Topcret

Topcret – Microcement

Microcement: features, benefits and uses

Understanding its uses, its types, how it is applied and what it brings.

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What is microcement?

Microcement, also known as micro concrete, micro-screed, or micro-overlay, is a highly versatile cementitious coating that has become a go-to solution for renovating period properties and modern builds alike across the UK. It can be applied over floors, walls, and even furniture, in both residential and commercial settings, without the mess of a full strip-out.

As a leading microcement supplier in the UK, Topcret works with architects, interior designers, and homeowners tackling everything from Victorian terraces to new-build flats. Its durability makes it a practical choice for busy households and commercial spaces without compromising on a refined finish.

Microcement has grown in popularity across the UK for its sleek, minimalist look, one that sits comfortably in a listed building as well as a contemporary loft conversion. With an extensive range of colours and finishes, it suits everything from a period kitchen to a sleek office fit-out.

Because it’s applied as a thin coating directly over existing surfaces, microcement also limits disruption to a property’s original structure, an important consideration for anyone renovating a heritage or listed building.

Whether you’re restoring a period home or fitting out a new commercial space, microcement gives UK properties a durable, low-maintenance finish that respects the building’s character.

Microcement composition and Features

Microcement primarily consists of cement, fine sand, polymers, and pigments. These ingredients are meticulously blended to produce a consistent paste that can be applied to various surfaces, including floors, walls, and furniture.

Some of the standout features of microcement include:

  • Durability: Microcement is a robust and long-lasting material that can withstand daily wear and tear, knocks, and abrasion.
  • Water-Resistance: Totally waterproof, applicable to any wet area.
  • Flexibility: Unlike other coatings, microcement is flexible and doesn’t crack easily, making it ideal for surfaces that might experience movement or vibrations.
  • Minimal Thickness: Microcement is applied in very thin layers, making it a suitable choice for renovations without adding excessive weight or thickness to the existing structure.
  • Wide Colour Range: Owing to the pigments used in its composition, microcement is available in a broad spectrum of colours and shades, allowing for customisation and adaptation to various decorative styles.
An interior finished in Topcret microcement

Microcement applications

Microcement Flooring

Microcement floors are highly durable and easy to clean, making them a great option for high-traffic areas. They can be customized with a range of finishes, from smooth and polished to textured and rustic, and can be used in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial, and industrial spaces. Microcement flooring is also a cost-effective alternative to traditional flooring materials.

Microcement Bathrooms

Microcement is perfect for creating seamless, waterproof surfaces in your bathroom. Because it is applied in a single layer, there are no grout lines or seams to worry about, which means fewer areas for dirt and mold to accumulate. Microcement bathrooms are easy to clean, durable, and can be customized with a wide range of colors and finishes.

Microcement Worktops

Microcement worktops offer a sleek and durable surface that is perfect for modern kitchen design. With their customizable finishes and seamless application, microcement worktops provide a stylish and practical solution for homeowners looking to upgrade their countertops. Additionally, microcement worktops require minimal maintenance and are highly resistant to stains, making them an ideal choice for busy households.

Outdoor Microcement

Outdoor microcement has revolutionised the way we design and enhance our external spaces. Perfect for patios, terraces, and walkways, this innovative material offers a sleek, seamless finish that's both durable and weather-resistant. Its ability to withstand the elements, combined with its contemporary aesthetic, makes outdoor microcement a preferred choice for homeowners and designers alike. Whether you're aiming to create a chic poolside lounge or a modern garden pathway, outdoor microcement promises a blend of beauty, functionality, and longevity, elevating the appeal of any open-air setting.

Microcement on walls

Microcement is a versatile material that can be used to create a range of wall finishes, from smooth and sleek to textured and rustic. It can also be applied to curved or uneven surfaces, making it an excellent choice for feature walls or accent areas. Microcement walls are highly durable and resistant to cracking, making them a long-lasting and low-maintenance option for any room in your home.

Microcement Kitchens

Microcement surfaces are ideal for creating a modern, clean look in your kitchen. They can be used for countertops, backsplashes, and even flooring, and can be customized to match the design style of your kitchen. Microcement kitchens are highly durable and resistant to stains, making microcement an excellent choice for high-traffic areas like your kitchen.

Microcement Stairs

Microcement can be used to create durable, slip-resistant stair treads and risers. It can be applied to any type of stair, including concrete, wood, or metal, and can be customized to match the design of your space. Microcement stairs are easy to clean and maintain, and are highly resistant to wear and tear.

Microcement Showers

Microcement showers are highly resistant to water damage, making them an ideal choice for bathrooms. Their seamless and continuous surface is not only aesthetically pleasing but also easy to clean and maintain. Microcement showers can be finished in a range of styles, from modern and polished to natural and textured, offering versatility in design.

Microcement Furniture

Microcement can be used to create unique, modern furniture pieces. It can be applied to a wide range of materials, including wood, metal, and plastic, and can be customized to match the design style of your space. Microcement furniture is highly durable and resistant to stains and scratches, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas.

Microcement Pools

Microcement pools provide a seamless and waterproof surface that is perfect for pool construction. With their range of customizable finishes and low-maintenance requirements, microcement pools offer a stylish and cost-effective option for homeowners seeking to enhance their outdoor living space.

A living room with microcement floor and walls

Topcret’s microcements

Each type of microcement has its own strengths, which makes them right for different jobs.

What microcement brings

Microcement offers a cost-effective, versatile solution for building and refurbishment.

  • VersatilityIt can be used on walls, floors, bathrooms, kitchens, stairs, showers, furniture, pools and outdoor surfaces, and also over curved or irregular surfaces.
  • DurabilityHighly durable and resistant to cracking, wear, staining and scratching. A low-maintenance choice for any room.
  • PersonalisationIt comes in a wide range of colours and finishes, from smooth and polished to textured and rustic.
  • WaterproofingIt is waterproof, which makes it an excellent choice for bathroom walls and floors, shower screens, pool surrounds and outdoor surfaces.
  • Eco-friendlyMaking it takes less energy and fewer resources than traditional materials, it generates less waste and it can be applied straight over existing surfaces.
  • Easy to cleanThe surfaces are waterproof and can be washed or wiped down easily, which makes them ideal for busy areas.
  • EleganceIt creates elegant, modern surfaces that add a touch of sophistication to any space.
  • MinimalThe smooth, seamless finish creates a clean look, perfect for contemporary design.

Underfloor heating for large spaces

Live in summer all year round with the first heating system built into a microcement. A seamless coating around 3 mm thick, laid straight over the existing floor.

It needs no maintenance and uses up to 50% less energy than conventional electric heating systems.

  • German technology with CE certification
  • Low voltage and fully waterproof
  • Around 3 mm over the existing floor
See Summery®

It is the thinnest electric heating system there is, and an invisible one: it prevents dry air and dust in the room, which counts for most where there is the most volume to heat.

Discover our Colours

Our colourist experts developed more than 30 base colours to fulfill a wide range of applications. But we don’t want to limit your imagination, so we created Paint To Sample, a Topcret® innovation powered by your imagination, to offer high-end, enhanced personalisation for customers.

Our ISO certification process assures zero colour deviations, so what our client dreamed is what they will see installed in their project.

  • Over 30 base colours available
  • Colour on demand
  • Finishes in several textures
See more colours

In today’s world our connection with nature holds immense importance, and it is this bond that inspires our colours.

Microcement, surface by surface

Floors, walls, bathrooms, kitchens, stairs, worktops, furniture, terraces and pools: one continuous material solves the whole house, and what sits out in the weather too.

Every surface has its guide: what it can go over, how it is finished and which product suits it.

  • Over the surface already there, with no demolition
  • From smooth and polished to textured, and over curves
  • Indoors, outdoors and under water
See every application

Environmental Building with TOPCRET

Topcret offers a range of eco-friendly microcement products that are designed to help protect the environment while providing high-quality and versatile construction solutions. Our eco microcements are made using sustainable and environmentally friendly materials and production methods, which can help to reduce your carbon footprint.

Our eco microcements offer a range of benefits, including:

  • Low VOC emissions:Our products are designed to emit minimal levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can help to reduce air pollution and improve indoor air quality.
  • Water-based:Our eco microcements are water-based, which means that they are non-toxic and do not contain harmful chemicals that can harm the environment.
  • Durability:Because our eco microcements are highly durable and long-lasting, they can reduce the need for frequent renovations, which can help to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
A surface finished in eco microcement

Sustainability Certifications

  • WELL Building Standard
  • LEED Energy & Environmental Design
  • BREEAM Sustainable Construction
  • Sustainable Development Goal 15: life on land
  • Sustainable Development Goal 13: climate action

Comparison Table

Regular MicrocementEco Microcement
Environmental impactHighLow
Production processEnergy-intensiveEnergy-efficient
Raw materialsNon-renewable, high carbon footprintNatural, renewable, low carbon footprint
Chemicals usedHarmful, non-biodegradableNon-toxic, biodegradable
EmissionsHigh CO2 emissionsLow CO2 emissions

FAQs

Is it necessary to request a building permit?

Not only is it not necessary, but also its installation does not generate debris, so the application of any product is very agile and the inconveniences are minimal. The result is visible almost immediately and after 24 hours the paved surface is accessible for circulation.

On what type of surfaces can Microcemento® or Baxab® be applied?

Due to the great adhesion of both, it is possible to apply them on practically any type of stable surface: ceramics, porcelain, cement mortar, tiles, plaster, plasterboard, marble…. By not having to remove the existing material, a quick renovation of the spaces can be achieved, saving time and money.

What kind of products can be applied on the stairs?

There are a variety of products applicable to stairs. All Topcret products are highly versatile so only a few technical details need to be considered for easy application.

What kind of products can I install outdoors?

All Topcret products can be installed on exterior surfaces provided precautions are taken to properly waterproof the bases where the coatings are applied. With these measures plus a correct planimetry, rising damp and accumulations of water on the surface are avoided.

Can Topcret products be applied to furniture?

Topcret not only makes its own furniture but also offers the possibility of covering furniture designed by its clients.

Is it possible to apply Microcemento® or Baxab® on wooden and parquet floors?

Due to the inherent movement of wooden or parquet floors, it is necessary to remove them prior to placing the Microcemento® or Baxab®.

Are Topcret coatings non-slip?

All Topcret coatings can be slip resistant by a superficial application of the T / Grip product developed in Topcret T / Labs Laboratories. The anti-slip graduation will depend on the existing regulations in each country.

Is it possible to apply Microcemento® or Baxab® on underfloor heating?

Both Microcemento® and Baxab® are fully compatible with underfloor heating systems and precautions should only be taken when conditioning the application base. For more information on how to prepare the base, consult any Topcret office.

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