Microcement

What microcement can and cannot do

Microcement is a thin, hand-applied cementitious system that produces a continuous surface with no grout lines. Because the build-up is only a few millimetres it can often be applied over an existing floor or tiled wall, which avoids the disruption, mess and making-good of taking the old surface out.

It is not a structural material and it does not bridge movement. Anything that moves beneath it will eventually show through it, which is why timber floors are stiffened, existing joints are carried through rather than covered, and loose or hollow tiling is dealt with before anything is applied. Most reported problems with microcement are substrate problems.

The sealer determines how the finished surface behaves. Water resistance, stain resistance and tolerance of cleaning products all come from the sealing regime rather than the microcement itself, so it is specified for the room: a wet room, a kitchen floor and a feature wall each get a different answer.

It works well where an unbroken surface is the point, and where the alternative would introduce grout lines and trims: open-plan floors, bathrooms, hallways and continuous wall surfaces. It is also compatible with underfloor heating.

We are microcement specialists working across London on floors, walls, bathrooms and commercial interiors. Quotations follow a site survey rather than a rate quoted blind.

Common questions

How thick is a microcement system?

Only a few millimetres including primer, base coats and finishing coats. That is what allows it to go over an existing floor or tiled wall without the disruption of removal, and it is also why the substrate governs the result so completely.

Does microcement need resealing over time?

The sealer is the wearing surface, so in areas of heavy use it will eventually need attention, and how soon depends on the traffic and the cleaning products used. Walls and light-use floors go far longer than a commercial floor cleaned daily.

Can microcement be applied over underfloor heating?

Yes, and the thin, continuous build-up suits it. The heating is commissioned and brought up gradually after installation rather than run at full output immediately, so the system cures without being forced.