Microcement Kitchens
Elevate your kitchen with microcement
Looking for a modern kitchen finish that doesn't require ripping everything out? Microcement is a seamless decorative overlay that can be applied over many existing kitchen surfaces, including floors, walls, joinery and island benches. At just 2–3mm thick, it offers the look of poured concrete without the weight, cost or disruption of replacement — but our range has been expanded to include a wide range of colours and textures for total design freedom.
Since introducing microcement to market in 1999, our product X-Bond has become one of the country's most trusted microcement systems, specified by architects, designers and homeowners in kitchens around Australia. Whether you're renovating a dated kitchen or designing a new build, microcement creates a durable, continuous finish that blends contemporary aesthetics with everyday practicality.
Microcement
[noun] mi-cro-cem-ent
A mixture of cement and adhesive polymers, forming a coating that’s hand-installed on top of almost any hard surface; known as an overlay. While it was originally created to replicate the industrial aesthetic of concrete, microcement now comes in a range of different finishes and colours for seamless application in any space.
Seamless Design Without Grout Lines
One of the biggest reasons homeowners choose microcement is its ability to create continuous surfaces. Without joints or visible transitions, kitchens immediately feel larger, calmer and more architectural. The hand-trowelled application leaves subtle movement across the surface, giving each installation its own unique character while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic. Whether paired with natural timber, marble or brushed metal finishes, microcement complements a wide variety of kitchen styles.
Renovate Your Kitchen Without Demolition
One of microcement's biggest advantages is that it can often be installed directly over suitable existing substrates — this is called an overlay. Instead of removing old tiled splashbacks, replacing cabinetry or demolishing polished concrete floors, X-Bond Microcement can be applied over many prepared surfaces, reducing waste, labour and project time. Suitable existing substrates may include: Ceramic tiles Concrete Fibre cement Masonry Existing render Prepared joinery Suitable benchtops Every project should be assessed by an installer before resurfacing begins. Related Reading: Tile Resurfacing with Microcement
Durability, Resilience, and Versatility
Looking for the perfect kitchen floor? Microcement has a high resistance to wear and tear from foot traffic. It’s also installed frequently to kitchen walls and joinery as it’s incredibly easy to clean after food or liquid spills. Getting creative in the kitchen won’t sacrifice your beautiful surfaces. It’s waterproof, so you can specify it around sinks (or even inside them) as well as outdoor cooking areas and barbecues. On top of that, it has great thermal conductivity and can be used as a rangehood coating. X-Bond is also one of the most flexible microcements on the market, meaning better resistance to de-lamination and cracks than other renders.
Customisable design options.
Our expanded X-Bond range features 20+ shades and in larger jobs, there’s even the potential to create your own custom colours. Microcement can also be applied using different tools and techniques to create a range of textures.
The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the home, so any surface needs to balance aesthetics with practicality. Microcement has become increasingly popular because it combines a seamless architectural appearance with the durability required for everyday family life.
Unlike tiles, microcement doesn't rely on grout joints, making it easier to clean. Because it's applied as an overlay, it can also transform many existing kitchen surfaces without demolition, reducing disruption during renovations.
Why Choose Microcement for Kitchens?
Where Can Microcement Be Used in a Kitchen?
Rather than being limited to a single application, microcement can be installed across multiple kitchen surfaces to create a cohesive, seamless design.
Kitchen Floors
Microcement flooring is highly resistant to everyday foot traffic. Its seamless finish eliminates grout joints while creating a surface that's easy to sweep and mop.
Kitchen Walls
Rather than using tiles, many homeowners choose microcement walls to create a textured, continuous backdrop behind cabinetry and open shelving that’s easier to clean.
Kitchen Islands
Wrapping the island in the same finish as the floor creates a sculptural, monolithic appearance that's become increasingly popular in contemporary kitchens.
Joinery & Cabinetry
Cabinet fronts and other joinery can often be coated with microcement, as it’s thin, lightweight, and trowelled by hand.
Benchtops
Microcement can also be applied to suitable benchtops. As with any benchtop surface, chopping boards and trivets should be used to protect the finish.
Ceilings
For truly immersive spaces, some architects extend microcement onto ceilings and bulkheads to create uninterrupted architectural continuity.
Read More in our blog: Where Can Microcement Be Applied in Kitchens?
Recommended materials:
X-Bond Hybrid (internal and external areas)
Our most common microcement finish for kitchens, X-Bond Hybrid features visible trowel marks for subtle variations in tone. After being hand-trowelled, it’s sanded for a smooth and polished result. It’s then finished with high-grade sealers to ensure it stays in good condition, wherever you apply it.
Liquid Membrane (waterproof membrane)
This is an essential step when installing microcement in wet areas — like your kitchen sink or benchtops, for example. The membrane acts as primary waterproofing before the microcement is applied. This gives X-Bond CodeMark Certified status for automatic compliance in wet areas. Additionally, the X-Bond Hybrid finish is unique in that it’s waterproof before sealing; giving clients added confidence when specifying it in wet areas.
Microcement kitchen maintenance and care
Is Microcement Easy to Clean?
One of the biggest advantages of microcement in the kitchen is how easy it is to maintain. Because it's installed as a seamless surface, there are no grout joints to trap grease, food particles or everyday grime. Most spills can be wiped away with a damp cloth and a mild, pH-neutral detergent, making it a practical choice for busy family kitchens. While microcement is highly resistant to staining when correctly sealed, it's still good practice to clean up food, oils and liquids promptly to keep the protective sealer in excellent condition for years to come.
Other tips for looking after microcement include…
Do not wash the X-Bond surface for the first week after application, not even with water. This allows sealers to dry completely.
Avoid cutting and chopping produce directly on a microcement bench top — always use a cutting board.
We don’t recommend X-Bond to be installed on a splashback behind a stove or cooktop as the hot oils could migrate and leach into the sealer causing a stain.
Microcement is resistant to mould and stains, but avoid leaving moisture on your microcement surfaces for too long. Clean up all spills and semi-solids as soon as possible.
Sand, grit and other debris can be abrasive to the surface if carried on shoes, so sweep your microcement floor regularly.
Sand, grit and other debris can be abrasive to the surface if carried on shoes, so sweep your microcement floor regularly. A clean microfiber dust mop is very effective at removing dirt on an X-Bond surface. Steam mops are not recommended as they could discolor the finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Microcement is well suited to kitchens thanks to its durability, seamless appearance and ease of maintenance. It can be applied across floors, walls, island benches, joinery and other suitable surfaces, creating a cohesive design that stands up to everyday use.
Key cost factors include:
Total area size (m²)
Condition of the existing substrate
Substrate type
Preparation & repair requirements
Waterproofing needs (wet areas & outdoor spaces)
Design complexity
Selected finish & texture
Project location & site accessibility
To get a quote for X-Bond Microcement installation in Australia, get in touch with our team.
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In many cases, yes. One of the key benefits of microcement is that it can be installed over existing tiles, provided the substrate is sound and properly prepared. This can significantly reduce demolition, waste and renovation time compared to replacing tiled surfaces entirely.
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Yes, microcement can be applied to suitable benchtops to create a seamless, contemporary finish. As with any decorative surface, we recommend using chopping boards when preparing food and trivets for hot cookware to help protect the sealer and maintain the finish over time.
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Not all microcement brands will have the same properties. In wet areas or surfaces exposed to frequent moisture, our product X-Bond is waterproof. It’s installed as part of a complete CodeMark Certified system that includes our Liquid Membrane waterproofing and protective sealers. The X-Bond Hybrid finish is also unique, in that it’s waterproof before sealing; giving clients added confidence when specifying it in wet areas.
This provides the durability and moisture resistance required for kitchen applications and other wet areas, from bathrooms to exterior spaces.
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When properly sealed, microcement is highly resistant to everyday kitchen stains. However, like natural stone and many other decorative surfaces, spills from substances such as boiling hot oil or citrus foods should be cleaned promptly to minimise the risk of staining and prolong the life of the protective sealer.
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We recommend using trivets or heat-resistant mats rather than placing hot pots and pans directly onto a microcement benchtop. While the finish is durable, excessive direct heat may damage the protective sealer over time.
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When installed correctly over a suitable substrate and maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations, a microcement kitchen can provide many years of performance. Longevity depends on factors such as the quality of the installation, the products used and ongoing maintenance.
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Microcement can be finished with different textures depending on the application. For kitchen floors, the level of slip resistance can be tailored by selecting the appropriate finish, helping balance safety with ease of cleaning.
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The cost of a microcement kitchen varies depending on the size of the project, the surfaces being covered, the condition of the existing substrate and the complexity of the installation. Because microcement can often be applied over existing surfaces, it may also reduce costs associated with demolition and waste removal. For an accurate estimate, we recommend contacting one of our certified installers for a project-specific quote.
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Yes. In the event of accidental damage, many localised issues can be patch repaired without replacing the entire surface.