Microcement floor: price guide
Interior microcement floors: what are they and what specificities do they have? An innovative solution that is establishing itself in the field of flooring. We will see in this guide if and how to choose a microcement floor. Market prices and opinions on the advantages and disadvantages. We will compare the differences between a resin or microcement floors. At the end of the reading, you will be able to orient yourself in the sector like a true expert and you will be able to decide whether to proceed with your idea, asking for a free quote from a professional in the area.
Price for microcement flooring
Do you want to renovate the floors of the house with microcement?
Floor complete with supply and installation - from 8$ to 12$ per sq foot.
Microcement flooring: technical characteristics
If you are reading this guide you have probably already found some opinions on microcement floors online, as well as definitions relating to the product in question. Innovative and revolutionary are adjectives often associated with this type of material, used for the floors of private homes and public places, but also for coverings, kitchen tops, walls, and furniture. So let's immediately try to understand what microcement is, also called Microcemento. It is a natural coating, based on modified polymer cement and water, laid on a layer of elastic mortar, for a total height of about 2-3 mm. The final effect will be that of a continuous floor, very popular among interior designers that propose it as the ideal solution for modern homes, with a minimal and post-industrial style. The microcement is applied by trowel on any surface, horizontal or vertical, straight or curved, and can be spread over the existing flooring, whether it be tiles or masonry.
And what about microcement flooring prices? This is not the cheapest material on the market. But the average cost varies greatly depending on the installation, as well as of course the surface to be covered. The primary factors that the professional will have to analyze in the design phase are the quality of the base surface, the manpower required to prepare it, and the most suitable brand to propose.
Microcement flooring: installation phases
Regardless of whether you proceed with laying on the screed, or on a pre-existing floor, the processing steps are these five:
- Sanding and cleaning of the surface: the base must be perfectly dry, level, and smooth before proceeding with the flooring work.
- Rising humidity block: fiberglass is applied to prevent the re-emergence of traces of humidity.
- Drafting of the first layer of microcement: a phase that sees the laying of the material used for this type of coating.
- Chromatic finishing: the required visual effects are created with a spatula or glass paper.
- Cleaning and polishing: a thin layer of protective resin is applied to the walking surface before cleaning and final polishing.
Microcement flooring: advantages, and disadvantages
Let's go into the merits with the pros and cons of the microcement floor. The characteristics we list relate to the use of the material for both indoor and outdoor microcement floors.
Advantages of microcement flooring
- Reduced thickness and quick application: the very few millimeters of the microcement allow overlapping on existing floors. In this case, the intervention will be minimally invasive for the thresholds, doors, and French windows. In the case of a new installation, the realization will be even easier.
- Adaptability: the material is suitable for both internal and external use, both for floors and walls. In all applications, it maintains its structural characteristics and technical specificities unaltered. The versatility of microcement allows it to be used on smooth or rough surfaces, curved or straight, without diminishing its effectiveness, efficiency, and aesthetics.
- Durability and practicality: waterproof and resistant to chemicals. The continuous surface is easy to clean and does not require special attention for routine maintenance.
- Variety: the wide range of colors and aesthetic effects allow it to be combined with different styles of furniture: modern, classic, rustic, and design. The catalogs of the brands on the market offer veiled, glossy, or textured surfaces that enhance all environments.
- Eco-friendly: the natural raw materials worked with water make microcement a green choice. If it is applied as a raised floor it allows to avoid waste disposal, if instead it is troweled for a new floor it does not require waste material.
Disadvantages microcement floor
- Professional pose: for some, it may be a limitation, for others it is a guarantee of the quality of the work. The fact is that the construction and installation of microcement require the intervention of a professional in the sector. Only in this way can you avoid an inefficient result for practical and poor use from an aesthetic point of view.
- Not unlimited wear resistance: although it is a durable material, whereas for example in industrial or manufacturing contexts - an above-average resistance to trampling, loads, and pressure is required, it is advisable to make other choices. On the other hand, there is no contraindication for homes and small and medium-sized commercial spaces.
- Impossibility of partial extraordinary maintenance: if for any eventuality, a part is damaged, it will be necessary to proceed with a new complete installation, since the retouching is limited to individual areas not feasible.
Microcement flooring: types
The finishing of the surface, with wax or with polyurethane paints, gives the microcement floor visual variety which is one of the strengths of the success of the public on the market. The different surface finish and the cement base determine the types of micro-cement floors for interiors. We list the main ones:
- Acidified microcement or cloudy microcement: perfect for open spaces in an industrial archeology style, where the red bricks typical of old factories can alternate with the wall left unfinished in concrete. The final effect will be that of the gradient of the clouds with areas of chiaroscuro that change with natural light.
- Microcement material effect: it is obtained with a cement mixture mixed with synthetic resins and mineral aggregates, to give the material the visual roughness of the 'unfinished'. The installation technique involves a light sanding of the last layer of MicrOverlay micro cement with sandpaper.
- Spatulated microcement: the aesthetic result is smooth and shiny and recalls the shades of natural cement, while in the shades of gray it imitates slate stone. This is possible thanks to the use of the spatula for laying which allows - thanks to the skill of the professional in charge - to create overlapping and multidimensional shades that are never the same in different applications.
Resin or microcement floors: opinions and comparison
Resin or microcement floors are often compared for a series of characteristics that they have in common and that sometimes lead to confusion. Let's see what are the points of contact and what are the differences, between the two shortlists. Distinguishing the specifics of one material or another will help you understand which one is best suited to your flooring project.
Because they are similar
- They are modern in concept and application.
- They are decorative, with a continuous effect and without joints, both suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments.
- They are only a few millimeters thick.
- They have resistance, with different treatments, to atmospheric agents.
- They can be customized as a color tone and as an aesthetic effect.
Because they are different
- Microcement is more stable over time and is not subject to color changes or the formation of bubbles. The resin, on the other hand, tends to turn yellow and in some rare cases it can 'blow out'.
- Microcement is used on any surface, even vertical, and allows for no continuity solution with walls or coverings, for example.
- Microcement is a natural material, while resin derives from petroleum processing and is therefore classified as a plastic product.
- Due to its characteristic natural composition, microcement gives a material effect derived from the cement component. The resin, on the other hand, has its strong point in the plastic gloss, which however comes at the expense of the sensation of visual naturalness.