System types, how to choose the right one, application principles, common failure causes, and maintenance — everything you need to specify with confidence.
Decorative cement systems let you achieve the popular architectural concrete look — on floors, walls, countertops, and even pools — without pouring and polishing structural concrete. Cemcrete's range covers everything from thin decorative coatings over existing surfaces to full resurfacing systems and integral colour finishes for new pours.
The trade-off for that flexibility is that these are applied, surface-dependent products — not a single interchangeable "decorative cement" system. Each product has a defined application area (floor, wall, or both), an interior-only or interior/exterior rating, and specific substrate and sealing requirements. Getting these details wrong is the most common reason a decorative cement project underdelivers.
Tswanacrete supplies Cemcrete's decorative cement range in Botswana. Each product below has a defined application area — check this before specifying.
A pigmented, two-coat thin-film cement coating producing a 1.6mm smooth decorative finish. Suitable for interior floors and interior/exterior walls, applied over wood- or steel-floated concrete, screeds, ceilings, or plastered/previously painted walls. Not suitable for use with underfloor heating.
A pre-coloured, polymer-modified resurfacing system applied by spray (textured knock-down finish) or trowel (smooth finish), roughly 2–3mm thick. Used on existing floors, walls, pavements, walkways, patios, and pool surrounds, internally or externally, where the underlying concrete is structurally sound and at least 28 days cured.
A pigmented, two-coat cement coating for interior and exterior walls and ceilings only — not a floor product. Available in a skimmed (smooth) or brushed application for a different textured result. Substrate moisture below 5% and a vapour-proof membrane are required for a sound result.
A 2–3mm pigmented interior-only plaster for walls, ceilings, and countertops — cannot be used on floors or exterior surfaces. Sold with a minimum order quantity, so lead time needs planning into the project schedule. Existing tiles should be removed before application, as the coating's weight can cause tiles to delaminate. Where lead time is tight, RenoCrete is a locally stocked alternative with a comparable finish.
A dry-shake powder floated into freshly placed concrete screed during finishing, becoming integral to the slab rather than a coating applied afterward. Produces a coloured, hard-wearing, abrasion-resistant surface for new residential and commercial floor slabs, driveways, and paving. Compatible with underfloor heating.
Terrazzo is a cement-based marble floor finish applied 10–15mm thick and diamond-polished to a high-gloss, hard-wearing surface suited to high-traffic areas. Exposed Aggregate is a thinner, decorative stone-bound cementitious coating. Both are specialist, higher-end alternatives to standard coatings for statement floors.
A three-component pre-casting mix for producing high-strength decorative concrete countertops, available in white or grey and pigmentable to custom colours.
PoolCrete is a ready-to-use waterproof pool render for new pool builds and refurbishment, supplied as a dry powder mixed on site, available in a wide range of colours. Cemcrete also offers Pool Quartz and Pool Coating for different pool finish requirements. Pool finishes require experienced applicators — correct mixing, thickness, and curing are critical.
DecoCrete is a coloured, cement-based textured shaping system used for artistic architectural features — rock features, carved feature walls, exposed-brick effects, and pool copings. It can be built up to unusually thick sections without sliding or shrinking, and its slow-setting time gives room to carve and manipulate the material in place. Made to order (minimum 5 x 40kg bags), available in 8 standard colours. Cemcrete's SculptCrete and TexCrete ranges cover smaller-scale artistic casting work and are available to special order.
CreteSeal (water-based or solvent-based) and Sealer Primer protect and finish decorative cement surfaces in matt, satin, or gloss options. CreteCare Polish is a protective wear coat for ongoing maintenance of cement, concrete, and other hard floor surfaces. Sealing is a required part of every decorative cement floor system, not an optional extra.
Start by narrowing down on these factors before looking at colour or finish.
CemCote and SatinCrete are wall/ceiling only. CreteCote, RenoCrete, and Colour Hardener are floor-capable. Confirm this first — it rules out most wrong choices immediately.
Colour Hardener only works on freshly placed concrete during finishing. RenoCrete and CreteCote are for existing, structurally sound concrete.
SatinCrete is interior only. CreteCote, RenoCrete, and DecoCrete can be used both internally and externally.
Domestic floors suit standard CreteCote or RenoCrete; high-traffic commercial floors may justify diamond-polished Terrazzo instead.
Colour Hardener is compatible with underfloor heating; CreteCote is not — check this before specifying either for a heated floor.
Made-to-order products like SatinCrete carry minimum order quantities and lead times to plan for, whereas RenoCrete and CreteCote are typically available from local stock.
Our team can help you work through these factors for your specific project — send us your substrate, location, and finish goals, and we'll recommend the right Cemcrete system.
General principles apply across most decorative cement systems, though exact working times and thicknesses vary by product.
Confirming the substrate is sound, correctly cured (RenoCrete needs at least 28 days), and suited to the chosen product.
Cleaning, repairing, and priming as required — including moisture testing for wall products like CemCote Brushed.
Working within a pot life often around 30 to 45 minutes, applied by trowel, sponge, brush, or spray depending on the system.
Most Cemcrete products need protection barriers against wind and direct sun while curing — a detail that's easy to overlook on-site.
Initial set is typically reached within 1 to 3 hours, with light traffic possible from a few hours up to the following day depending on the product and weather.
The finishing step that protects the decorative surface and is not optional for floors — sealer choice affects both appearance and long-term performance.
Exact pot life, coat thickness, and cure times vary by product and must be confirmed against the current Cemcrete data sheet for the specific system selected. We recommend applications be carried out by a trained, experienced applicator — homeowners and builders with relevant experience are welcome to purchase and apply, and we'll provide the technical information to support the project.
Most problems trace back to a handful of recurring causes.
One of the most common causes of early failure — sealing is a required part of the system, not a finishing touch.
Using a wall-only product like CemCote or SatinCrete on a floor, or an interior-only product outdoors, sets the finish up to fail.
Cement-based coatings are not flexible — hairline cracking is possible where the underlying substrate cracks or moves.
These are coatings, not repair systems — a crumbling or unstable substrate needs to be repaired first, not coated over.
Several products explicitly require protection barriers while curing — skipping this affects the finish and durability.
Specifying a made-to-order product like SatinCrete without allowing for its minimum order and lead time creates project delays.
No — some products are wall and ceiling only, such as CemCote and SatinCrete, while others like CreteCote, RenoCrete and Colour Hardener are suited to floors. Always confirm a product's approved application areas before specifying it.
Cement-based decorative coatings are not flexible, so hairline cracking is possible where the underlying substrate cracks or moves. Correct substrate preparation and assessment before application reduces this risk but cannot eliminate it entirely.
Yes. Sealing is not optional for floor applications and is essential for most wall applications, particularly in bathrooms. Incorrect sealer selection or skipping sealing entirely is one of the most common causes of early failure.
Homeowners and builders with relevant experience are welcome to purchase and apply these products, but we recommend a trained, experienced applicator for the best result, since substrate preparation and technique significantly affect the finish.
Yes — Cemcrete's PoolCrete and Pool Quartz systems are specifically formulated pool plaster finishes, separate from the wall and floor product ranges.
Which decorative cement system is right for your project.
What actually drives the price of a decorative finish.
Dulling, staining, and wear patterns to watch for.
What to know before plastering a pool.
Contact Tswanacrete to discuss your decorative cement project. We can provide colour samples, technical guidance, and connect you with trained Cemcrete applicators in Botswana.