Looking after a microcement floor
Simpler than tile, but not indestructible. What genuinely damages it, and what doesn't at all.
Microcement gets sold as a maintenance-free surface, which is nearly true and therefore slightly misleading. There's no grout to scrub — that's the real gain, and it's permanent. But the surface is protected by a sealer, and the sealer is the part that needs a little attention.
Routine cleaning
Warm water and a pH-neutral soap, with a damp mop. That's it. No specialist product needed, and no scrubbing. A bathroom cleans in two minutes because there are no grout lines for soapy water to sit in.
What to keep away from it
- Acidic cleaners — vinegar, descalers, tile products. They attack the sealer and, repeated, dull the surface irreversibly.
- Neat bleach and abrasive powder cleaners.
- Steam mops. Heat and pressure together lift the sealer faster than any product will.
- Letting water stand on the floor for long periods — around a toilet base, under a wet bath mat.
- Dragging furniture without pads. Microcement is hard, but a loaded metal leg will scratch it.
The sealer
In a residential bathroom or kitchen, we'd redo the sealer after roughly five to seven years. In a busy hallway or a commercial space, sooner. It isn't a renovation: clean, a very light sand, reapply. One day, no demolition, and the original surface stays put.
The sign it's due: water stops beading and spreads out instead, or the finish loses its evenness in the busiest areas. You'll see it in raking light long before it becomes a problem.
What will happen, and is normal
Microcement is a mineral material applied by hand. It develops a patina — the surface reads a little differently after two years than on handover, especially in a matte finish. That isn't wear, it's the material behaving as expected, and most clients prefer it over time. If you want a surface that will look identical to the photograph in fifteen years, tile is the right choice and we'll tell you so.