profiles made of aluminum are placed for finishing strips in order to provide high resistance to weather conditions. Aluminum profiles are mounted to the floor and embedded in the screed. Part of the profile protrudes beyond the front of the balcony and creates its aesthetic finish. At the same time, it ensures proper drainage of rainwater so that it does not flow down the wall and facade. For some users, the disadvantage of the stone carpet may be the need to apply it in specific, strict temperature and humidity conditions so they should have at least basic knowledge about the behavior of resin products and their properties and reactions. Also, the applicator must follow the exact proportion of mixing the aggregates and the resin taking into consideration the granulometry of the stones. ALCHIMICA’s exposed stone carpet system is completely resistant to UV (does not discolor) and other harmful environmental influences (resistance to constant contact with water, operating temperatures -40 to +80oC). This system consists of: Primer  (selected depending on the type and condition of the substrate, as well as weather conditions of the application), Sealant: HYPERSEAL-EXPERT-150 Liquid polyurethane membrane - HYPERDESMO® SYSTEM  that guarantees complete tightness for a minimum of 25 years (class W3), HYPERDESMO®-T 100% aliphatic  polyurethane resin  used to bind the pebbles and form a "stone carpet" resin floor in horizontal and vertical surfaces (HYPERDESMO-T FILLER optional) Stone granulometry: Horizontal Surfaces: Marble granules 1-4mm Cullet granules 2-4mm and 4-8mm Quartz pebbles with grain sizes up to 4-8 mm Vertical Surfaces: Marble granules 1-4mm      

Concrete is an extremely stable and durable material, but it is not an unbreakable one. For several reasons such as natural forces like thermal expansion (freeze-thaw phenomenon) or poor construction design, failure of concrete making or overloading, active or dormant cracks are created. These kinds of active cracks need to be first appointed and then repaired in order to address any stability and to protect the waterproofing membrane that will follow. Although hairline cracks can be accommodated by the flexibility of the HYPERDESMO® System’s polyurethane waterproofing membranes, bigger cracks that are formed by continuous movement are crucial to be repaired in order to prevent their transmission to the waterproofing membrane which will cause raptures. The first step is to observe and analyze the crack movement in order to decide the appropriate repair method. The test can be taken by using a rigid but non-shrink material to bridge the surface of the crack. In case there are not any expansion joints installed to accommodate the tensile strength of the structure’s movement, it is strongly recommended to carve them prior to any installation.  A correct design of joints is required for the long-term performance and longevity of the system. The benefits of flexible polyurethane sealants in active cracks for controlled movement. Regardless of crack width, polyurethane sealants are suitable for the treatment of small or larger cracks ad they form a permanent, tough and elastic seal.  Moreover, they satisfy the major requirements for crack filling by being fast curing and having strong adhesion, strength, high elongation properties, good workability, stability and long-term performance. ALCHIMICA’s advanced polyurethane technology sealants offer excellent bonding to clean concrete. How to apply Opening the crack Cracks smaller than 5mm need to be opened manually at a minimum width of 5mm Substrate preparation The edges should be sound and clean from any grease or oil contaminants and a vacuum cleaner should be used to removing any dust. Application of HYPERSEAL sealants Using a caulking gun and with nominal pressure the sealant, fill the crack. Slightly excess amount should be applied for tooling and finishing purposes. Finishing and cleaning The sealant should be tooled immediately with a spatula by pressing against the joint to remove air pockets and to ensure 100% contact and adhesion with the surface. Learn more about HYPERSEAL® polyurethane products

A top coat is defined as the protective coating which is applied to the surface of another material in order to protect it and prevent deterioration. In the case of waterproofing and flooring systems, the protective coat resins are applied as a final layer enhancing the system’s performance and durability. Their application can span from ordinary roof waterproofing systems that require access and trafficability, to exposed car parks waterproofing systems and industrial flooring applications. There are 2 categories of top coats, the aliphatic protective resins for exposed use and top coats that offer high mechanical and chemical resistance for industrial applications. Aliphatic top coats offer full UV resistance, prevent chalking, cracking or any other UV degradation while they increase the system’s overall performance in terms of mechanical properties. Top coats for industrial applications give high scratch and chemical resistance, making them suitable to industrial flooring applications such as F&B factories, hospitals, as well as desalination and waste water treatment plants. The professional applicators can deliver successful projects using protective coat resins by increasing the main membrane’s life cycle and prevent in this way any future maintenance costs. In the case of a roof waterproofing project a top-coat installation is recommended to the end-users for achieving the optimal result. Apart from the fact that adds protection and durability to a waterproofing system, it becomes part of cool roof system when is applied in white color which improves the energy efficiency of buildings and supports the development in urban sustainability for cooler and healthier environments by reflecting most of the energy of the sun. Moreover, using a top-coat in a system built- up allows the applicator in certain cases, to apply only one layer of the main waterproofing membrane. Similarly, protective coat resins ensure the efficient and successful delivery of flooring. The top-coat main benefits to be considered are: Protection: Protect from weathering, abrasion, chemicals and UV radiation, salt or sand impact. Application: Easy to apply. Mechanical resistance properties: Play a key role in increasing the mechanical resistance of a waterproofing/flooring system, thus offering trafficability whether in exposed car parks or industrial floors with heavy usage. Aesthetics: Provide different aesthetic results such as different colors, chips and flakes finishes, glossy or matte effects. Durability and energy efficiency: Thanks to their high mechanical and chemical resistance, they offer weathering protection which improves the durability, providing extended working life of the system. In addition, because of their ability to reflect UV radiation when applied in white color, they help reduce the cooling costs of the building. ALCHIMICA’s aliphatic solutions ALCHIMICA’s range of protective coatings has a large number of applications in both waterproofing and flooring solutions. They are a part of ALCHIMICA’s full systems -that include primers and main membranes- and when applied they significantly increase the lifespan of our systems by adhering perfectly to our main membranes and forming the highest level of protection. ALCHIMICA’s aliphatic solutions expand on 3 different technologies: solvent-based, water-based and 100% solids products. They are fully aliphatic and provide excellent color and UV protection with no yellowing effects. They increase traffic resistance and assure high chemical resistance, forming the highest level of protection. Find out more about ALCHIMICA’s aliphatic top coats and protective coatings  

The need of waterproofing and protection of constructions for a better future and living conditions has led to new innovations and the use of high state-of-art synthetic polyurethane polymers, the so-called liquid membranes. Polyurethane waterproofing membranes are liquid applied systems that offer decisive advantages particularly where seamless systems are desired; either structurally or aesthetically, and for geometrically complicated connections with ventilation outlets or upturns. These systems cure to yield seamless membranes with long-term flexibility while sealing around even in the most complex protrusions becomes easy. Advantages of Polyurethane liquid waterproofing membranes: · 2 mm coat thickness in 2-3 layers at most. · no significant load increase on lightweight decks and roofs. · UV resistant, no coat protection required. · easy to repair, even locally. · long term maintenance is quick and low cost. Membrane removal will not be necessary, whatever the kind of maintenance. · application on top of existing waterproofing systems is possible. All these benefits make it sound too good to be true but there is a catch: It is critical to success the right choice of material selection from the various alternatives in the market. Therefore, for effective waterproofing, the polyurethane liquid membrane must have the following attributes: · Impermeabillity. Obviously, zero water penetration is required. · Flexibility. They must withstand the normal movements of building structures (e.g. distortion, contortion, earthquake activity etc.). · Durability. They must be able to retain their integrity for long periods of time. · Breathability (sometimes required). Membranes must be able to breathe so that moisture vapours from building interiors and substrates can escape freely. · Humidity barrier (sometimes required). Essential in hot and humid climates. · Resistance. The membrane must withstand environmental and climatic conditions. Not all polyurethane membranes on the market satisfy these criteria! Especially, in the construction industry the importance of applying advanced durable solutions is crucial. At the end, a good polyurethane coating will display the following: · Zero water swelling rate and high retention of tensile strength, hardness and elasticity under prolonged exposure to harsh climatic conditions (UV, wetness, heat, ozone etc.) · Constant adhesion to the substrate when periodically exposed to harsh climatic conditions. · Superior performance in an environment which combines all possible climatic conditions. ALCHIMICA revolutionized the waterproofing technologies globally, being the game changer in global waterproofing technologies. We have shifted the focus worldwide from multi-layer systems, traditionally thought to guarantee water-tightness, to new systems based on advanced technology liquid membranes. We offer a wide range of Polyurethane Liquid Membranes which fulfil the above requirements. The waterproofing products available from ALCHIMICA are tailor made to provide long term protection against all natural elements. From roof waterproofing to below grade walls and foundations to highways and bridges or simple under-tile roof waterproofing of residences, the bottom line is one: ALCHIMICA is the only provider you need!