X-Bond Microcement Design Options: Colours & Textures
We often talk about the impressive performance of X-Bond, from its outstanding durability to its advanced molecular bond with compatible substrates. But our microcement doesn’t just meet technical standards — it also elevates design aesthetics.
Subtle tonal movement and artisanal texture are inherent qualities of microcement, giving every project an architectural edge. Whether you’re going for the soft, luminous variation of a polished finish, the organic rawness of concrete, or the tactile drama of mineral formations, X‑Bond allows beautiful design options that rival traditional materials but without their limitations. It’s where high-performance meets high-end design.
Available in a curated palette of colours and a suite of handcrafted textures, each surface is fully customisable to suit the design brief, material selections, and function of any interior or exterior space.
Meet the Four Finishes
In the X-Bond range, there are four texture finishes achieved using different application techniques and tools — all by hand. This creates a one‑of‑a‑kind artistry unlike mass‑produced materials. Our applicators are trained in each of these methods, and will be able to recommend which finish is best for your project.
Luma (Polished, Soft & Cloudy)
X-Bond Luma is probably our most widely specified texture option. It’s suitable across most applications internally or externally, and visually it falls somewhere between burnished concrete and Venetian plaster renders.
Applicators will trowel it by hand and then buff it with a machine. The visible trowel marks give the appearance of depth with soft, cloud-like tonal variation — while the polishing process creates a deceptively smooth and sleek hand feel.
Suitable for:
Floors
Walls
Ceilings
Joinery
Wet areas, including showers
Natural Concrete (Raw, Organic Imperfection)
X-Bond Natural Concrete is inspired by raw concrete (sometimes called off-form concrete, exposed concrete, or unfinished concrete). This is concrete left in its natural state, characterised by visible imperfections and a rough, dry feel.
To mimic this with microcement, the product is first sprayed onto the surface and then trowelled. This creates a ‘pockmarked’ appearance with irregular geometry and a really tactile, elemental feel.
Suitable for:
Internal & external feature walls
Select joinery pieces
Blade (Industrial Texture, Slip‑Resistant)
Think of Blade as a more textured, industrial version of Luma. As the name suggests, it’s applied with a blade tool to create raised chatter marks for additional texture, engineered specifically as a non-slip option for external flooring. From afar, it looks similar to concrete, but up close the blade marks create a really unique structure and dimension.
Suitable for:
External floors
Mineral (Stucco‑Inspired, Rustic)
When applied with a spray gun, microcement creates a rough stucco-like finish. In our range, we gave this texture the name Mineral, as it has a rugged and almost geological quality that reminds us of cave formations. It brings textural presence to your space that invites touch and elevates the sensory experience. Mineral is most commonly used for internal walls and ceilings, but is also an option for external floor applications needing high slip resistance.
Suitable for:
Internal walls (including wet areas)
Ceilings
Facades
Select external flooring e.g. ramps
The Colour Range
Our standard colour range has something for everyone:
Aspen, Frost, Mist and Shade are light neutrals varying from white to grey
Ash and Haze are mid-range ‘classic’ grey tones
Smoke and Dusk are darker grey shades
Terra and Umber are rich browns
It’s important to note that colours can behave differently in certain contexts. Screens and editing mean that photos aren’t always an accurate indicator for how a colour will look in your space. The most accurate way to assess our colours is to ask us for samples, and examine them in the area you’re surfacing — and make sure you do this in all lighting conditions! For clients seeking bespoke colour stories, we can also create custom pigments.
Finish Characteristics
Pigment Integration: As the pigment is blended into the microcement itself and sealed after application, it doesn’t fade or wear unevenly over time. In the Luma finish, there’s an extra step involving a stain to achieve that cloudy, soft colour diffusion.
Natural Variation: Each surface is hand‑finished, so gentle tonal shifts, shadowing and movement are part of the effect; deliberate, organic beauty.
Lighting Influence: Light brings microcement surfaces to life. The whole point of choosing a dynamic render over a uniform finish is that you get a beautiful interplay texture and tone, especially when the light hits it. Trowel marks and shading become part of the design narrative, turning your walls, floors, or joinery into standout features rather than forgettable elements.
What Sets X-Bond Apart?
If this is your first introduction to microcement, you have to know it’s not just a decoration; it’s a high-performing material that has outstanding practical benefits… if you choose the right brand. So why X-Bond, if not it’s beautiful colour and texture options?
Seamless, Cohesive Solution
X-Bond spans floors, walls, ceilings, joinery and even wet areas as a single seamless surface with no grout or joints. This versatility makes it an all-in-one surface solution.
Thin & Lightweight — Remodel Without Demo
Installed at just 2–3 mm over existing materials like tile, concrete, plasterboard or MDF, no demolition is required prior to X-Bond application. It adds minimal height or weight to surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about structural or load-bearing impact.
Durable, Flexible & Low-Maintenance
High performance: strong up to approx. 27 MPa at minimal depth, with polymer flexibility to resist cracking or delamination.
Waterproof with the appropriate membrane and sealer, suitable for areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and pool surrounds.
Easy to clean, no grout lines: ideal for minimalist aesthetics with maintenance benefits.
Sealed for high resistance to stains, mould, UV exposure, impact, and general wear & tear.
So there you have it; the X-Bond Microcement range offers endless, expressive potential. Each texture option provides not only visual style with extensive colour options, but also outstanding performance — lightweight, waterproof, seamless, and enduring across all areas. If you’re interested in exploring the range, feel free to ask us about samples or visit us in person at our showrooms!