ISF Academy · Level 5
Italian microcement & Waterproof Artistic Walls.
ISF teaches the Italian method first; supply follows certification. Level 5 is the professional gateway to reinforced, watertight surface systems for bathrooms, kitchens and floors — where E-VOLUTION PLUS waterproof bodies and I-BETON PLUS Italian microcement are taught as full systems, not just “a microcement look”.
You arrive from Level 4 with concrete, stone and marble walls under control. Level 5 extends that language into continuous showers, wet rooms, kitchen zones and floors: substrate triage, mesh reinforcement, gel chemistry and complete build-ups so seamless finishes perform in the most demanding interiors.
Bay 1 · Italian microcement
I-BETON PLUS — thin-build concrete for floors, stairs & walls.
I-BETON PLUS is Valpaint’s Italian microcement system: a resin–mineral body designed for seamless concrete readings across floors, stairs and verticals, sitting inside the Framework next to Meteore 10 Cemento.
- Survey typical substrates — tiles, screeds, boards — and decide when I-BETON PLUS is appropriate.
- Embed mesh and control joints so movement and printing are managed, not left to chance.
- Run the body to thickness and continuity standards instead of “just two coats and a sealer”.
- Tune movement and pore reading so finished surfaces feel architectural, not busy or noisy.
In the UK we position I-BETON PLUS as a concrete language for floors, stairs and walls — not a quick skim to hide bad substrates, but a system that can be detailed and repeated across projects.
Bay 2 · Over tiles — marble readings
E-VOLUTION PLUS — over tile marble bathrooms & wet rooms.
This bay shows E-VOLUTION PLUS used over existing tiles to create waterproof marble readings. The focus is on substrate checks, bond, body thickness and the junctions that make or break a retrofit wet area.
- Check tile condition, movement, hollow spots and previous failures before committing to a system.
- Detail mesh, gels and corners so the new body behaves as one reinforced skin.
- Work through drains, thresholds and upstands with clear strategies, not improvisation.
- Tune marble readings so they align with Level 4 marble logic, just in a wet context.
Over-tile marble schemes demonstrate where Waterproof Artistic Walls can responsibly replace full rip-outs — and where, after Level 5, you’ll know to say no.
Bay 3 · Spa & wellness
Waterproof Artistic Walls — spa & wellness schemes.
This bay looks at spa-style Waterproof Artistic Walls — calm, seamless bodies where water, steam, cleaning and lighting are all demanding. The emphasis is on body continuity, junctions and long-term behaviour.
- Work E-VOLUTION PLUS across walls, benches and ceilings with controlled thickness and mesh placement.
- Check junctions between body, drains, lighting and built-in elements.
- Place decorative readings — concrete, stone, marble — within the limits of the waterproof body.
- Discuss cleaning regimes and realistic expectations for spa and wellness operators.
Spa and wellness schemes show how Waterproof Artistic Walls can carry a calm, mineral reading through spaces where water, steam and cleaning are non-negotiable factors.
Bay 4 · Multi-tone schemes
Waterproof Artistic Walls — multi-tone & feature zoning.
The final bay explores multi-tone Waterproof Artistic Walls — using the same reinforced body to create different mineral or soft readings within one bathroom or wet area, without compromising system logic.
- Plan zones (shower, dry vanity, WC, feature wall) within one Waterproof Artistic Walls build-up.
- Control transitions between tones and textures so junctions stay quiet and robust.
- Integrate Framework finishes — concrete, stone, marble, sometimes metallic — on top of E-VOLUTION PLUS.
- Record build-ups and details so these schemes can be repeated or extended later.
Multi-tone schemes show how one reinforced body can carry different Framework readings, as long as you respect the underlying system and treat change of finish as a detail, not a shortcut.
Teaching structure
Two intensive days on continuous & wet systems.
Level 5 runs over 2 days, typically 09:00–17:30: system map → substrate triage → mesh & primers → full body build-ups → sealing & failure modes → QA and Framework positioning. Groups are usually capped around 8 participants so decision-making and technique can be checked installer by installer.
Day 1
Survey, reinforcement & body build-ups
Morning on the continuous & wet systems map inside the Framework: how E-VOLUTION PLUS and I-BETON PLUS sit alongside Level 4 mineral walls and other finishes. Live substrate triage on tiles, boards and screeds, plus case studies of good and bad installations. Afternoon on mesh strategies, primers and first body layers — building I-BETON PLUS and E-VOLUTION PLUS on large panels with corners, coves and joints highlighted.
Day 2
High-risk details, sealers, failures & QA
Day 2 focuses on high-risk junctions — drains, thresholds, niches, trims and changes of plane — followed by finishing layers, sealer comparison (matt / satin / gloss) and controlled failure-mode boards. The course closes with QA checks, RAMS notes and how Level 5 feeds into warranty registration, Installer Network listings and live project support.
What you can do after Level 5.
- Deliver I-BETON PLUS and E-VOLUTION PLUS to an agreed sample and system standard.
- Handle high-risk junctions — drains, niches, thresholds, coves — with clear, repeatable details.
- Explain system choices, limits and maintenance in a way that stands up in front of designers and contractors.
- Know which wet-room / floor jobs you can safely run and which need redesign or refusal.
Who this Level is for.
- Installers who have completed Level 4 — Concrete, Stone & Marble or have equivalent mineral / microcement experience.
- Decorators and finishers already working on complex walls who now want to own bathrooms, wet rooms, kitchens and floors.
- Installers who understand that continuous and wet systems are about risk and systems, not just aesthetics.
Pathway after Level 5.
- Use your Level 5 work to build a portfolio of warrantable wet rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and floors.
- Strengthen your profile inside the Installer Network for high-risk projects.
- Position yourself for Level 6 or larger Framework schemes that combine multiple systems and bodies.
Fast-track entry (by evidence only).
Level 5 is normally reserved for installers who have completed Levels 3–4 inside the Framework. In some cases we can fast-track you if there is very strong evidence that you already work at this level of risk.
You can request fast-track if at least one of the following applies:
-
You have
installing comparable continuous / waterproof systems (e.g. other specification-grade microcement or resin-cement systems) on bathrooms, wet rooms or floors, with a documented portfolio. - You have completed Valpaint training in another country with a recognised distributor specifically on E-VOLUTION PLUS, I-BETON PLUS or equivalent Valpaint systems — and can provide dates, trainer details and project examples.
- You can show 5+ years of continuous work in high-risk zones using other structured systems, with clear build-up documentation and references.
Fast-track is never automatic. The Academy will review your application, references and portfolio, and may still recommend completing Levels 3–4 first or taking a tailored bridging route to protect you and your clients on live projects.
Do I need Level 5 before installing E-VOLUTION PLUS or I-BETON PLUS?
Within the ISF Framework, yes. Level 5 (or an equivalent assessed route) is required before installers are approved for restricted-system supply and warranty registration on continuous and wet systems.
Is Level 5 only about bathrooms?
No. Bathrooms and wet rooms are a major focus, but the same logic applies to kitchen walls, stair cores and continuous floors. Any area where failure would be expensive and disruptive sits inside the Level 5 mindset.
Does Level 5 cover both floors and walls?
Yes. Training panels and mock-ups include vertical surfaces, horizontal surfaces and junctions between them — with specific attention to falls, thresholds, coves and transitions into other materials.
Is this course suitable for designers or specifiers?
Tools-in-hand training is aimed at installers. Designers and specifiers are welcome at selected briefings and Studio sessions, and should use the Waterproof Artistic Walls and Italian microcement pages, plus technical documents, alongside conversations with ISF.
How Level 5 sits in the Framework
Level 5 certifies reinforced, watertight surface systems with Valpaint’s E-VOLUTION PLUS and I-BETON PLUS cycles. The course covers substrate triage, mesh logic, epoxy / PU gel chemistry, complete build-ups and sealer behaviour. Graduates unlock restricted supply and warranty pathways for bathrooms, kitchens and floors, and are prepared for higher-level project work inside the Framework.
Ready to move into Italian microcement & Waterproof Artistic Walls?
Share examples of the decorative or mineral work you already complete. The Academy will confirm if Level 5 — Systems & Wet Areas is your next step, or whether we should tune a different route through the Framework for you.
Apply for Level 5 — Systems & Wet Areas.
Use this form for both standard applications and fast-track requests. We’ll reply with upcoming dates, pricing and whether Level 5 should be taken in full or treated as an assessment.