Choosing The Right Surfaces

Microcement is very versatile & can be applied to most surfaces, as long as they meet the criteria outlined in this guide:

• Surface Prep Essentials: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces

These guides explain the pros & cons of the common surfaces that you might be considering for your bathroom, wet room or shower area:

• Choosing the Best Surfaces for Microcement Bathrooms & Wet Rooms: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/choosing-the-best-shower-trays-for-microcement
• Choosing the Best Shower Trays for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/choosing-the-best-shower-trays-for-microcement
• Is Tanking Required for Microcement?: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/is-tanking-required

There’s a load more information on specific surfaces that you might be thinking of applying microcement to in our Surface Prep Guide:

relentlessmicrocement.com/microcement-training-and-installation-guides/surface-prep

You can use microcement on outdoor surfaces, as long as they meet the criteria outlined in our guide to Surface Prep Essentials:

relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces

It is important that the substrates are suitable for outdoor use. And you also need to be sure that no moisture can get to the underside of the microcement. So, we don’t tend to recommend it for ground level patios.

The guide below explains more about when you can (& can’t) use microcement on external substrates:

relentlessmicrocement.com/training/choosing-preparing-outdoor-surfaces-for-microcement

You can use microcement on almost all internal floor surfaces, as long as they meet the criteria outlined in our guide to Surface Prep Essentials Guide:

relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces

You can apply microcement onto the following surfaces. Click the links below for more details on how to prepare them.

Boarded Floors including OSB, Ply & Cement Board

relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-boarded-floors-for-microcement

Floor Tiles

relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-floor-tiles-for-microcement

Concrete, Screeds & Self Leveller for Microcement

relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-concrete-screeds-self-leveller-for-microcement

Microcement is very versatile and can be applied to almost all internal wall surfaces, as long as they meet the criteria outlined in the following guide:

• Surface Prep Essentials: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces

The prep work required does vary depending on the substrate that it is being applied to, generally solid, flat surfaces, like plastered walls require less prep work than boarded surfaces.

Here are some of the commonly used surfaces, with details on how to prepare them correctly for microcement:

• Preparing Plasterboard for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-plasterboard-walls-for-microcement
• Preparing Cement Board for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-cement-board-walls-for-microcement
• Preparing Wall Tiles for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-wall-tiles-for-microcement
• Preparing Bricks & Blockwork for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-bricks-or-blockwork-for-microcement
• Preparing Painted & Plastered Walls for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-painted-and-plastered-walls-for-microcement

It’s important to check with the manufacturer of the steam room system that you will be using to understand what their specific requirements are before installing substrates in steam rooms.

The Microcement itself is very versatile & can be applied to most surfaces, as long as they meet the criteria outlined in this guide:

• Surface Prep Essentials: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces

These guides explain the pros & cons of the common surfaces that you might be considering building your Steam Room out of:

• Choosing the Best Surfaces for Microcement Bathrooms & Wet Rooms: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/choosing-the-best-shower-trays-for-microcement
• Choosing the Best Shower Trays for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/choosing-the-best-shower-trays-for-microcement
• Is Tanking Required for Microcement?: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/is-tanking-required

If you already have surfaces in place, then you can jump straight to the specific guides for each surface, which are listed below. The main surfaces that are used in bathrooms, are listed below:

• Preparing Aqua4ma & Rigid Shower Trays for Microcement relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-rigid-shower-trays-for-microcement
• Preparing Kudos Aqua4ma Panels for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-kudos-aqua4ma-panels-for-microcement
• Preparing Painted and Plastered Walls for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-painted-and-plastered-walls-for-microcement
• Preparing Plasterboard for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-plasterboard-walls-for-microcement
• Preparing Cement Board walls for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-cement-board-walls-for-microcement
• Preparing Wall Tiles for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-wall-tiles-for-microcement
• Preparing Boarded Floors for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-boarded-floors-for-microcement
• Preparing Floor Tiles for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-floor-tiles-for-microcement
• Preparing Tile-On Boards for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/prep-for-tile-on-boards

The microcement that we recommend for steam rooms, Microne Plus is suitable for use in temperatures up to around 50°C, so as long as the temperature of the steam room system doesn’t exceed that, you can use microcement.

Microne Plus is very good at resisting water vapour, so as long as all open edges are siliconed to prevent moisture getting behind it, it’s a really great choice for steam rooms.

Because Saunas reach very high temperatures, over 100°C in some cases, we only recommend Microdur & AquaMax. These have the highest levels of fire resistance & can be heated to temperatures far in excess of 100°C.

Microdur is dependent on the sealer to make it waterproof, so is recommended for installation by microcement professionals only.

Get in touch for help with estimates and specifications.

relentlessmicrocement.com/get-in-touch

We always recommend using a rigid shower tray with microcement. The microcement is applied in very thin coats, so it needs to be laid onto a solid surface.

Choose an Aqua4ma shower deck or a rigid shower tray that is suitable for microcement or vinyl floors. And then follow the guidance below to prepare it for the microcement application.

This guide explains more about what to look out for when selecting a shower tray for use with microcement:

• Choosing the Best Shower Trays for Microcement: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/choosing-the-best-shower-trays-for-microcement

And this guide explains how to prepare the shower tray:

• Preparing Aqua4ma & Rigid Shower Trays for Microcement relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-rigid-shower-trays-for-microcement

We currently don’t have a product that is suitable for use in swimming pools.

Swimming pools require full submersion for prolonged time periods, outdoor pools also need some permeability to prevent moisture building up from ground water.

Microcement is incredibly versatile, you can apply it to almost any rigid surface.

So, it’s ideal for coating bespoke furniture, like vanity units, tables, side boards and more.

It can also be used to up-cycle existing surfaces, like table-tops and cupboard doors.

You can microcement onto plywood, OSB (chipboard), laminate or MDF, but if there is any chance of water getting to the microcement, then marine ply or cement board is preferable.

This guide explains more about the essential prep that is required for all surfaces: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces

And this guide will help you to choose the best surfaces for furniture and how to prepare them:

relentlessmicrocement.com/training/preparing-furniture-for-microcement

You can microcement onto plywood, OSB (chipboard), laminate or MDF, but if there is any chance of water getting to the microcement, then marine ply or cement board is preferable.

This guide explains more about the essential prep that is required for all surfaces: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces

And this guide will help you to choose the best surfaces for worktops and how to prepare them: relentlessmicrocement.com/training/essential-prep-for-all-surfaces