Microcement floors: upkeep and durability
Microcement is applied in layers two to three millimetres thick over the existing substrate, and its durability depends entirely on the sealer, which must be renewed every three to five years in circulation areas and sooner in kitchens.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- Total thickness is 2 to 3 millimetres with no demolition.
- Installed price runs 70 € to 130 € a square metre.
- Resealing is recommended every 3 to 5 years.
- Acidic and abrasive products damage the sealing layer.
Its advantage is not the look but the thickness: 2 or 3 millimetres allow a floor to be changed without lifting the old one, which saves weeks of works.
How it is applied
Over the existing substrate, once it has been confirmed sound and free of damp, a primer is applied, then 2 or 3 coats of material with mesh in areas at risk of cracking, and finally 2 or 3 coats of sealer. The whole process takes 4 to 7 days including drying times, and the floor accepts light traffic 24 to 48 hours after the final sealing coat.
| Aspect | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Total thickness | 2 to 3 mm | no demolition needed |
| Installed price | 70 to 130 € per m² | |
| Application time | 4 to 7 days | including drying |
| Light traffic after sealing | 24 to 48 hours | |
| Full use | 7 days | |
| Resealing | every 3 to 5 years | 20 to 40 € per m² |
| Service life with maintenance | over 15 years |
The sealer is everything
Microcement itself is porous: what resists staining, water and wear is the sealing layer. Once it wears through, the material is exposed and absorbs. Maintenance therefore reduces to one idea: protect the sealer and renew it before it fails. Resealing costs 20 € to 40 € a square metre and is completed in 1 or 2 days with no building work.
Cleaning it correctly
Water and a neutral soap with a pH between 6 and 8. No ammonia, bleach, vinegar, lemon, descalers or acidic products, which attack the sealer. No scouring pads or hard brushes. And spills of oil, coffee or coloured liquids should be lifted immediately: on an intact sealer they do not penetrate, but on a worn one they mark within minutes.
In homes with animals, keeping claws trimmed matters, since concentrated surface scratching accelerates wear of the sealing layer.
Where it works and where it does not
Very well in living rooms, corridors, bedrooms and bathrooms where junctions and drainage are properly executed. Moderately in heavily used kitchens, where oil and cooking acids attack the sealer faster and resealing comes forward to 2 or 3 years. And poorly outdoors where exposed to salt air and strong sun without a specific product, a relevant caveat in properties near the sea.
Frequently asked
+Does the old floor have to come up?
No. Microcement is applied over it at 2 or 3 millimetres if the substrate is sound.
+What does it cost?
Seventy to one hundred and thirty euros a square metre installed, depending on finish and area.
+How often does it need resealing?
Every 3 to 5 years in circulation areas and sooner in heavily used kitchens.
+How is it cleaned?
Water and neutral soap. Never ammonia, bleach, vinegar, lemon or abrasive products.
+Is it suitable outdoors?
Only with a specific product. Near the sea, salt air and strong sun are hard on it.
Sources
- 1Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)