Microcement pros and cons, from an installer's experience

What is microcement and how is it installed?

Microcement is a thin, cement-based mineral coating applied by hand, with a trowel, in 5 to 7 layers over an existing floor or wall. The final layer is 1 to 2 mm thick, and a protective topcoat seals the surface at the end. The result is one surface, with no joints and no edge between floor and wall.

Microcement goes over tiles, plasterboard, wood, marble or terrazzo, as long as the substrate is solid. That is why it is most often chosen for renovations. Nothing is demolished, there is no chiselling and no skip outside the building.

We work with two systems: panDOMO from the German manufacturer ARDEX and the British FORCRETE. Both are cement-based mineral systems. We offer three textures, Classic, Micro-Granite and Micro-Stone, and three levels of sheen: matt, satin and semi-gloss.

Each layer has to dry before the next one goes on. That is why installing the base system takes at least five days, plus time to prepare the substrate. You cannot live in the space during the work, because the layers must not be walked on while they dry.

What are the advantages of microcement in practice?

The advantages of microcement that hold up after years of use are one surface without joints, installation over the existing floor without demolition, resistance to wear and sunlight, and simple maintenance. Microcement works over underfloor heating, in bathrooms and kitchens, and with a waterproof system in showers too.

One surface, no joints

No joints means no lines for dirt to collect in. The floor and walls can be done in the same tone, so the space feels calmer. In offices, shops and restaurants this gives a quiet, neutral backdrop for furniture and merchandise.

Renovation without demolition

The work is dry with no chiselling, so there is none of the dust that comes with removing tiles. There is no rubble to take away and no skip. For a flat in an apartment block, that is often the deciding difference.

One material for many uses

The same material goes on floors, walls, kitchen counters and worktops. For worktops we use a heavier-duty protective topcoat, because a worktop has to cope with hot pans, oil and lemon. Microcement also withstands sunlight, so it can be used outdoors.

Colour and texture

The Classic texture comes in 42 standard colours, and for larger projects we also make custom colours. Micro-Granite and Micro-Stone add a stone grain, for high-traffic spaces or for a floor that is meant to stand out.

What are the disadvantages of microcement and what should you know before deciding?

The disadvantages of microcement are not hidden, but catalogues rarely mention them. Microcement follows the substrate, so a crack in the concrete can carry through to the surface, and the protective topcoat needs careful upkeep and occasional renewal. Being made by hand, it is never completely uniform, and installation needs the space empty for at least five days.

Why microcement cracks

Microcement is a mineral material and follows the substrate beneath it. If the concrete slab is moving or cracking, the crack carries through to the surface. That does not depend on the quality of the material, but on what is underneath.

That is why we check the substrate before installation and propose preparation that stops a crack carrying through. We do this at the substrate assessment stage, before any material is ordered. What this looks like when there are tiles underneath is covered in our article on microcement over tiles.

Stains, wear and the role of the protective topcoat

The protective topcoat protects the surface from stains and wear. Acid-based cleaners and abrasives attack that coat, so the floor is cleaned with a damp cloth and a neutral cleaner.

The protective coat is renewed over time, depending on how much wear the floor gets. We do this ourselves, with no demolition and no reinstallation.

Slipperiness in wet areas

How slippery microcement is depends on the finish, not just on the material. In bathrooms and showers we choose the protective topcoat according to how humid the room is, and add an anti-slip treatment where needed.

No two floors are identical

Every layer is applied by hand by a craftsman. Trowel marks, slight variations in tone and a soft cloudiness on the surface are characteristics of the material, not a fault. The same tone looks different under different light and next to a different wall colour.

If you expect a factory-uniform surface like tiles give you, you will probably not be happy with microcement. That is why you first look at samples with us, at our showroom, and you can take a finished sample home to see it in your own space.

Installation takes planning

Microcement goes in last, once all other work is finished and before the skirting boards are fitted. If other trades come in after us, we cover the finished floor with protective sheeting and MDF boards. This is agreed in advance, because it goes into the quote.

Which microcement installation mistakes cause problems?

The installation mistakes that cause problems later are laying microcement over an unprepared substrate, skipping waterproofing in the bathroom, walking on layers before they dry and working in sections that leave visible joins. In practice the problem rarely comes from the material itself, and much more often from how it was installed.

• Installing over a substrate that moves or cracks, without repairing it. The crack then carries through to the surface.
• Installing over loose or detached tiles. Microcement only goes over tiles when they are solid.
• Bathrooms and showers without waterproofing under the microcement.
• Working in sections at different times, which leaves visible joins.
• Walking on the layers before they dry.
• A protective topcoat that does not suit the use, for example weaker protection on a worktop or in a busy hallway.
• Installing before the other work is done, without protecting the floor from other trades.
• Cleaning with acid-based products, which attack the protective topcoat.

Some of these mistakes cannot be repaired locally, because microcement is one surface. That is why choosing the installer matters more than choosing the colour. What a good quote should include is covered in our article on how much microcement costs.

How do you recognise a good microcement installer?

You can recognise a good microcement installer because they want to see the substrate before quoting, say clearly which system they install and in how many layers, include waterproofing in wet areas and explain how the floor is maintained. An installer who quotes a price per m² over the phone, without seeing the substrate, does not know what is underneath.

Questions worth asking

• Do you come to assess the substrate before you quote?
• Which system do you install, and in how many layers?
• Is waterproofing included in the bathroom and shower?
• Which protective topcoat do you recommend for this use, and why?
• Where can I see samples, and can I take a finished sample home?
• How is the floor maintained, and who renews the protective coat?
• Which projects have you completed, and where can I see them?

How the process works with us

Our process has five steps: samples at our showroom, substrate assessment, a detailed quote for all the work, installation and handover. At handover we walk through the space together and show you how to look after the floor.

If you are moving in later, we can cover and protect the surfaces until then, by arrangement. See the systems, textures and colours on the microcement page.

Where has microcement proved itself in our projects?

We have installed microcement in flats, houses, offices, shops, restaurants and wellness spaces. In commercial spaces microcement gives a neutral, unbroken floor for open-plan layouts, and in houses it puts floor and walls in the same material. Below is a selection from our archive, covering spaces with different uses and loads.

At the Nordeus headquarters we installed microcement to a design by Antipod and Jump Studios. We worked on House HZ with Studio Fluid, and on the Extreme Intimo shops with the AUTORI studio.

See photos of the projects on our projects page. If you are considering microcement in a bathroom, also read our comparison microcement vs tiles in the bathroom.

To have your space assessed, send us the location, what it is used for and the approximate floor area through the enquiry form.

Frequently asked questions