Is microcement the same as polished concrete?
No. Polished concrete is the structural slab, ground and polished, so it is built into the building. Microcement is a thin coating applied over an existing floor to give a mineral-looking surface. That difference decides where each can be used: a coating can be added to a finished floor, whereas a slab is part of the structure.
Microcement installations at Atelier follow the five-step reinforced system, from technical assessment to final quality inspection. The steps are listed on the microcement flooring page. Where movement joints are needed, they are agreed at survey.
Microcement vs resin: which is better for a home?
It depends on the look and the floor. Resin cures to a hard, uniform film and is common in commercial and utility spaces, with a finish that is typically glossier. Microcement gives a softer, mineral finish and is built up in layers over a reinforced substrate. Neither is better in every case, and the technical assessment decides what a particular floor can take.
How do thickness and build-up differ?
Microcement is a thin coating, so it adds little height to an existing floor. Resin is a poured film, also thin, applied to a flat, sound base. Polished concrete is a structural slab, so it forms the floor itself and is decided when a building is designed or extended. Any change in height at doors and thresholds is assessed at survey.
The three floors side by side
| Aspect | Microcement | Resin | Polished concrete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | A soft, mineral surface | A uniform film, typically glossier | Ground concrete with a stone-like surface |
| Build-up | A thin coating over the existing floor | A poured film on a flat, sound base | The structural slab itself |
| Over an existing floor | May be coated, subject to assessment | Needs a flat, sound base | Not applied over a floor: it is the floor |
| Typical setting | Renovations of existing floors | Commercial and utility spaces | New builds and extensions designed around a slab |
Which suits a London renovation?
Most renovations work over existing floors, in homes with fixed structures and limited access. Microcement is applied over a prepared existing floor, so it suits that situation, subject to assessment. Polished concrete suits new builds and extensions designed around a slab, and resin suits utility and commercial settings. The technical assessment confirms which applies.
- Microcement suits a renovation where the existing floor stays, the floor height should change as little as possible, and a continuous surface is wanted.
- Polished concrete suits a new build or extension where the slab is designed to be the finished floor.
- Resin suits a garage, workshop or utility space where a hard, glossier floor is acceptable.
Can the same floor continue into a bathroom?
Yes, with microcement. Microcement is water-resistant once sealed; waterproofing comes from the tanking membrane beneath. Where a floor continues into a bathroom or wet room, the wet zone needs the tanking membrane and the wet-room build-up described in the guide to microcement in bathrooms.
What does a microcement floor cost?
Resin and polished concrete are not priced on this site. Microcement is priced from a per-square-metre starting rate, and a final price follows a survey. The cost guide sets out the starting rate, indicative totals for kitchens, open-plan living and whole apartments, and what moves the price.
Read the microcement cost guide for London for the figures.
Frequently asked questions
Is microcement the same as polished concrete?
No. Polished concrete is the structural slab, ground and polished. Microcement is a thin coating applied over an existing floor to give a mineral-looking surface.
Is microcement better than resin flooring?
It depends on the look and the floor. Resin is a hard, uniform film and typically glossier; microcement is a softer, mineral finish built up in layers. The technical assessment decides what a particular floor can take.
Can microcement go on an upper floor?
Microcement is a thin coating applied over a prepared floor, so it adds little height. Whether a particular upper floor is suitable is decided by the technical assessment, which covers substrate condition, alignment and structural stability.
Does microcement crack like concrete?
Cracking in a thin coating follows movement in the substrate beneath it. Joint sealing and fibre mesh reinforcement, applied in step three of the five-step system, are the controls.
Can the same floor run from a living room into a bathroom?
Yes, with microcement. Microcement is water-resistant once sealed; waterproofing comes from the tanking membrane beneath.
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