Liquid · Sizes pending
Cementitious — indicative fig. M·35
Fire A1 Non-combustibleEmbodied carbon 0.12kgCO₂e/kg LowCompressive 1-30MPa StructuralDesign life 20yr
Cement-based leveling and finishing system for floors and walls
01 Physical
Density 1800-2200kg/m3
Specific gravity 1.8-2.2
Porosity 15-25%
Water absorption 5-15%
Hardness 3-5Mohs
UV resistance good
Chemical resistance moderate
pH tolerance 6-13pH
Surface roughness 10-5000um
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 0.5-2.0MPa
Compressive strength 1-30MPa
Flexural strength 1.0-5.0MPa
Shear strength 1.0-3.0MPa
Poisson's ratio 0.15-0.25
Impact resistance moderate
Creep resistance moderate
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.8-1.2W/mK
Specific heat 840-1000J/kgK
Thermal expansion 8-12x10^-6/degC
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class Non-combustible (NCC exempt)
Fire resistance level System dependent (contributes to wall FRL)FRL (minutes)
Ignition temp Not applicabledegC
Flame spread index 0
Smoke dev. index 0
Heat release rate 0kW/m2
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon 0.12-0.22kg CO2-eq/kg
Carbon footprint 5-15kg CO2-eq/m2
Embodied energy 1.0-1.5MJ/kg
Water footprint 100-200L/kg
Recyclability 50-80%
Recycled content 0-20%
Renewable content 0%
Circular score 4/10
VOC emissions 0ug/m3
Toxicity rating non-toxic (cured)
LEED contribution 0-1points
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 20-50+years
Maintenance interval 5-10years
Warranty period 5-15years
Material cost (range) 5-40AUD/m2
Material cost (per unit) 8-15AUD/m2
Lead time 1-5days
Lifecycle cost 100-250AUD/m2
Annual maintenance 1.00-5.00AUD/m2/year
Market availability excellent
07 Assessment
Advantages
- Versatile finishing system suitable for both floors (screed) and walls (render) across all building types.
- Non-combustible material exempt from NCC fire hazard property requirements under Specification C1.10.
- Wide range of textures, colours, and finishes available from smooth to heavily textured coatings.
- Relatively low material cost compared to alternative wall finishes and floor levelling systems.
- Long service life (20-50+ years) when properly applied to suitable substrates with appropriate maintenance.
Constraints
- Susceptible to cracking from shrinkage, substrate movement, and thermal cycling without proper joint detailing and reinforcement.
- Requires skilled application for consistent thickness, flatness, and surface quality — poor workmanship is a common cause of failure.
- Traditional sand-cement screeds require extended curing times (28 days minimum) before final floor finishes can be applied.
- Exterior cement renders are moisture-sensitive — water ingress behind render causes delamination and substrate damage.
- Limited flexibility — rigid cement-based renders cannot accommodate significant structural movement without cracking.
08 Applications
A1 External wall rendering Sand-cement-lime or acrylic render applied to masonry and concrete walls for weatherproofing and aesthetic finish. 2-3 coat system at 15-20 mm total thickness.
A2 Floor screeding Sand-cement screed applied over concrete slab to level floor before tiling, vinyl, or timber flooring. 25-75 mm thickness per AS 3958.1 substrate requirements.
A3 Internal wall finishing Cement or gypsum render applied to internal masonry or concrete block walls to provide a smooth surface for painting or wallpapering.
A4 Insulated render systems (EIFS) External insulation and finish system comprising EPS insulation, fibreglass mesh, base coat, and acrylic finish coat. 80-100 mm total thickness for thermal performance.
A5 Self-levelling floor compounds Factory-premixed self-levelling cementitious compounds for precision floor levelling before thin floor finishes. 3-30 mm thickness.
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.