Microcement Flooring: Yes or No?
The Pros and Cons of Microcement
If you’re considering microcement for an upcoming construction or design project, this is the guide for you.
We’ll explore all of the benefits and potential challenges that might influence your decision, including the reasons why microcement is such a popular flooring choice — and some things to watch out for when choosing your microcement product and applicator.
Hopefully this will address any concerns surrounding whether microcement is really one of the best flooring options for your space.
What is Microcement?
Are you familiar with the term microcement? Maybe you recognise microtopping, microscreed, or micro concrete instead. Microcements like X-Bond are a versatile contemporary flooring material applied on top of existing hard surfaces, most commonly tiles or concrete resurfacing.
X-Bond is made from a mix of cement and adhesive polymers, applied by hand as one continuous floor coating 2-3mm in thickness.
Common areas of application for microcement floors include high-traffic public areas like commercial buildings, retail stores, eateries, and hotels. It’s also popular in contemporary homes, from the living and dining areas to kitchens and bathrooms. Microcement is also suitable for outdoor flooring, such as garden pathways and pool surrounds.
Read more in our ultimate microcement guide.
The Advantages of Microcement Flooring
Seamless finish
Microcement is a rendered product, so it’s applied by hand as one continuous coating. This is great news if you’re after seamless flooring with no joints or grout lines for easy maintenance and a beautiful minimalist look.
Water friendly
Another benefit of X-Bond (as opposed to other microcements) is the easy waterproofing process. When applied with a liquid waterproofing membrane like Liquid Membrane, microcement can withstand all kinds of wet applications including showers, sink basins, saunas, and fully submerged in pools. It’s also resistant to stains and mould, always finished with a few coats of a high-grade sealer.
Customisable result
Our clients have the freedom to choose from a wide range of different textures and colourways to suit any interior design story. There’s even the possibility to create custom shades for a unique design outcome.
Wide range of applications
Our Remodel Without Removal method means you don’t need to demolish an existing floor to install new microcement over the top. This can be achieved even if your old floor is damaged! And, while other concrete overlays are limited, X-Bond Microcement can be installed over almost any existing hard surface. Read more about the (many) suitable applications of microcement.
Minimal thickness
X-Bond’s minimal thickness of just 2-3mm, is a huge benefit if you need your new flooring materials to be lightweight and have minimal impact on the floor’s overall height. Let’s say you’re resurfacing some old concrete and you have a doorway to consider; you won’t need to fit a new door as microcement will only add 2-3mm on top of the existing slab.
Durability and resilience
Despite how thin it is, microcement is just as strong as any other hard surface. Thanks to some advanced engineering, the X-Bond formula is especially resilient because it contains added latex polymer. This creates more flexibility within the product to prevent cracks as the building underneath naturally moves. It also guarantees resistance to de-lamination — we’ve never had this problem in 25 years as product suppliers!
Easy maintenance
People always ask; are microcement floors easy to clean? The answer is yes. Microcement is a popular low-maintenance flooring choice in retail, hospitality, and commercial projects with high foot traffic. Residential clients love it too! Best of all, because it’s applied as a seamless coating, microcement is grout-free. No more scrubbing soap build-up in those bathroom tiles. Microcement makes like easy for commercial cleaning teams and homeowners alike; water, neutral soap, and a cloth/mop are all you need to clean it. Say goodbye to expensive products.
The Challenges in Choosing Microcement
Professional installation is recommended
If you’re looking for a DIY solution, microcement isn’t the best option — especially if you want the best results. Most of the benefits above might not be achieved without correct installation, especially if you’re installing in wet areas or resurfacing an old damaged substrate. Worldwide, X-Bond is only installed by trained professionals to ensure the highest quality and longevity of projects.
We’re the exclusive X-Bond Microcement supplier in Australia. We can put you in touch with an X-Bond microcement installer in any state. Submit a request to get connected with Australian microcement installers.
Not all microcements are equal
The success of your project relies on the quality of the microcement you choose. With the rising popularity of microcement, there are many options available, but finding one in Australia with a track record like X-Bond can be challenging. X-Bond is one of the oldest microcements on the Australian market, boasting 25 years of proven results and case studies.
Pricing considerations
We can’t give exact price estimates for microcement installation, as each applicator will base their quotes off the individual project brief.
In many ways, a flooring overlay is saving you money as it bypasses the costs of demolition. However, additional costs might be incurred for waterproofing or restoring damaged substrates prior to installation. Keep in mind that microcement does become more expensive per square metre as the area of application gets smaller. Discvoer more about this in our guide to microcement pricing.
A bad substrate will cause problems
As mentioned, microcement can be installed over damaged substrates. However, the substrate must be properly stabilised by an expert beforehand. If your existing surface remains unstable, movement can transfer through to your overlay and cause cracks in the microcement. To avoid the need for future repairs, you’ll want to engage a professional for your installation to ensure the existing flooring is ready for a microcement coating.
Repairs might be visible
If damaged, microcement flooring can be patched by hand the same way it was installed. But in the (unlikely) event that this occurs, the repair can sometimes be visible. This is because the original coating was applied and dried as one seamless layer. An experience installer will be able to blend repairs as seamlessly as possible.
In general, this isn’t a huge concern. A high-quality microcement shouldn’t damage easily, as long as you take good care of it! Plus, most microcement finishes already have tonal variations from the original trowel marks, so patching is not as noticeable as it is with other materials.
Here are some examples of microcement flooring installations:
Comparisons
Microcement vs. Tiles
Aesthetically, it’s a matter of personal taste. But in terms of practicality, there are a few reasons you might prefer microcement. It’s more likely that tiles will crack under intense pressure, like the refrigerator or heavy joinery. Tiled floors are also susceptible to a build-up of stains and mould in the grout lines, while grout can even erode over time and cause water leaks. So, choose microcement if you want a seamless grout-free floor that’s more resilient to pressure, leaks, and grime.
Microcement vs. Concrete
While there’s nothing wrong with concrete, using an overlay system like microcement can be more efficient if you’re looking to resurface an existing floor. Concrete can’t be applied over another substrate, as it doesn’t have the same chemical bonding agents as microcement. Additionally, microcement is a lot thinner than concrete but has the same structural integrity and resistance to cracks. The minimal thickness ultimately makes it a more versatile surface product, without sacrificing the durability of your flooring. Here’s a more in-depth look at microcement vs. concrete.
Microcement vs. Epoxy Flooring
Choose microcement if you want a more natural concrete-looking finish that also survives outdoors.
Epoxy floors are defined by a shiny resin finish, while microcement coating is usually matte with a more tactile and ‘natural’ appearance closer to real concrete or even stone. This is a matter of personal preference, but we think microcement is much more consistent with contemporary design trends.
Unlike microcement, epoxy resin flooring doesn’t hold up well in external areas. It can turn yellow with UV exposure, crack or peel with temperature changes, and bubble or de-laminate when exposed to excessive moisture. None of this is a concern with microcement flooring; it’s UV-resistant, can be exposed to extreme temperatures, and 100% waterproof.
Summary
Microcement is our recommended flooring solution if you:
Want something that looks and feels like concrete
Are interested in customisable design options
Need to resurface old concrete, tiles, or other existing flooring
Want a durable, low-maintenance floor for high-traffic areas
In summary, the benefits of microcement outweigh any potential drawbacks, and any concerns are minimal anyways. These challenges are easily managed by working with skilled installers and a high-quality product.
Contact our team about using X-Bond for your next flooring project. We distribute Australia-wide.