Microcement
Microcement in Phoenix & Scottsdale, AZ
Microcement is a polymer-modified cement coating applied two to three millimetres thick over what is already there. Because it is a coating rather than a slab or a tile, it goes over existing concrete, screed, tile and plasterboard without demolition, and it turns corners and forms benches without a single grout line.
It is the finish for people who want the concrete look without pouring concrete, and for bathroom remodels where tearing out tile is the expensive part. Correctly primed, reinforced and sealed, it works on floors, walls, showers, countertops and stair treads.
- AZ ROC #364076
- Free written estimate
- Itemised scope
What’s included
What you get with microcement
Every item below appears as a line on your written estimate, so you can compare our scope against any other bid without guessing what each one covers.
- 01
Substrate survey before we quote
Microcement moves with what is under it. We check the slab or tile for movement, hollow spots and moisture before pricing, because a cracked substrate will crack the coating.
- 02
Primer matched to the substrate
Tile, concrete, screed and plasterboard each take a different primer. Getting this wrong is the single most common cause of microcement failure and it cannot be corrected afterwards.
- 03
Fibreglass mesh reinforcement
Mesh bedded into the base coats over joints, tile lines and any area at risk of movement. This is what stops a hairline in the substrate becoming a hairline in your floor.
- 04
Base coats then finish coats
Two structural base coats, sanded between, then two finer finish coats troweled to the texture agreed on the sample. Four coats minimum on any floor.
- 05
Sealer specified per room
A two-part polyurethane on floors and wet areas for water and chemical resistance, lighter sealers on low-traffic walls. Matte, satin or gloss, chosen from a sample rather than a description.
- 06
Coving and detailing at junctions
Formed coves at floor-to-wall junctions, drains and thresholds, so the waterproofing is continuous rather than relying on a bead of silicone.
Preparation
How the surface gets ready
This sequence is most of the hours on a microcement job, and it is the part that decides whether the finish still looks right in year five. It is also the part that gets skipped by the cheapest bid you receive.
- 1Test the substrateHollow tiles tapped and re-bedded, cracks assessed for whether they are live, moisture checked on any slab on grade. We would rather turn a floor down than coat it and watch it crack.
- 2Mechanically prepareGrinding, de-glazing or sanding depending on what is there. Glazed tile in particular has to be keyed properly, not just primed and hoped for.
- 3Prime and levelSubstrate-specific primer, then any levelling needed. Microcement is thin and will follow every dip in the floor beneath it.
- 4Mesh and base coatsReinforcing mesh laid into the first base coat over joints and tile lines, second base coat over it, then sanded flat.
- 5Finish coats, cure, sealFinish coats troweled, then a full cure before sealing. Sealing early traps moisture and clouds the finish, so this stage does not get compressed to suit a schedule.
Surfaces & systems
Surfaces we handle
- Floors, including over existing tile
- Shower walls, floors and benches
- Bathroom and powder room walls
- Kitchen countertops and splashbacks
- Stair treads and risers
- Feature walls and fireplace surrounds
- Pool surrounds and covered patios
- Vanity units and built-in furniture
Coating systems are specified per surface and per exposure and stated in your estimate. We don’t publish performance figures for products we haven’t independently tested.
Who we do this for
Property types
- Luxury and custom homes
- Bathroom and kitchen remodels
- Designer-led renovations
- Restaurants, cafés and bars
- Boutique retail and showrooms
- Short-term rental and resort properties
Arizona conditions
What this climate does to microcement
A specification that works in a mild climate is not automatically right here. These are the local conditions that change how we scope and schedule this work.
It goes over tile, which is most of the Valley
Phoenix housing stock is full of large-format tile floors from the nineties and two-thousands. Microcement over the top avoids demolition, dumpsters and the dust of a tear-out, which on an occupied house is usually the deciding factor.
Slab-on-grade moisture has to be checked
Most Valley homes sit on a slab on grade. Where there is no vapour barrier, moisture can drive up through the slab and lift a coating. We test rather than assume, and we will say no where the reading says no.
Heat accelerates the cure
High ambient temperatures shorten working time and can flash-cure a coat before it has been troweled properly. Interior work is scheduled with the air conditioning running, and we will not apply it into a hot, uncooled house in July.
UV and outdoor use need the right sealer
On a covered patio or pool surround, sealer choice matters more than finish choice. Some polyurethanes amber under Arizona sun. We specify UV-stable systems outdoors and tell you which areas we would not coat at all.
How it runs
From first call to final walkthrough
- 01
Request an estimate
Send the project details or call. No quote over the phone.
- 02
Property walkthrough
We look at the actual surfaces and the actual conditions.
- 03
Written proposal and colour planning
Itemised scope, so you can see what is and isn't included.
- 04
Protection, preparation and painting
Most of the hours go in before the finish coat.
- 05
Final walkthrough
We walk it with you before the truck is loaded.
Client feedback
What clients say
What you can verify today
We’d rather show you nothing than show you a review we didn’t earn
This section is reserved for verified client reviews, published verbatim with the reviewer’s name and a link back to the platform they left it on. Nothing goes here that you cannot click through and check yourself.
- Licensed, bonded and insured in Arizona, AZ ROC #364076, verifiable on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website
- Certificate of insurance provided with every written estimate
- 15 years working in the Valley
- Photographed before-and-after work on real jobs, in the project case studies
- References available on request for comparable projects
Related services
Often part of the same project
- TadelaktMoroccan lime plaster burnished with stone and sealed with olive soap. Waterproof without a film, seamless around every curve.
- Venetian PlasterLime and marble dust built in thin coats, then burnished until the wall reads as stone rather than paint.
- Fine FinishesThe category page for our decorative work: Venetian plaster, marmorino, Roman clay, limewash, microcement, tadelakt, glazes and lacquer.
- Interior PaintingWalls, ceilings, crown, baseboards and doors, masked properly, cut clean, and cleaned up the same day.
- Drywall RepairCracks, nail pops, anchor holes and water damage repaired and texture-matched so the fix disappears.
Where we do this
Microcement by city
Cities where microcement is one of the most requested services we quote.
Not the whole list. We cover Arizona statewide, metro cities and small communities alike.
Questions
Microcement questions
Anything not covered here, ask on the walkthrough. We’d rather over-explain than surprise you.
Can microcement go straight over my existing tile?
Usually yes, and it is one of the main reasons people choose it. The tile has to be sound, well bonded and mechanically keyed first, and the grout lines get bridged with reinforcing mesh so they do not telegraph through.
Hollow or drummy tiles have to come up or be re-bedded first. We tap-test the whole floor before quoting.
Is it genuinely waterproof for a shower?
The system is, when it is built as a system: correct primer, mesh, coved junctions and a two-part polyurethane sealer, over a substrate that was already waterproofed properly.
Microcement is not a substitute for a waterproof membrane behind it. Anyone telling you a few millimetres of coating replaces the tanking is selling you a future leak.
Will it crack?
The coating itself is reinforced and flexible. What cracks it is movement in the substrate underneath, which is why the substrate survey happens before the quote rather than after.
Live cracks, unsupported spans and slabs with movement are all reasons we would decline a floor. That is a better outcome for you than a coated floor that cracks in year one.
How does it compare with polished concrete or tile?
Against polished concrete: microcement is a coating, so you get the look without a pour, at a fraction of the weight and with no demolition. Against tile: no grout lines, which is the main aesthetic reason people switch, and no grout to clean, which is the main practical one.
Tile is harder wearing and easier to repair in a single spot. Microcement wins on seamlessness and on avoiding a tear-out.
How do I clean and maintain it?
Neutral pH cleaner and a damp mop. No acids, no bleach and no abrasive pads, all of which attack the sealer rather than the cement.
The sealer is the wear layer and it is the part that eventually needs attention. On a busy floor expect to reseal periodically; on walls, effectively never.
How long does a bathroom take?
Typically five to eight working days for a full bathroom, driven by cure times between coats rather than by labour hours. The room is out of use for that period and for the sealer cure afterwards.
We give you the actual day-by-day sequence with the estimate, because on a single-bathroom house that schedule matters more than the price.
Can it be repaired if it gets chipped?
It can be patched and resealed, and on a matte finish a repair blends reasonably. On a gloss floor a repair is more visible, which is one reason we tend to recommend matte or satin for floors.
Because it is a continuous surface, a bad repair is harder to hide than a replaced tile would be. We are straight about that trade before you choose it.
Free written estimate
Get a written estimate for microcement.
Free walkthrough, itemised scope, and a clear schedule. Preparation and coating priced separately so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
- Licensed, bonded and insured in Arizona, AZ ROC #364076
- Itemised scope: preparation and repair listed separately from coating
- Walkthrough on site, because we don't quote painting over the phone