Should you try Microcement?

The flooring you choose creates the foundation for your colour palette and is the canvas for your home. You want to get it right. While you might be trying to decide between timber floorboards or tiles, have you considered microcement? It is a material that we have both used in our projects, and in each case it’s had a huge impact. 

What is microcement?

First of all, you might be wondering what microcement is. It’s basically a decorating coating that can be used on interior and exterior surfaces. It is similar to concrete in finish but comprises a mix of cement, fine aggregates, polymers and other additives that help to create a thin smooth layer. Most of the time it is applied 2-3mm thick. 

What are the benefits?

What we love about microcement is its versatility. It can be applied to not only floors but walls, countertops and can even go straight over existing tiles. Natalie has used it over a tiled shower area and tiled flooring. Courtney used it on the wall behind a bathroom sink. It’s a relatively quick process to install in comparison with other floor finishes.

Another benefit is that you can specify it in a range of colours, which can be customised. Natalie asked the team who applied microcement in her bathroom to colour match it to her travertine sink. You can also opt for different textures and effects.
When you’re trying to decide if microcement is right for your project, here are some more benefits:

1. The Finished Look – Microcement creates a beautiful cloudy finish to any surface, adding depth and nuance. It also has a seamless finish, which can help achieve a more continuous and expansive look and feel. 
2. Durability – The finish is hard-wearing which makes it suitable for flooring and high traffic areas. 
3. Maintainability – Microcement is quite easy to maintain. Similar to most other hard surfaces, it just needs a regular sweep or vacuum and mop (with a pH-neutral cleaner). You can also reseal the surface to extend its lifespan.

Any downsides?

Microcement is a specialty finish, and not something that you can DIY. Instead, it requires specialist skill and expertise. As such it can be more expensive to install than other flooring options such as engineered floorboards or tiles. The size and complexity of your project will also impact pricing.

As with any project, you need to decide which materials will create the most impact for your space, and work within your budget.