Microcement is a decorative coating composed of cement, water-based resins, additives and mineral pigments. ⁠It is a hand applied finish, 2-3mm thick. ⁠

Microcement is an incredibly versatile finish and can be applied to walls, ceilings and joinery to create a seamless look.

Renovations can benefit from it, since you can apply it over existing tiles, speeding up the process and eliminating the mess that comes along with removing the original lining.

Microcement can be applied over the following substrates: concrete, existing tiles, MDF, laminate, gib and cement sheets.

There are a range of finishes available and as the finish itself is created through the application process, it can also be customised. It can be smooth and slightly textured, matt or satin. As for colours - Suppliers in NZ sell a wide range of international products offering a variety of colours. Thanks to the help of technology the product lines are forever evolving making it alot easier to customise your colour.⁠

Applying microcement is timely and labour intensive and there is no short cut way to install it correctly.

The installation process can take up to seven days, and like all cements, it takes about 30 days until it is fully hardened and impact-resistant. During the first month following an installation, our clients are advised to be extra careful not to drop or drag objects across the surface. It is recommended that you hire a specialist to apply microcement, as incorrect and inexperienced application can cause stains or undesirable marks. When preparation and application are addressed with care, the finish and durability of the product is enhanced.

Microcement is a decorative layer at just 3mm thickness therefore any movements and defects in the substrate can cause the microcement to crack or delaminate. Repairs can be carried out but generally the substrate is what needs attending to first.

Although microcements are extremely tough, their 3mm thickness will not be able to stop the movement of considerably thicker substrates such as walls and floors.

A thin microcement layer piggy backs compressive strength from the substrate underneath. For example, take a playing card in your hand, you can freely bend the card with your fingers. But place the same card onto a table top and you can no longer bend or dent the card. The card has now been made rigid and hard like the table top.

Microcement is extremely durable and can remain intact for a very long time if it has been made on a stable and load-bearing substrate.

One of the most frequently asked questions about this decorative coating is how to clean and maintain microcement. Cleaning of microcement is simple. - Water and neutral soap is more than enough. Head over to our tips here where we offer some expert tips for its upkeep and maintenance.​

Unlike other finishes where there is a set price per square meter, when it comes to installing a microcement finish there are a number of factors which determine the cost of a microcement installation.

Some considerations that will influence the price are: Intricacy, customised colours and finishes, the specific area and overall size of application and the existing substrate & surface preparation. If you are looking to use a microcement finish in your residential or commercial project please send an email to contact@claddaghplastering.com