Blog

Hey Friends!  I have needed to write this post for a while.  Tim and I receive multiple questions a day regarding ARDEX products and all their capabilities.  As you know, we love the products and have used it in all sorts of settings.  Here are just a few. . .

If you’re new to the blog and have no idea what ARDEX is, here’s the short answer. ARDEX is a company that makes all sorts of concrete based products.  The products that we use most often are a part of their micro-topping concrete mix.   We use them to create the concrete look without the heaviness of a poured concrete and best of all, any homeowner can use ARDEX products with great success!  

So, as I said we get tons of questions about using these products and although we would love to have a 20min chat with each of you about this amazing product, unfortunately that is just not possible.  BUT this post should serve as a perfect place for you to get all your questions about ARDEX answered!  PS- most of the projects we take on with ARDEX are not warrantied.  We are simply sharing our own personal successful experiments.  We do this knowing ARDEX creates an amazing product and they take great pride in their work!  We’ve even been to their home offices to see how much care they put into every bag!  So, go ahead experiment! Chances are you’ll end up with something amazing!

1. Is ARDEX a product or a company?  Ardex is a company and sells a variety of concrete micro-toppings.  Mainly these products are used for commercial flooring projects, but obviously we believe it’s potential extends far past just flooring.  The product we use and recommend the most is called Feather Finish because it is the most versatile and most difficult to mess up.  Having said that, it is not made for every situation and should not be used outdoors or where it will be exposed to non stop moisture.

2. Do you know everything about ARDEX? Absolutely not! There will be many projects that you think of that we have not taken on and therefore we don’t know how the product will react in every situation.  BUT we encourage you to experiment with ARDEX products because they have so many capabilities!  Start with small sample and test the idea before you jump head long into your full scale project.  It will help you get familiar with the product and the process and give you a better end product.

3. Do you have a tutorial for using the product?  Yes, click here for a step by step how-to for covering a countertop in ARDEX.  The same steps can be used when covering almost any surface.

4. How can I tell if my current surface is ok to put ARDEX on top of?
The surface you are overlaying on must be sturdy (cannot not bounce or move) and not cracking (cracks indicate movement).  The surface must also be roughed up with sandpaper (or some other abrasive if it isn’t scratched by sandpaper) if it is a smooth surface. 

5.Can you put ARDEX Feather Finish over formica or laminate? Yes, you can!!  (Unless it is coming up or bouncing- read question and answer #4).  If your laminate is peeling or not completely secure you have two options.  You can peel it off.  This process is simple or tough depending on how well it is adhered.  If you have just a couple of problem areas where your laminate is bouncing or bubbling you can use screws to secure it.  Do your best to make them as flush as possible.

6. Can you put ARDEX on a wall? Of course!  We’ve done it here and here!  Once again read questions and answer #4. Most walls don’t need to be sanded, unless it has a glossy paint on it.

7. Can you put ARDEX over grouted tile?
Yes, you just really have to scuff up the surface so that the ARDEX has something to adhere to. And remember, it’s not a good idea to do this if your tile is cracking. If you apply ARDEX to a cracked surface, it will eventually crack as well.

8. Can you put ARDEX in a shower?  Maybe and no.  Ardex products that are intended for interior uses can not be used in showers.  That being said we did find an ARDEX product that we wanted to test in our shower.  So far so good, but we aren’t quite to pull back the curtain and share all the details until it has stood up for longer than a few months.

9. Can I cover my integrated sink in ARDEX? Although we haven’t tried it I wouldn’t recommend it.  Feather Finish holds up well on countertops, but I would not want to expose it to pooling water day in and day out.  Occasional puddles from spills or condensation around glasses are fine, but I would not want to put it through all the moisture that sinks are exposed to.

10. Should I remove my drop-in sink if I am covering a countertop in ARDEX Feather Finish?  We definitely recommend it.

11. What is the best substrate (base layer) to use when building a new surface to apply ARDEX to? We have found that hardibacker or other (concrete board substrates) and plywood to be the best base layer.  It is sturdy and holds up to the water that seeps in from the initial layer of ARDEX mixture.

12. Can I stain or color ARDEX in some way?  Some ARDEX products can be stained integrally (the color is mixed in when you mix the product) or topically (using acid or water based stains once it is cured).  Feather Finish is one product that we have not tried to stain, because the good people at ARDEX tell us Feather Finish doesn’t absorb stain very evenly or consistently.  SD-M is a product that is similar to Feather Finish that works with pigments and stains.

13. Will there be any issues with it cracking since ARDEX is such a thin surface?  The ARDEX will only crack if the surface you apply it to is experiencing movement. Basically your foundation needs to be secure or Ardex isn’t the best option. As far as chipping, you’d be very surprised at how durable the surface is. This product was made for floors in commercial spaces, so it can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

14. Should I seal my ARDEX project? Does ARDEX stain?  Yes, definitely seal it.  The sealer you apply to the countertops will keep the surface from staining. You know it’s time to reapply the sealer when you get water on the surface and it immediately gets dark.  Some sealers are better than others.  We have had great success with a sealer called Satin Sealer by GST International.  One of the reasons we like the sealer is that it is so easy to reapply.  It is water based and takes just a few minutes to reseal every 6 months or so.  Whatever sealer you choose will need to be reapplied regularly so keep that in mind.  The ARDEX products will stain much like concrete.  It won’t ever be stain-proof, but most of them can be avoided by using a high quality sealer and reapplying regularly.

15. Can I repair ARDEX? Absolutely!  Say you a drop a large pot and chip your countertop.  All you have to do is mix up a small batch of ARDEX, fill the chip, sand it down to be level with the rest of the surface, and seal.  If you get a bad scratch, sand it out with a fine grit sandpaper, and reseal!

16. What if I mess up?!  ARDEX is extremely easy to use, but if you do mess up, rest assured that you can always sand away your mistakes with sand paper.  It may take a little elbow grease, but it’s totally doable.  The longer you let it cure the harder it becomes and will be harder to sand.

17. Are ARDEX and the Henry products you an find at Home Depot the same thing? Henry and Ardex are a part of the same company, but it is our understanding the Feather Finish products are not the same.  We haven’t used any of the Henry products, because we haven’t had any problems find the ARDEX products we need at our local supplier.

18. Where can you get ARDEX products? We are currently working with ARDEX to try and make getting their product easier, but for now you find your nearest supplier here.  Or you can call our local Tulsa supplier (Professional Flooring Supply- 918.301.4737) and they will ship you what you need!

19. How much does it cost? ARDEX is very affordable, especially when doing smaller projects. The Feather Finish and SD-M sell for about $20-25 per 10 lb. bag. 1-2 bags will cover an average sized kitchen’s countertops.

There you have it!  All your ARDEX questions answered!  See you on Monday with a new blog and new blog design!!! Yay!  Happy weekend!