What is microcement? A complete guide to understanding it

It is a composite material based on cement, resins (acrylic or polyurethane), very fine aggregates, pigments and additives. That mix is what gives it a dual nature: the hardness of cement and the flexibility and grip of the resins. Thanks to those resins, the coating bonds to almost any base —tiles, ceramic, plaster, plasterboard, concrete or wood— without peeling or cracking with the small movements of the substrate underneath.

It should not be confused with traditional polished concrete. Polished concrete is a structural mass several centimetres thick; microcement is a decorative coating just a few millimetres deep, applied in layers and then sealed. That is why it weighs very little and barely raises the floor level.

One of the big reasons for its success is its versatility: the same material works on almost any surface in the home, giving the whole space visual continuity.

• Interior and exterior floors, even over old tiles without lifting them.
• Walls, kitchen splashbacks and back panels.
• Bathrooms and showers, where it is applied as a seamless waterproof system.
• Worktops, basins, furniture and bespoke pieces.
• Stairs, terraces, façades and swimming-pool shells.

It is applied at a total thickness of 2 to 3 mm, spread over several thin layers. That has two very practical consequences. The first is that it barely raises the floor level, so doors and skirting rarely need to be trimmed. The second is that it adds very little load to the structure: around 4-5 kg per square metre, against more than 20 kg for a conventional tiled floor. That makes it ideal for refurbishing top-floor flats, terraces and slabs without overloading them.

• It is applied with no building work: nothing is chiselled out or removed, so there is no rubble or dust.
• Seamless continuity: a uniform surface that is easy to clean and very hygienic.
• Strong resistance to wear and foot traffic once sealed.
• A wide catalogue of colours and finishes (rustic, smooth, metallic).
• Compatible with underfloor heating and with almost any substrate.