1) What is microcement flooring?
Definition, thickness, where it works best, and what a complete system includes.
Microcement Floors – The Complete DIY Guide
If you’re researching microcement flooring for your home, you’re in the right place. This guide covers the questions people ask most — from DIY suitability and cracking risk, to underfloor heating, slip resistance, cleaning, timelines, and cost.
Floor preparation guides (downloadable PDFs)
Preparation is the most important part of a successful microcement floor. Use the guide that matches your existing substrate:
What is microcement flooring in plain English?
Microcement flooring is a thin decorative cement-based finish applied over a prepared substrate to create a seamless surface. The microcement finish itself is typically around 1–2mm thick.
In some renovations, a separate self-levelling compound with reinforcement mesh is used beneath the microcement (typically around 2–3mm) to create a flatter, more stable base. That levelling layer sits under the microcement — it is not the microcement itself.
The big takeaway: microcement flooring is a system. The final performance depends on good preparation, thin coats, and correct sealing — not just the microcement material on its own.
The 9 answers DIYers need before starting
2) Can you DIY microcement floors?
Who DIY is suitable for, what makes it fail, and what you must do to get a good result.
3) Do microcement floors crack?
What causes cracks, how to reduce risk, and why substrate movement matters most.
4) Underfloor heating & microcement
Heating cycles, thermal movement, mesh, and how to avoid avoidable problems.
5) Are microcement floors slippery?
Wet areas, sealer choice, texture, and practical ways to increase slip resistance.
6) Over tiles or wooden floors
What you can cover, what you shouldn’t, and how to prevent telegraphing and movement issues.
7) How long does it take?
Realistic DIY timeframes, walk-on time, curing, and why rushing causes failures.
8) Cleaning & maintenance
What to use, what to avoid, stain resistance, and how to look after the sealer long term.
9) Cost (DIY vs trades)
Typical UK price ranges and how DIY changes the economics.
Thinking of doing it yourself?
If you’re DIYing a microcement floor, take the pages above in order. Most problems happen when preparation is rushed or the sealing stage is treated as optional.
Start here: Can you DIY microcement floors? → then read Do microcement floors crack?
Microcement floors FAQs
What is microcement flooring?
Microcement flooring is a thin decorative cement-based floor system applied over a prepared substrate to create a seamless finish.
How thick is microcement flooring?
The microcement finish itself is typically around 1–2mm thick. In some projects, a self-levelling preparation layer with reinforcement mesh may be used beneath the microcement, usually around 2–3mm thick.
Can you DIY microcement floors?
Yes, for confident DIYers who are willing to prepare properly, apply thin coats, respect drying times, and seal correctly.
Do microcement floors crack?
They can, usually due to movement in the substrate beneath. Correct preparation, reinforcement where needed, and careful installation reduces risk significantly.
Can microcement be used with underfloor heating?
Yes. Microcement floors can work very well with underfloor heating when heating protocols are followed and temperature changes are introduced gradually.