Microcement — the complete guide for UK homeowners and tradespeople
Everything you need to know about microcement: what it is, where it can be used, how it is applied, and where to buy professional-grade microcement materials in the UK.
What is microcement?
Microcement is a decorative coating applied in thin layers — typically 2 to 3 mm in total — directly over existing surfaces. It bonds to tiles, concrete, plasterboard, timber and most existing substrates, creating a continuous, seamless finish with no grout lines, no joints and no demolition required.
Looking for microcement in the UK? We supply the full Lunik professional system and run hands-on training from our Cardiff showroom. Get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.
Get in touchThe material itself is a blend of cement, fine aggregates, polymer resins and pigments. It is applied by a trained applicator using a steel trowel across two or three coats, then sealed with a professional-grade polyurethane or epoxy sealer that determines its durability, sheen level and water resistance.
Microcement is widely used in residential interiors across the UK for bathroom and wet room finishes, kitchen floors and worktops, hallways, living room floors and feature walls. It is also used commercially in hotels, restaurants, retail fit-outs and public spaces where a high-end, minimal, continuous surface is required.
The finish can range from ultra-smooth and polished to heavily textured depending on the grain size selected, the number of coats applied and the trowel technique used. Pigmentation is custom-mixed per batch, which means colour matching between jobs requires accurate records and consistent batching — something professional applicators manage through dedicated pigment calculators.
Where can microcement be used?
Bathrooms & wet rooms
The most popular application in the UK. Microcement creates a seamless, grout-free surface across floors, walls and shower enclosures. Fully waterproof when correctly sealed. Easier to clean than tiled surfaces.
Floors
Suitable for all floor types including domestic hallways, open-plan living areas, kitchens and commercial spaces. Compatible with underfloor heating systems. Available in a range of grain sizes to control slip resistance and texture.
Walls & feature walls
Microcement walls create a continuous, mineral-textured surface without grout or joints. Popular for bathroom walls, kitchen splashbacks, hallways and living room feature walls in residential and commercial interiors.
Kitchen worktops
Microcement can be applied over existing worktops to create a seamless concrete-effect surface. A distinctive alternative to stone or composite surfaces, sealed for full durability.
Stairs
Microcement can be applied to timber, concrete or tiled stairs for a seamless finish that wraps treads and risers without change of material. Correct substrate preparation and nosing detailing are critical.
Commercial & hospitality
Hotels, restaurants, retail fit-outs and office interiors use microcement for its high-end aesthetic and low maintenance in high-traffic areas. Liquid metal finishes such as OXXID are increasingly popular for feature walls and reception areas.
How is microcement applied?
Microcement application is a multi-stage process that requires substrate assessment, priming, base coat, finish coat and sealing. Each stage must be allowed to cure before the next is applied, and environmental conditions — temperature, humidity, ventilation — must be controlled throughout.
1. Substrate preparation. The substrate is assessed for soundness, cleaned and any movement joints or cracks are treated. Plasterboard and timber substrates are reinforced with fibreglass mesh tape. The surface is primed to promote adhesion and reduce absorption.
2. Base coat. One or two base coats of microcement are applied by trowel. The grain size of the base coat is matched to the finish coat selected. The base coat builds the body of the system and conceals the substrate.
3. Finish coat. One or two finish coats are applied in the pigmented colour. Trowel technique at this stage determines the texture, movement and character of the final surface. This is where skill has the greatest impact on quality.
4. Sealing. The cured surface is sealed with a professional polyurethane, water-based or epoxy sealer. The sealer specification determines sheen level (matt, satin or gloss), hardness, water resistance and chemical resistance. Floors require a harder-specification sealer than walls. Wet rooms and worktops require a fully waterproof sealer system.
Total project time for a bathroom typically runs two to three days on site, depending on surface area and the number of coats required.
Professional microcement materials available through Studio Cemento
Studio Cemento is the UK distributor for Lunik Coating Culture, a professional decorative coatings manufacturer based in Valencia, Spain. The Lunik range covers microcement, mineral finishes, liquid metals, lime renders and epoxy floor systems — all available to trade applicators through our Cardiff showroom and online store.
OneRock
Professional two-component microcement for walls and floors. Available in 20 standard colours with grain sizes from S to XXL. The core system used across Studio Cemento training and installations.
ClayCoat
A clay-mineral interior finish with a naturally textured, breathable character. Increasingly popular for residential bedrooms, living rooms and commercial hospitality interiors.
LimeCoat
A polished lime-based finish with depth and a softly burnished appearance. Suitable for walls and low-traffic floors. Natural, breathable and distinctive in character.
OXXID Liquid Metal
A reactive liquid metal finish that oxidises to create genuine rust, patina and bronze effects. Applied over a microcement base for commercial feature walls, reception areas and hospitality interiors.
Terrazzone
An aggregate-rich decorative system that replicates the appearance of traditional terrazzo flooring. Available in multiple aggregate mixes and binder colours for a custom appearance.
Onepox
A two-component epoxy floor system for high-traffic domestic and commercial applications where maximum durability and chemical resistance are required.
Studio Cemento — UK distributor for Lunik, based in Cardiff, Wales
We supply professional microcement materials and run hands-on training courses from our showroom at Unit 5A, Riverbridge Business Park, Cardiff, CF23 9AF. Trade applicators, decorators, tilers and construction professionals travel from across the UK to train with us and source Lunik materials through our trade account system.
We supply to applicators and projects in South Wales, the South West, London and the South East, the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland. Whether you are looking for microcement materials, training or a referral to an approved applicator in your area, get in touch with our team.
Microcement FAQ
Microcement is a cement-based decorative coating applied in thin layers of 2–3 mm directly over existing surfaces including tiles, concrete, plasterboard and wood. It creates a seamless, jointless finish across walls, floors, worktops and wet rooms without the need for demolition or substrate removal.
Microcement is applied at 2–3 mm total thickness across multiple coats. This makes it one of the thinnest decorative floor and wall coatings available, and means it can be applied directly over existing surfaces without raising floor levels significantly.
Yes. When correctly sealed with a professional polyurethane or epoxy sealer, microcement is fully waterproof and suitable for wet rooms, showers, bathroom floors and walls, and kitchen worktops. The sealer is a critical final step that determines the surface's water resistance and durability.
Yes. Microcement can be applied directly over existing ceramic and porcelain tiles, provided they are sound, well bonded and the grout lines are filled and primed before application. This makes it an ideal renovation option for bathrooms and kitchens without the cost and disruption of tile removal.
A professionally applied and properly sealed microcement surface will last 10–20 years or more in normal residential use. Longevity depends on correct substrate preparation, application technique, the quality of materials used, and the sealer specification chosen for the use case.
Yes. Microcement is widely used on floors in residential and commercial settings. Floor applications require a harder-wearing base coat and a floor-grade sealer. For areas with underfloor heating, microcement is compatible provided the substrate is fully acclimatised and thermally stable before application begins.
Polished concrete is ground and polished in situ from an existing concrete slab — a heavy, disruptive process. Microcement is a thin decorative coating applied over almost any existing surface. Microcement gives a similar aesthetic at a fraction of the disruption and cost, and can be applied to walls, stairs and furniture as well as floors.
Studio Cemento is the UK distributor for Lunik Coating Culture, a professional microcement system manufactured in Valencia, Spain. Products including OneRock microcement, ClayCoat, LimeCoat and OXXID Liquid Metal are available to trade applicators and direct from our Cardiff showroom and online store.
Yes. Microcement is one of the most popular finishes for bathrooms and wet rooms in the UK. When applied over a correctly waterproofed substrate and sealed with a quality polyurethane sealer, microcement is fully waterproof, easy to clean and resistant to mould and mildew. It creates a seamless, grout-free finish that is significantly easier to maintain than tiled surfaces.
Microcement itself does not crack when applied to a stable substrate by a trained applicator. Any cracking that does occur is almost always caused by movement in the underlying substrate. Correct substrate assessment, priming and base coat selection are the primary defences against cracking, which is why professional application and quality materials matter.
Yes. Studio Cemento runs professional microcement training courses from our Cardiff workshop. Courses cover the full Lunik system — OneRock, ClayCoat, LimeCoat, OXXID and more — with hands-on trowel time, colour batching, quoting systems and post-training support. Courses are available for decorators, tilers, builders and tradespeople at all levels.
Ready to find out more?
Whether you are a homeowner looking for inspiration, a tradesperson wanting to learn the system, or an architect specifying materials — we are here to help.