Microcement in the kitchen without building work: real ideas, pros and cons
Have you been dreaming of the ideal kitchen for years? This room is the nerve centre of most homes, but it does not always have a functional design that suits our needs, or it is not decorated quite the way we would like. The time to get a stylish, hard-wearing kitchen with materials that adapt to any decorative style has arrived with the application of ready-to-use microcement in the kitchen.
A versatile material that is easy to apply and maintain and will more than meet all your requirements. Microcement in the kitchen is a hit — and with no building work. You can also combine it with other materials such as wood or granite for a perfect composition of colours and textures.
Is microcement recommended for kitchens?
Yes — and we will tell you exactly where. On the floor, the walls and the splashback, microcement is one of the best options out there for renovating without building work: it is applied over your existing tiles, withstands daily use and humidity, and cleans up with water and neutral soap.
And on the worktop? Here we are the first to tell you the truth: we do not recommend it as an intensive work surface, and we explain why further down. We would rather you buy well informed than buy more.
Microcement in the kitchen, the space where its advantages shine
Microcement is a material with enormous potential thanks to properties that allow it to withstand all the hustle and bustle of a kitchen: high ambient temperatures, running water, heavy traffic, and more.
Microcement has conquered kitchens all over the world and turned them into contemporary spaces, whether rustic, modern or industrial in style. Want to know why everyone has fallen in love with microcement in the kitchen? Let us bring you up to date:
Microcement in kitchens, for unbeatable resistance
It does not matter where you apply microcement in your kitchen — floors, walls, splashbacks... If applied correctly, microcement will resist (almost) everything. This is down to its composition, which results in a coating with good resistance to abrasion, foot traffic and household cleaning products.
Apply microcement in the kitchen with no building work
If what you want is a kitchen renovation without construction work or rubble, microcement can become a great ally. Thanks to its strong adhesion, microcement can be applied to any surface, vertical or horizontal, and over almost any type of material. Even better: at around 2–3 mm thick, you can apply it without making the room feel smaller.
Microcement also lets you stick to your budget without giving up the quality you are after. How? Because you save everything you would have spent on removing the old surface and clearing the rubble.
Get water-resistant microcement in the kitchen
Take a moment and make a list of everything that happens in your kitchen every day: kids running around, your pet going back and forth, drinks spilling constantly... TOO MUCH.
A kitchen made with materials that cannot handle water is a recipe for disaster. That is why, when renovating your kitchen, you should choose materials that resist running water and humidity. Whether you coat the area next to the sink or the wall that gets splashed all the time, your kitchen's microcement will stay intact.
This material is not waterproof on its own, but by using Smart Varnish together with Smart Booster you can ensure its water resistance.
Guaranteed continuity with microcement in the kitchen
How annoying it is to clean those little kitchen joints where food residue builds up — and how unhygienic! Microcement kitchens do not have this problem: a seamless coating needs no joints, which prevents the spread of germs and bacteria.
Decorative microcement in the kitchen with great versatility
When you apply it yourself with the trowel, you decide the finish: smoother and more uniform, or with a more marked watery effect — always with 20 colours to choose from. It will adapt perfectly to your decorative preferences. Our advice? Choose a neutral base colour for your kitchen's microcement so you can change the style of the room as often as you like just by swapping a few small pieces.
Easy cleaning with microcement in the kitchen
Is there anything better than a kitchen where you can cook knowing that anything that gets dirty will clean up easily? A little water or soap is all it takes. But if you want to avoid oil or vinegar stains at all costs, you can use our Smart Cleaner, which, together with Smart Varnish and Smart Booster, provides incredible resistance to those annoying stains.
That said, one golden rule: if you spill oil, vinegar or wine, clean it up as soon as possible. The varnish cannot withstand long hours in contact with these products, and whatever is cleaned immediately leaves no trace.
As you can see, upkeep is quick and easy!
The downsides of microcement in the kitchen, unfiltered
No material is perfect, and we would rather you know this before buying:
- It is not waterproof on its own. It needs sealing: with Smart Varnish and Smart Booster, the surface is protected against water and stains.
- Direct heat and cutting damage the worktop. A cutting board and trivets are mandatory — all the details in its section below.
- Aggressive liquids cannot sit for hours. Oil, vinegar or wine: clean them up as soon as possible, because the varnish cannot withstand prolonged contact with them.
- Cracks? Only for two reasons, and both are avoidable. Smartcret's ready-to-use microcement contains no cement, so there is no shrinkage: it does not crack "just because". It can only crack if you apply layers that are too thick — a maximum of 1.5 mm per coat with the Base microcement and 0.5 mm with the Smooth microcement — or if the tiles underneath are loose or half-loose. Check the substrate before you start: tap gently and, if a tile sounds hollow, fix it first.
- Maximum hardness is not immediate. Ready-to-use microcement reaches its maximum hardness within up to 2 weeks (a traditional site-mixed microcement takes over a month). During that period, treat the surface gently.
Which substrates can it be applied on?
The ideal substrates in a kitchen: tiles, marble, plasterboard and MDF (resin-bonded boards are stable and give no trouble).
The one substrate we advise against under any circumstances is natural wood: its expansion and contraction with temperature changes will end up cracking any seamless coating. Honesty above all — if your surface is solid wood, microcement is not your solution.
Microcement in kitchens: a timeless material with many uses
If the characteristics of microcement in the kitchen have already won you over, you will be amazed at how many options are available. When you apply microcement in your kitchen, on as many elements as you like, you will get a design that never goes out of style.
Likewise, the decorative styles microcement adapts to in the kitchen are countless: you can achieve a modern, industrial, contemporary and even rustic or vintage style with these ideas:
Kitchen with microcement walls: hard-wearing and on trend
Those sticky hands while you cook, or kids eating anything containing chocolate (or rather, spilling chocolate) while running around — what a hazard! If you have lived through these situations more than once and are tired of scrubbing those stains, microcement on your kitchen walls will save you plenty of headaches.
The easy cleaning and low maintenance of microcement walls will keep the room spotless despite constant use. And if your kitchen is small, coating the walls with microcement will multiply the natural light thanks to its reflective quality.
Bonus point: if you want more storage without losing visual space, coat the cabinets in the same colour as the walls and they will blend right in.
Kitchen with a microcement floor: seamless and hard-wearing
Besides being an elegant material that enhances any room in your home, a microcement floor is seamless, resistant to daily foot traffic and very easy to clean: no joints for dirt to build up in, and minimal upkeep. Treat it as what it is — a noble floor — and it will be with you for many years.
So now you know: switch to a microcement kitchen floor!
Microcement splashbacks in the kitchen? Of course!
Which wall gets more stains than the kitchen splashback? Practically none. The splashback is one of the hardest-hit areas when cooking, so it needs to be tough and easy to clean. Clearly, microcement is the key to a splashback in tune with your kitchen without giving up the protection this area needs.
Another option is to apply it in one go across the splashback and the front to create a continuous coating that prevents germs and bacteria from building up in joints and makes splashes easy to clean.
The microcement worktop: why we do not recommend it
We told you at the start of the article, and here are the reasons. First: it cannot withstand direct heat from pots and pans. Second — let's be realistic — sooner or later someone will cut directly on it. Many users think you can, and no: it scratches.
If you still fall for the look of a seamless worktop (it happens to all of us), these are the mandatory conditions: cutting board always, trivets always, full sealing with Smart Varnish and Smart Booster, and prompt cleaning of aggressive liquids. If you cannot see yourself sticking to them daily, take the microcement to the floor, the walls and the splashback instead — there it performs without conditions.
RENOVATE YOUR KITCHEN WITH MICROCEMENT
Switch to a microcement and wood kitchen
Have you ever considered this combination? This fusion of materials will create a modern yet sophisticated space in your kitchen. Wood adds a touch of warmth and naturalness, creating a cosy atmosphere.
A microcement and wood kitchen is a great option if you are after a contemporary, versatile space. And the best part? You can customise it with the colours and finishes you like best, adapting it to your own style. (One reminder: wood as decoration and furniture, perfect; as a substrate to apply microcement over, only if it is MDF — never solid wood.)
The 20 microcement colours for your kitchen
One of the most enjoyable decisions of the renovation: the colour. At Smartcret you have 20 microcement colours, and they all arrive ready to use, with the colour already prepared — no mixing powder, resin and pigment as with traditional microcement, so the tone is always uniform.
The 20: Blanco, Blanco Roto, Porcelain, Bone, Champagne, Papyrus, Shale Grey, Spike, Universe, Cafe, Mojave, India, Wasabi, Liquen, Moss, Khaki, Breeze, Blush, Coral and Salmon.
How to choose? Three simple rules: light tones enlarge the space and multiply the light (ideal in small kitchens or those with little natural light); mid and dark tones add character and hide daily wear better; and when in doubt, choose by looking at your furniture and the real light in your kitchen, not at a screen.
How long does it take? The real day-by-day plan
You may have read that microcement takes "almost 2 weeks". The reality with a Smartcret kit is 3 days of work:
Day 1 — Preparation and base. Apply the primer and let it dry for 30 minutes. First coat of Base microcement and 3–4 hours of drying; a quick sanding to remove burrs, second coat of Base, another 3–4 hours of drying and a thorough sanding. (If you start in the morning, all of this fits into the first day.)
Day 2 — Finish. First thing, first coat of Smooth microcement: 3–4 hours of drying and sanding. Second coat of Smooth, drying and final sanding.
Day 3 — Protection. Three coats of Smart Varnish, letting each dry for 3–4 hours. And done!
When can I use the kitchen? From day 4 you are fine; in wet or heavy-use areas, ideally give it 7 days of full curing to reach maximum resistance. All in all, honestly: 3 days of work and a week of patience — far less than building work.
Microcement price for kitchens
Straight to the figure everyone is looking for, in a comparable format:
- Applied by a professional: roughly £80–130 per m² in the UK, or $10–18 per sq ft in the US.
- Applying it yourself with a Smartcret kit: around €45 per m² before promotions. The same surface, for a fraction of the price.
If you want to catch the kits at their best moment, sign up to our newsletter and we will let you know about promotions. And for the full breakdown, here is our microcement price guide.
How long does microcement last in a kitchen?
On walls, microcement suffers very little wear: it can last you many, many years even in wet areas — the only recommendation is to renew the varnish every 3 years in those areas.
On floors it is more demanding: if you respect the curing times (that is how it reaches maximum resistance) and treat it as what it is, a noble floor — think of how you look after a wooden parquet — it will last a long time. If you are a bit careless, you will need to renew the surface layers after 4–5 years. We would rather tell you straight.
Frequently asked questions about microcement in kitchens
How much does it cost to apply microcement in a kitchen?
Roughly £80–130 per m² (or $10–18 per sq ft) applied by a professional. With a Smartcret DIY kit, around €45 per m². Full breakdown in our price guide.
Can it be applied over kitchen tiles?
Yes, directly and with no building work — on one condition: the tiles must be firmly attached. If any tile is loose or half-loose, fix it first, because that is one of the only two causes of cracking.
Is it suitable for the floor, walls and worktop?
For the floor, walls and splashback, yes, with the kit for each surface. The worktop is the exception: not as a cutting or heat surface — the reasons are in its section.
Does microcement crack?
The ready-to-use version contains no cement, so there is no shrinkage. It only cracks from coats that are too thick (maximum 1.5 mm with Base and 0.5 mm with Smooth) or from a loose substrate. Both are avoidable.
How long does it take to renovate a kitchen with microcement?
3 days of work. You can use it from day 4, although in wet areas it is best to allow 7 days of full curing.
How long does it last?
On walls, many years (renew the varnish every 3 years in wet areas). On the floor, care for it like a parquet and it will last; with neglect, surface renewal after 4–5 years.
Apply microcement in your kitchen yourself and save with Smartcret
If architects and designers are using microcement in their kitchen projects more and more, why stay behind? With Smartcret you can have an up-to-the-minute microcement kitchen without spending a fortune — and best of all, applying it yourself!
Compared with traditional site-mixed microcement — which requires mixing three components (powder + resin + pigment), with the risk of error that entails — the Smartcret kit arrives with the colour already prepared and ready to use: open, stir and apply. Less time, fewer mixing errors and a uniform result. And it sets considerably faster: it reaches maximum hardness within 2 weeks at most, compared with over a month for the traditional kind.
Your new microcement kitchen, with an original, unique design and your favourite of our 20 colours, is waiting for you. So, what are you waiting for? Visit our store and get started! Discover our microcement kits for kitchens.
Reviewed by the Smartcret technical team.