VALPAINT I-BETON, resin for walls and floors: the exclusive wall and floor coating for continuous surfaces

Industrial style (a combination of a minimalist approach and an urban feel) has become a design staple in our contemporary society. This modern trend appeals strongly not only to the younger generations, but has also gained a loyal following amongst the traditionalists of interior design.

The materials that best express this design concept often come from old warehouses and industrial buildings which are still part of the fabric of our bustling conurbations today:

• rusty metals
• sheet metal
• load-bearing structures in reinforced concrete
• peeling plaster
• large lofty windows with a metal frame

But there is one particular feature that outshines the rest due to the huge difference it makes to the overall effect both in aesthetic and functional terms. We are talking about a continuous surface, usually made from tamped cement. 

It could be claimed that concrete flooring is the common thread between the settings and the various parts that define industrial style.

Which is why cement coatings for interior walls and floors are an important design feature to which not only architects and interior designers but also end users gravitate.

Microcement-effect coating for walls and floors: what do we mean by a continuous surface?

By continuous surfaces we refer to all those kinds of industrial flooring that, for obvious reasons of practicality, need to be even and continuous. This is because merchandise has to be moved around effortlessly on dollies and workers must be able to get quickly from one place to another. When we talk about a “continuous surface”, we often refer to a “resin” or a “microcement”. Indeed, these terms are used to indicate a seamless surface devoid of joints, grout lines and breaks.

But that's not all. One of the most important qualities of this kind of microcement-effect paints for walls and floors is the ease with which the surface can be cleaned and disinfected (precisely because it is jointless, free of grout lines and roughness).

VALPAINT I-BETON: cement resin for walls and floors

VALPAINT, an Italian company which designs, produces and sells coatings for walls and floors, has come up with a new decorative system for interiors specially devised to create continuous vertical and horizontal surfaces.

ITS NAME IS VALPAINT I-BETON, a continuous decorative coating able to withstand water and moisture which can be used to make microcement-effect coatings for various surfaces such as bathrooms, kitchens and flooring. The main features of this product are:

• its ability to make decorative surfaces water resistant. So, VALPAINT I-BETON can be used to decorate surfaces that come into contact with water or moisture either directly or indirectly;
• option of achieving a particular aesthetic effect in addition to high levels of functionality. The range of shades available for this product with the two types of finish (matte or glossy) will allow you to design solutions and colour schemes that are bound to exceed any interior-design expectations. The importance of being able to create a setting which is chromatically easy on the eye is a definite advantage because colour is a mainstay of architecture design.
• since this product allows you to create a continuum between horizontal and vertical surfaces, monolithic elements - a popular choice in contemporary design - can be included.

The fields of application of the VALPAINT I-BETON continuous decorative system for walls and floors

The continuous surfaces that can be created with VALPAINT I-BETON have a series of features that make this product highly versatile and easy to use in a host of different environments.




Resin walls for kitchens

With its vast range of colours and two finish options (glossy and matte), VALPAINT I-BETON is an excellent solution for coating tiled kitchen surfaces.

But that's not all. Due to its unique characteristics, it can also be used in environments where food is processed and packaged because it has obtained HACCP certification (UNI 11021).

2) Microcement-effect bathroom walls

VALPAINT I-BETON is a truly versatile product that can be applied directly to the surface to be decorated. It can be used on top of existing surfaces, such as tiled areas, with great success because not only does it adhere extraordinarily well, it is also impervious to water.

3) Coatings for walls and flooring that come into contact with water and ambient moisture: waterproofing tiled surfaces for showers

It is precisely its imperviousness to water and perfect adhesion to surfaces even in extremely damp environments that makes VALPAINT I-BETON ideal for shower cubicles - both on the vertical walls and shower tray (if there is one) or directly onto the shower-cubicle floor.

But that's not all. This solution for bathrooms is equally effective for wellness centres and spas.

Therefore, our VALPAINT I-BETON product for walls and flooring has a series of features and specific application methods that makes it ideal for covering extensive areas - which brings us back to its suitability for continuous surfaces.





VALPAINT I-BETON: the continuous decorative system for vertical and horizontal surfaces which scores high on the hygiene stakes

But of all the virtues we have listed about this product, there is perhaps one which, especially now, ranks higher than all the others - hygiene.

Creating continuous surfaces without grout lines and breaks for horizontal and vertical surfaces on business premises is not only a way to give them a stylish update, but also raises hygiene standards because dirt, germs and other substances cannot collect like they do in the grout lines of tiled surfaces.

Raising hygiene standards, as can be done thanks to VALPAINT's continuous decorative system for walls and floors, is paramount, particularly in these troublesome months of the Coronavirus pandemic when everyone should be paying the utmost attention to cleanliness and disinfection procedures. Obviously, when surfaces are smooth, cleaning and sanitising is so much simpler and more effective.

Continuous surfaces: a little history...

People often wrongly assume that continuous surfaces found their way into the interior-décor sector thanks to contemporary designers.

But, a closer look at history will show us that the concept of a continuous surface dates back to ancient times when flooring was made from wood, stones and unbaked bricks. This was then covered and levelled out with mixtures of clay, earth and other materials to make an even surface that was suitable for walking on.

There is also evidence (still visible today) in the Venice area of continuous surfaces - we are talking about that composite material called terrazzo alla veneziana or simply terrazzo. The “terrazzo” technique involves pouring a layer of aggregates on the ground before polishing it smooth or finishing it in place to produce a uniformly textured surface.

This particular method is one of the oldest ways to create artistic floors and was even described in the writings of Pliny and Vitruvius. Typical Venetian pavement (with lime) could be applied as a continuous surface without grouting lines or joints, covering extremely large surfaces. One case in point is the Doge’s Palace, especially the Hall of the Higher Council (over 1,300 square metres without a single joint!).

Today resin for walls is an essential way to bring out the beauty of industrial or minimalist-style surfaces, allowing architects and interior designers to take a fresh approach to these design philosophies. Would you like to know more about industrial-style wall coatings? You might also be interested in “Cement-effect paint in an urban-industrial style"