What to expect
In a kitchen, microcement is usually specified for the vertical and the visible: splashbacks, island returns, joinery faces and the wall behind the run. It removes the tile grid and the grout, and lets wall, island and floor share one colour and one texture.
Worktops are where to be careful. A microcement worktop is possible and it is done, but a worktop is the hardest surface in a home - direct heat, standing oil, red wine, lemon juice and knives. The sealer specification does the work there, and some sealers that resist heat resist staining less well. We would rather set that expectation at specification stage than at handover.
Everywhere else in the kitchen the material is well within its comfort: seamless, cleanable, repairable in place, and applicable over existing tile without stripping the room back.
In practice
- Splashbacks, island returns, joinery faces and full wall runs in one surface
- Applied over existing tile or plasterboard, avoiding a strip-out
- Colour and texture shared with adjoining floors and walls
- Worktops possible, with the sealer specified explicitly for heat, oil and acid
- Damage made good by re-working and re-sealing rather than replacing a panel
Specify it
| Applied thickness | Approximately 1 to 2 mm on walls and joinery faces |
|---|---|
| Worktops | Specified case by case; sealer chosen for heat, oil and acid exposure |
| Behind hobs | Confirm heat exposure and sealer rating before specifying |
| Cleaning | Neutral pH cleaners; avoid abrasives and strong acids on the sealer |
| Repair | Local re-work and re-seal rather than panel replacement |
Microcement is a durable, low-VOC cement-based finish. It is not a natural or vapour-open material — for that, see clay plaster or lime plaster. Emission and content testing is published by the manufacturer.
View evidence — Cemher VOC emissions certificate (PDF, 0.8 MB)Kitchens in place
Delivered work, photographed on site. Photography: Conmarble.
Featured project
Built with this material, by our own artisans. Open the project for the full set of photographs and the story of the installation.
Technical support for the design team
We supply the material and we apply it, so the specification and the workmanship sit with one party. Send a finishes schedule, an elevation or a mood board and we will come back with the system, the build-up, the sample programme and a completed clause.