Microcement – how does it compare with Polished Concrete?

Defining our Terms

1. Polished Concrete

Polished concrete is a material constructed on site – more often for a new build or an extension than for an existing site. Liquid cement is poured onto a prepared base, levelled, allowed to ‘cure’ (or set), and then polished using heavy duty equipment. It will usually also require sealing with a breathable sealant to avoid staining. 

It is often found as flooring in large scale industrial or publicly accessible high traffic areas, where the cost to install it will be offset by its durability and longevity.

Installing a poured and polished concrete surface is a labour intensive, skilled craft that requires a contained space unencumbered by either skirting boards or doors, an appropriately prepared, stable and level surface as substrate, and a pre-planned, generously flexible time-scale for the process to move from start to finish – because cement dries and hardens at different rates according to its initial mix and prevailing weather conditions (heat and humidity can speed it up or slow it down) – and sealing necessarily takes place several weeks post completion of the installation.

Pros:

It creates a hardwearing surface and is capable of a high sheen finish – refined according to the refinement of the grade of sand used as polishing agent.

In common with microcement, it reflects light and – according to its construction – can be a continuous surface giving an enhanced sense of space. It is relatively easy to maintain, works well with underfloor heating and is a good insulating material because it holds onto heat – and will feel warm to the touch whether it is warmed by sunlight or by a heating system. When properly sealed it is slip and stain resistant and it’s available in different colour options. 

Cons:

The labour involved is time-consuming and costly and it can be prone to cracking – although it is also repairable. It is a heavyweight material that is often difficult and relatively expensive to retrofit in a domestic space.

2. Microcement

What is Microcement?

Microcement is a specially formulated contemporary cement that adds a lightweight concrete finish across a wide variety of surfaces. It shares many of the same properties as polished concrete without the heavy-duty construction, preparation, and equipment required to create it. It’s more flexible as a material in its application, and normally provides a more cost-effective solution in a domestic space than its poured and polished concrete doppelganger. 

Where and How is it Applied?

Microcement is applied by hand in thin layers to a depth of no more than 2-3mm to give an adaptable and flexible surface that gives a finish that looks and feels the same as concrete. It can be applied directly to many different surfaces, and is suitable for walls, floors, countertops and vanity units across the home – including areas that require a high degree of resilience and longevity such as kitchens and bathrooms.

 

An Artisanal Product with a Seamless Finish

Micro-cement can be applied across multiple planes, contours and corners to form a seamless, single, watertight, durable, scratch and stain resistant cover. As a handcrafted application, its finish will always be unique, with a texture that is adjustable as it is being applied: pay no attention to the warp, weave, or weft of any small scale samples you may be offered as you decide on colour choice – texture will take care of itself as it is applied on site and at scale, and will be adjusted again as it is polished to find its own finish.

Colour Perception

Pigments are added, according to colour choice and using mathematically precise formulae, to enable a variety of colour finishes: like velvet, however, this is a material that will reflect light according to the ‘nap’ of its application, and so sample colour choices should be seen as more indicative than definitive.

For this artisanal, hand-applied product, colour perception will necessarily vary according to prevailing light conditions, other reflective surfaces nearby, and the scale of its application. This is a surface that will always be unique to the particulars of its surroundings.

Qualities of Microcement

Formulations may vary – by brand and by area requirements. As with concrete, not all microcements are made equal. The manufacturer and installer that we partner with for all our projects employs an advanced formula that is highly durable, stain and scratch resistant and fully waterproofed – as an integral part of its design. Waterproofing is thus not reliant on a final coat of sealant – as some microcement formulations are – and the overall material is solvent free, as it doesn’t rely on solvent based waterproof sealants as a finishing protective layer. 

Microcement: A Few Fast Facts