Every few weeks I get a call from a homeowner who saw a photo online — a bathroom with no grout lines, a kitchen floor that looks like polished stone, a shower that's completely seamless — and they ask: what is that finish?
The answer is usually microcement. And the follow-up question is almost always: what actually is it, and can I put it in my house?
I've been installing microcement through Microcement USA's certified installer program since I got into this trade. Here's an honest answer from someone who works with this material every week.
What microcement actually is
Microcement is a thin-layer decorative coating system — not structural concrete. It's applied in layers, typically 2–3mm total thickness, over almost any existing surface. The result is a seamless, monolithic finish with no grout lines, no seams, and no transitions.
The system consists of multiple products applied in sequence: a primer, build coats (sometimes with reinforcement mesh), finish coats, and a protective sealer. Each layer is troweled by hand. The final texture and appearance depend entirely on how the installer applies the finish coat — which is why skill matters enormously.
It's not paint. It's not plaster. It's not standard concrete. It's a purpose-built architectural coating system, and the quality varies dramatically depending on the brand and the installer.
What system we use: We install using Forcrete systems through Microcement USA — a premium architectural-grade product. Not all microcement is equal. Budget products have thinner build coats, weaker sealers, and less flexibility. We specify the right system for each application.
Where microcement can be used
This is one of the things that surprises people most. Microcement can go almost anywhere:
- Floors — living rooms, kitchens, commercial spaces, hallways
- Walls — accent walls, fireplace surrounds, feature walls, backsplashes
- Showers and bathrooms — full wet-area systems including floor and walls, no grout
- Countertops and vanities — integrated sinks, vanity tops, kitchen islands
- Fireplaces — surrounds and mantels
- Exterior features — certain exterior applications with the right sealer
- Custom furniture and objects — tables, shelving, decorative pieces
The same installer and the same system can cover a shower surround and a living room floor and make them look like one continuous surface. That continuity is one of microcement's biggest design advantages over tile.
The system structure — why layers matter
Microcement isn't just slapped on in one coat. A properly installed system looks something like this:
1. Surface prep and priming
The existing substrate needs to be clean, structurally sound, and properly primed. This is where most cheap jobs cut corners. If the primer doesn't bond correctly, nothing above it will either.
2. Build coats
The base layer builds thickness and creates a stable foundation for the finish. In wet areas or on floors, reinforcement mesh is embedded in the build coat. This is what separates a reinforced system (used for floors, showers, high-movement substrates) from a standard system (used for walls and dry surfaces).
3. Finish coats
The finish coats are where the aesthetics happen. Texture, tone variation, and trowel marks from the installer's hand are all part of the final appearance. No two microcement installations look identical — the handcrafted nature is part of what makes it a luxury finish.
4. Sealer system
The sealer is critical. It provides the final surface protection, water resistance, and finish sheen (matte to satin to gloss depending on your preference). The sealer is also the layer that takes daily wear — it can be refreshed over time without redoing the microcement below.
Is microcement waterproof?
Yes — when the right system is used correctly. The Microcement USA system we install is waterproof from the trowel, not just after sealer. Wet-area applications (showers, floors around tubs, wet rooms) require the reinforced system with a proper waterproofing membrane and reinforcement mesh embedded in the build coat.
I want to be direct here: not all microcement is waterproof, and many installers without wet-area experience skip the reinforcement step to save time. That's how you end up with a beautiful shower that fails in 18 months. When we quote a shower, we spec the full reinforced system — no shortcuts.
What it actually looks like — finish options
Microcement finishes range from smooth and polished to heavily textured and rustic. The most common finish styles we install:
- Smooth matte — the most popular for modern interiors, low sheen, clean
- Venetian/polished — burnished finish with depth, more reflective
- Textured — visible trowel texture, more organic and rustic feel
- Fine aggregate — slight grit worked into the finish for grip (floors, pool areas)
Color is nearly unlimited. The Forcrete system offers an extensive color palette, and custom tints can be mixed. Color shifts slightly across the surface based on application — this is natural variation, not a defect, and it's part of what gives microcement its character.
Who is microcement right for?
Microcement makes sense if any of these apply to you:
- You want a seamless bathroom or shower with no grout lines to clean
- You're remodeling over existing tile and don't want the cost and mess of demo
- You're designing a modern or minimalist space and want visual continuity across floors and walls
- You're working with an architect or interior designer on a custom home build
- You own a restaurant, hotel, spa, or boutique commercial space
- You want a surface that's unique — a handcrafted finish, not a catalog option
When it might not be the right fit
Microcement is a premium product at a premium price. It's not the right answer if you're just looking for the cheapest way to cover a concrete floor. It also requires some maintenance awareness — you need to use the right cleaners, reseal on schedule, and treat it like the architectural finish it is. If that's not appealing, a standard epoxy or sealed concrete might serve you better.
The installer matters more than you think
Microcement is a skill-intensive trade. The same product applied by two different installers can look completely different. The trowel technique, dry time management, color consistency, and sealer application all require experience. An inexperienced installer can apply good materials and still end up with blotchy color, pin holes, or delamination.
We are certified through Microcement USA and have completed multiple training courses on system application, wet-area installations, and substrate assessment. When you hire us, you're getting an installer who has been trained on the exact products being used in your space — not someone who watched a YouTube video.
One honest thing: We will turn down projects we don't think we can execute correctly. If a substrate has issues we can't solve, or if a client's expectations don't match what the material can deliver, we'll say so up front. We'd rather lose a job than deliver something we're not proud of.
What to expect from the installation process
A typical microcement installation spans 2–5 days depending on scope. Each coat needs to dry before the next is applied — this isn't something that can be rushed. The space needs to be climate-controlled (temperature and humidity affect dry times and adhesion), clear of furniture, and undisturbed between coats.
We provide a detailed timeline during the estimate. For most residential projects, the sequence looks like: prep and prime day one, build coat day two, finish coats day three, sealer day four or five. Commercial projects with larger square footage take longer.
Ready to see if it works for your project?
The best way to answer whether microcement is right for your specific space is to have us look at it. We do free on-site estimates in St. George and throughout Southern Utah. We can also work with architects and designers remotely for projects in Salt Lake City, Park City, and statewide.
GET A FREE ESTIMATE
We'll look at your space, answer your questions, and give you a straight number — no pressure.
Request an Estimate