Microcement Bathrooms – Everything You Need To Know & The Latest Inspiration

WHY CHOOSE A MICROCEMENT BATHROOM?

Microcement is an extremely versatile and hard-wearing material that is becoming increasingly popular in modern interior design. It’s a practical and visually stunning material that’s perfect for use in bathrooms and wet rooms.

In the last few years, we’ve seen the popularity of microcement bathrooms increase significantly. Microcement is a great choice if you’re looking to create a minimalist and contemporary look for your bathroom. Its smooth, uniform finish can be used to create a seamless and minimalist look that’s completely free from joins and grout lines. All our microcement is available in a range of colours, finishes and effects, meaning that it can be used to create a wide variety of different styles.

One of the main advantages of using microcement in a bathroom is its seamless finish. Unlike tiles, which have visible grout lines, microcement can be applied in continuously, creating a smooth and uniform surface. This not only looks great but also makes cleaning much easier, as there are no grout lines to trap dirt and bacteria.

100% WATERPROOF

The microcement that we recommend for bathrooms is 100% waterproof even before sealers. Plus, it can be applied to almost any surface, including walls, floors, and even shower trays. This makes it an ideal material to use in bathrooms and wet rooms, where surfaces are regularly exposed to moisture and humidity. Microcement is also highly adaptable, meaning that it can be used to create a range of different styles and finishes, from smooth and sleek to rustic and textured.

EASY TO CLEAN & NON-SLIP

One of the key benefits of using microcement in a bathroom is its seamless finish. Unlike traditional bathroom materials such as tiles and grout, microcement is completely seamless and much more resistant to stains. This means that it’s much easier to keep clean and maintain, and is less likely to develop mould or mildew over time. All the Cemher microcements that we recommend for bathrooms and wet rooms been certified non-slip, making it a sensible choice for bathroom floors.

LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Microcement is a sustainable material that’s made from natural materials such as cement and minerals. It’s applied very thinly at a finished depth of just 3-4mm. Unlike tiles and other bathroom materials, which often require energy-intensive manufacturing processes, an entire bathroom can be finished with a relatively small amount of materials with minimal waste. This makes it a great choice for those who are looking to reduce their environmental impact.

HASSLE FREE

Another advantage of using microcement in a bathroom is its versatility. Microcement can be applied to almost any surface, including existing tiles and concrete floors. This means that it’s a great option for those who are looking to renovate their bathroom without the hassle and expense of removing existing tiles or flooring.

UNIQUE & VISUALLY STUNNING

In addition to its many practical benefits, microcement is also a visually stunning material that can be used to create a range of different looks and styles. All our microcement bathroom and wet room kits are available in a choice of 56 colours, 3 finishes, including matt, satin or gloss, and 3 effects; continuous, stucco or coarse. Plus, we’ve recently introduced a number of special effect kits for bathrooms; terrazzo, sparkle and crackle effects.

You can use microcement to create a huge range of different looks, from sleek, smooth and modern to rustic texturing with whole lot more in between.

Microcement is also a great choice for those who are looking to add a touch of luxury to their bathroom design. Its smooth and uniform finish, combined with its durability and resistance to water and stains, make it a perfect choice for high-end bathroom designs. Additionally, microcement can be combined with other materials such as wood, natural stone and tiles to create a unique and visually stunning bathroom design.

MICROCEMENT BATHROOM INSPIRATION

We’ve been lucky enough to be involved in some really exciting microcement bathroom and wet room projects. To help provide inspiration for your next microcement bathroom project, we’ve pulled together some of our favourites for you here.

We love how microcement offers a neutral backdrop to this vibrant bathroom design by Interior Designer, Fiona Duke.

By selecting the colour Selenita, a relatively deep shade of grey microcement, Fiona uses the Microcement to hold the weight of the dramatic tiles and darker wooden furniture without loosing contrast.

Bluish tones in the microcement ensure it works in harmony with dark blue tiles.  And choosing continuous effect ensures that there’s only gentle movement in the microcement so as not to compete for attention with the vibrant tiles. All round a fantastically fresh and well-balanced space.

Choosing the colour El Alamo for this basement conversion, amplifies light in an otherwise gloomy space. The sense of height is elongated by the continuity of the microcement from floors to walls to ceiling.

This is a great example of a complete microcement wet room. Experiment with rounding off corners in your substrates to introduce curved edges, for a rustic Mediterranean vibe.

A reclaimed, repurposed sideboard acts as a vanity unit and the gold taps bring a touch of luxury to the space.

The simplicity of the microcement and white fixtures bring a spa-like feel to this open plan bedroom and bathroom. The overall feel is sleek, modern and minimalist.

Because microcement is waterproof and easy to clean, it’s a great idea to use it behind towel radiators like this, whilst offering a strong colour contrast.

A seriously sophisticated and luxurious bathroom design by Sunday Times Style Journalist, Anna Barnett. The microcement colour, Piedra de Lago, picks up on the natural hues in the marble splashback and bath surround to integrate beautifully with it.

The microcement unites the period features of the cornicing and window frame to accentuate the traditional formal feel of the space.

The Dowsing-Reynolds chose microcement for their walk-in shower to add functionality to this bathroom interior.

One of our softer blacks, Obsidiana, in stucco effect adds drama to intrigue to this walk in shower enclosure. We absolutely love the moss wall and black fixtures which combined bring incredible impact.

Yet another Instagram A-Lister, Liv Madeline has used microcement with a matt finish in this bathroom to bring textural softness to this space. The colour Concrete blends seamlessly with the tiles to give a neutrality to the space so it feels clean, fresh and fuss-free.

The use of a large mirror adds further depth and sense of space.

Curated by luxury Interior Architects at the Design Emporium, you get a real sense of warmth when you enter this bathroom, thanks to the dominance of the wood against the stucco effect walls in the deep warm grey microcement colour, Crater Volcanico.

Keeping the materials and colour palette to a minimum accentuate the feeling of warmth and simplicity.

MICROCEMENT BATHROOM COLOURS, EFFECTS & FINISHES

Relentless Microcement offers a choice of 56 colours, 3 finishes, and 6 effects to help you create your own unique microcement bathroom or wet room. These options allow for a range of creative possibilities, making it easy to personalise the look and feel of any space.

COLOURS

At Relentless Microcement we offer a diverse palette of colours, ranging from light neutrals to bold, saturated shades. The colour options include classic whites and greys, warm and earthy tones, and bold and bright hues. This variety of colours ensures that there is an option to suit any design style, whether it be modern, traditional, or eclectic.

FINISHES

The finish of microcement can completely transform the look and feel of a space. Relentless Microcement offers a range of finishes, including:

Matt: A flat, non-reflective finish that creates a subtle, understated effect.

Satin: A smooth, semi-gloss finish that adds a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Gloss: A high-shine finish that creates a modern, luxurious effect.

EFFECTS

Relentless Microcement Bathroom and Wet Room Kits are available in the following effects:

Continuous: Smooth to touch with gentle visual movement that is created by the trowel. Resists dark trowel marks.

Stucco: Quartz in the microcement blackens easily under the trowel to create maximum tonal variation with lighter and darker areas across the installation. This effect is smooth to touch.

Coarse: Feel the texture with this coarse grained microcement which is best used on bathroom walls.

SPECIAL EFFECTS

For really special bathroom projects, offer a number of special effects to help you create a truly unique and personalized design. These include:

Terrazzo Effect: Creates the look of a terrazzo floor, adding a playful and colourful touch to any space. Because it’s applied by trowel, the terrazzo effect can be applied on walls, furniture & ceilings as well as floors for a truly immersive space.

Sparkle Effect: Glass crystals in a range of natural glass shades are added to the microcement to give a subtle sparkle to the surface.

Crackle Effect: For a truly rustic feel, the microcement cracks as it dries to reveal the waterproof microcement underneath.

Our collection of colours, finishes and effects provides homeowners with an unparalleled level of customisation and creative freedom. This allows for a wide range of design possibilities, making it easy to create a truly unique and personalized space that reflects your personality and style.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MICROCEMENT FOR BATHROOMS & WET ROOMS

Whilst we appreciate the benefits of mineral-based microcements in the right context, we always recommend waterproof microcements for bathrooms and wet rooms. Cemher’s waterproof microcements are 100% waterproof even before the sealers are applied.  So you are not dependant on the sealer alone to make the system waterproof.  This is important because, if the sealer gets scratched or a pinhole is missed, water can get behind the sealer and cause the microcement to stain.

Cemher offer 2 waterproof microcement products; Microne and MicroRock, both are 100% waterproof.

MICROCEMENT BATHROOMS

All our Microcement Bathroom Kits contain Microne as the top coat. Microne is 100% waterproof, so even if the sealer is scratched or there is insufficient coverage of it, the microcement will prevent water from penetrating through to the substrate.

This gives installers, DIYers and homeowners extra peace of mind when carrying out microcement installations.

It is still important to seal the microcement as the sealer puts a hard layer onto the microcement to prevent scuffs.

The great thing about Microne is that it has an unlimited working time, which is super handy for bathrooms which often involve a lot of intricate detail work that takes time to complete.

100% WATERPROOF WET ROOMS

We usually recommend the Microcement Kit for 100% Waterproof Wet Rooms when the Microcement is being used within the shower enclosure, particularly on the shower tray. In this kit, both the top coat and base coat are 100% waterproof, Microne. So if the top coat is sanded back too far or water can get to the underside of the microcement, it still won’t be affected.

Again, its still important to seal the microcement, and you can do so in total confidence that your wet room will stand the test of time.

SAUNAS, STEAM ROOMS, HOT TUBS & BATHS

Because these surfaces will be subjected to constant exposure to water and heat, the products that we recommend are composed slightly differently. For these surfaces, our epoxy-based microcement, MicroRock, is best. MicroRock is a bi-component microcement that is mixed with a hardener to make it incredibly resilient.

MICROCEMENT BATHROOM FAQs

Does Microcement Stain?

Our microcements for bathrooms and wet rooms are incredibly durable and versatile. All the microcement sealers that we recommend for bathrooms and wet rooms, plus the microcement itself, have been developed to withstand all common causes of bathroom stains including; soaps, bath oils and toothpaste.

Its best to only use natural cleaning products and avoid using harsh chemicals, like bleach, that can break down the sealers over time. And we advise against trapping water on the surface for prologued periods.

Because its seamless, Microcement is generally very easy to clean, so as long as it’s cleaned regularly, stains caused by mould and mildew are very rarely a problem.

Can you Microcement over Shower Trays?

You can microcement directly onto rigid shower trays like Kudos Aqua4ma shower decks. We’ve tested these extensively with microcement and highly recommend them for compatibility with microcement and ease of installation.

Be sure to choose a rigid shower tray, with a compressive strength of at least 16N/mm2 that is  suitable for a surface finish of 3-4mm. Generally, shower trays that are designed for vinyl floors match this specification whereas trays designed for tiles do not.

If you have a shower tray which is made from a softer surface, like tile on boards, or if the falls are too high, you may need to cement board over the tray to strengthen it and bring it up to the correct level before applying microcement.

When it comes to the microcement, you can rest assured that we only ever use suitably non-slip products in bathrooms and wet rooms, in line with CE standards.

Can you Microcement over Tiles?

By applying microcement directly onto tiles, you can give your bathroom a completely new look without the mess and hassle of having to take the existing tiles out. And if you’ve ever tried to remove tiles, you’ll really appreciate this one.

The following prep & conditions apply to preparing tiles for microcement:

Make sure tiles aren’t drummy or loose. Take out any which are & relay them. The surface must be completely flat.

As with all surfaces, microcement will follow the contours of the substrate it is going onto. If a lot of the tiles are loose or uneven, it may be better to remove them. If they are fixed firmly in place but uneven, you could consider self levelling over them to flatten off – follow manufacturer’s recommendations for applying the leveller over tiles.

Clean Tiles & Give them a Key. The tiles must be clean and free from dirt, dust and grease. Grout lines must also be clean and free from moisture. Ideally, run an abrasive sander over the surface to ensure the primer achieves good adhesion with the surface.

Are Microcement Bathrooms Expensive?

The price will depend on how big the area is. Our microcement kits are available in multiples of 10 from 10m2 to 100m2. Our microcement bathroom kits start at £295 for 10m2. We have kits for both DIYers and Professionals.

If you decide to get a professional to do the work, you will also have to factor in their costs. Generally their prices are comparable to tilers.

How Long Does it Take to Install Microcement in a Bathroom?

Microcement is applied in a number of coats; 2 base coats and 2 top coats plus sealers and primer.  Each coat needs to be left to dry before the next coat is applied. On average, it takes around 5 days to complete the process from start to finish. If the bathroom is small, it may only take a few hours each day until the process is complete.

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