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 doesn't always have a functional design that suits our needs, or it isn't fully decorated the way we'd like. The moment to get a fashionable, resistant 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's easy to apply and maintain, and that will more than meet all your requirements. Microcement in the kitchen is sweeping the board — and without building work, on top of that. You can also combine your kitchen's microcement with other materials like wood or granite for a perfect composition of colours and textures.
Is microcement recommended in the kitchen?
Yes — and we'll tell you exactly where. On the floor, the walls and the splashback, microcement is one of the most recommendable options out there for renovating without building work: it's applied over the existing tiles, withstands daily use and moisture, and cleans with water and neutral soap.
And on the countertop? There we're the first to tell you the truth: we don't recommend it as an intensive work surface, and further down we explain why. We'd rather you buy well informed than buy more.
Microcement in the kitchen, the room where its advantages stand out
Microcement is a material with enormous potential thanks to properties that allow it to withstand all the hustle of a kitchen: high ambient temperatures, running water, heavy traffic, etc.
Microcement has definitively conquered kitchens across much of the world and turned them into up-to-date spaces, whether rustic, modern or industrial in style. Want to know in depth why everyone has fallen in love with microcement in the kitchen? Let us bring you up to speed:
Microcement in kitchens, for unfailing resistance
It doesn't matter where you apply microcement in your kitchen — floors, walls, splashbacks… If the application is correct, microcement will be able to withstand (almost) everything. This is due to its composition, which results in a coating with good resistance to abrasion, traffic and household cleaning products.
Install microcement in the kitchen with no need for building work
If what you're after is a kitchen renovation without building work or rubble, microcement can become a great ally. Thanks to its great adhesion, microcement in kitchens can be applied to any surface, whether vertical or horizontal, and over almost any type of material. Even better: its thickness of about 2/3 mm allows you to apply microcement in the kitchen without taking away any spaciousness.
Likewise, microcement in the kitchen will let you stick to your budget without giving up the quality you're looking for. How is that possible? Because you'll save the entire budget line devoted to removing the surface and clearing rubble.
Get water-resistant microcement in the kitchen
Just stop for a moment and make a list of everything that goes on in your kitchen day to day: children running around, your pet going back and forth, drinks spilled every few minutes… TOO MANY THINGS.
A kitchen designed with materials that aren't water-resistant is a recipe for disaster. That's why, in your kitchen renovation, you should opt for materials resistant to running water and moisture. It doesn't matter whether you coat the area closest to the sink or the wall you constantly splash — your kitchen's microcement will remain intact.
In the case of this material, it isn't waterproof on its own, but by using Smart Varnish together with Smart Booster you can ensure water resistance.
Guaranteed continuity with microcement in the kitchen
How annoying it is to have to clean those little kitchen joints where food remains accumulate — and how unhygienic! Microcement kitchens don't have this problem: by creating a continuous coating, no joins are needed, which prevents the proliferation of germs and bacteria.
Decorative microcement in the kitchen with great versatility
By applying it yourself with the trowel, you decide the finish: smoother and more uniform, or with a more marked watered effect — and always with 20 colours to choose from. It will adapt perfectly to your decorating preferences. Our advice? Go for a base in neutral colours for your kitchen's microcement so you can vary the style of this room as many times as you like by changing only a few small pieces.
Easy cleaning with microcement in the kitchen
Is there anything better than a kitchen where you can cook with the peace of mind of knowing that everything that gets dirty will clean up easily? A little water or soap is enough. 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 will give you incredible resistance to those annoying stains.
That said, one golden rule: if oil, vinegar or wine spills, clean it up as soon as possible. The sealer doesn't tolerate many hours in contact with these products, and what gets cleaned immediately leaves no trace.
As you can see, they're very easy and quick to maintain!
Disadvantages of microcement in the kitchen, unfiltered
No material is perfect, and we'd rather you know it before buying:
- It isn't waterproof on its own. It needs its sealing: with Smart Varnish and Smart Booster the surface is protected against water and stains.
- Direct heat and cuts damage the countertop. Chopping board and trivets are mandatory — you have all the details in its section.
- Aggressive liquids can't sit for hours. Oil, vinegar or wine: clean them up as soon as possible, because the sealer doesn't tolerate prolonged contact with them.
- Cracks? Only for two reasons, and both can be avoided. Smartcret's ready-to-use microcement contains no cement, so there's no shrinkage: it doesn't crack "just because". It can only crack if you apply coats that are too thick — maximum 1.5 mm per coat with the Base microcement and 0.5 mm with the Liso microcement — or if the tiles underneath are loose or half-loose. Check the base before starting: tap gently and, if any piece sounds hollow, fix it first.
- Maximum hardness isn't immediate. Ready-to-use microcement reaches its maximum hardness within up to 2 weeks (a traditional site-mixed microcement takes more than a month). During that period, treat the surface gently.
Which bases can it be applied to?
The ideal bases in a kitchen: tiles, marble, plasterboard and MDF (resin-bonded boards are stable and give no problems).
The only base we don't recommend under any circumstances is natural wood: its expansions and contractions with temperature changes end up cracking any continuous coating. Honesty above all — if your surface is solid wood, microcement isn't your solution.
One more note on preparation: with ready-to-use microcement you don't need fibreglass mesh. It's an acrylic mortar and doesn't suffer shrinkage — that classic step of two-component systems is one you get to skip here.
Microcement in kitchens: a timeless material with many uses
If the characteristics of microcement in the kitchen have already won you over, you'll be amazed to see how many options you have available. Because when you apply microcement in your kitchen, on as many elements as you like, you'll achieve a design that will never go 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 on the wall: resistant and on trend
What a hazard those sticky hands are while you cook, or the kids eating anything containing chocolate (or rather, spilling chocolate) while they run around. If you've lived these situations more than once and you're fed up with scrubbing these stains, microcement on the kitchen wall will spare you more than one upset.
The easy cleaning and low maintenance of microcement walls in your kitchen will let you keep the room spotless despite continuous use. Also, if you have a small kitchen, using microcement to coat the walls will multiply the natural light thanks to its ability to reflect it.
Bonus point: If you want more storage without losing visual spaciousness, coat the cabinets in the same colour as the walls and they'll go unnoticed.
Kitchen with microcement on the floor: continuous and hard-wearing
Besides being an elegant material that enhances any room in your home, a microcement floor is continuous, resistant to daily traffic and very easy to clean: no joints where dirt accumulates and minimal maintenance. Treat it as what it is — a noble floor — and it will accompany you for many years.
So now you know: switch to microcement on the kitchen floor!
Microcement splashbacks in the kitchen? Of course!
Which wall gets more stains than the kitchen splashback? Practically none. The kitchen splashback is one of the most punished areas when we cook, so it must be resistant and easy to clean. And clearly, microcement in the kitchen is the key to having a splashback in tune with your kitchen without giving up the protection this area needs.
Another option is to apply it in one go to the splashback and the wall front to create a continuous coating that will prevent the accumulation of germs and bacteria — no food remains stored in the joins — and make cleaning splashes easy.
The microcement countertop: why we don't recommend it
We told you at the start of the article, and these are the reasons. The first: it doesn't withstand the direct heat of pots and pans. The second — let's be realistic — sooner or later someone will cut directly on it. Many users believe it can be done, and no: it scratches.
If you still love the look of a continuous countertop (it happens to all of us), these are the mandatory conditions: chopping board always, trivets always, complete sealing with Smart Varnish and Smart Booster, and timely cleaning of aggressive liquids. If you can't see yourself meeting them daily, better take the microcement to the floor, the walls and the splashback — there it performs without conditions.
RENEW YOUR KITCHEN WITH MICROCEMENT
Island, furniture and styles: beyond floors and walls
Microcement in the kitchen doesn't stop at the large surfaces. Two uses that transform the space without building work:
The central island as the protagonist. Coating the island with microcement turns it into the piece that organises the whole kitchen: you can give it continuity with the floor (same colour, monolithic effect) or play with contrast using a deeper tone. That said, if your island includes a work area, remember what we told you about countertops: beautiful, but with their precautions.
Custom furniture and fronts. Built-in furniture, shelves and fronts take microcement well and gain that continuous texture you won't find in any standard catalogue. A way to have a literally unique kitchen.
And how are we doing on style? Microcement fits almost all of them: minimalist (light tones like Blanco Roto or Bone, clean lines), industrial (greys like Universe or Shale Grey with wood and black metal), Nordic (warm lights and natural wood), renewed rustic (earth tones like Cafe or Mojave with beams and fibres) and eclectic, where a colour with personality like Wasabi or Coral acts as the common thread.
Switch to the microcement-and-wood kitchen
Had you ever thought of this combination? This fusion of materials will create a modern yet sophisticated space in your kitchen. Wood brings a touch of warmth and naturalness, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
A microcement-and-wood kitchen is a great option if you're looking for a contemporary, versatile space. And you know the best part? You can personalise it with the colour and finishes you like best, adapting it to your own style. (That said, remember: wood as decoration and furniture, perfect; as a base to apply microcement on top, only if it's MDF — never natural wood.)
The 20 microcement colours for your kitchen
One of the most fun 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 colourant like with a 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 and multiply the light (ideal in small kitchens or ones with little natural light); medium and dark tones bring character and conceal daily use better; and when in doubt, choose by looking at your furniture and your kitchen's real light, not a screen.
How long does it take? The real plan, day by day
You'll have read here and there 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 Liso microcement: 3-4 hours of drying and sanding. Second coat of Liso, drying and final sanding.
Day 3 — Protection. Three coats of Smart Varnish, letting each dry 3-4 hours. And done!
When can I use the kitchen? From the 4th day it's already fine; in wet or high-traffic areas, the ideal is to give it 7 days of complete drying so it reaches its maximum resistance. In total, and being honest: 3 days of work and a week of patience — considerably less than building work.
Price of microcement in kitchens
Let's get to the figure everyone is looking for, in a comparable format:
- Applied by a professional: between €90 and €120/m².
- Applying it yourself with a Smartcret kit: around €45/m² without promotions. The same surface, for a fraction of the price.
If you want to catch the kits at their best moment, sign up for our newsletter and we'll let you know about promotions. And if you want the full breakdown, here's our microcement price guide.
How long does microcement last in a kitchen?
On walls, microcement suffers very little wear: it can last you very many years even in wet areas — the only recommendation is to renew the sealer every 3 years in those areas.
On floors it's more demanding: if you respect the drying times (that's how it reaches its maximum resistance) and treat it as what it is, a noble floor — think of how you care for a wooden parquet — it will last you a long time. If you're a bit careless, after 4-5 years you'll need to renew the surface coats. We prefer to tell you this plainly.
Frequently asked questions about microcement in kitchens
How much does it cost to install microcement in a kitchen?
Between €90 and €120/m² applied by a professional. With a Smartcret kit in DIY mode, around €45/m². You have the breakdown in our price guide.
Can it be applied over the kitchen tiles?
Yes, directly and without building work — with one condition: that the tiles are firmly attached. If any of them is loose or half-loose, fix it first, because it's one of the only two causes of cracking.
Is it recommended for floor, wall and countertop?
For floor, wall and splashback, yes, with the kit for each surface. The countertop is the exception: not as a cutting or heat surface — you have the reasons in its section.
Does microcement crack?
The ready-to-use version contains no cement, so there's no shrinkage. It only cracks from coats that are too thick (maximum 1.5 mm with the Base and 0.5 mm with the Liso) or from a loose base. Both can be avoided.
How long does it take to renovate a kitchen with microcement?
3 days of work. You can use it from the 4th day, although in wet areas the ideal is to give it 7 days of complete drying.
How long does it last?
On walls, very many years (renew the sealer every 3 in wet areas). On the floor, care for it like a parquet and it will last; with carelessness, surface renewal after 4-5 years.
Which is cheaper, tiles or microcement?
The material costs about the same. The difference is in everything around it: tiling means chipping off or removing what's there, rubble and labour; microcement goes directly on top of what you already have. And in DIY, the kit works out at about €45/m² — at that point the comparison stops being fair.
Apply microcement in your kitchen yourself and save with Smartcret
If architects and designers are using microcement in the kitchen more and more in their projects, why stay behind? With Smartcret you can have a state-of-the-art microcement kitchen without spending your whole salary — and the best part: applying it yourself!
Compared with traditional site-mixed microcement — which requires mixing three components (powder + resin + colourant) 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 its setting is considerably faster: it reaches maximum hardness in a maximum of 2 weeks, compared with more than a month for the traditional one.
Your new microcement kitchen with an original, unique design is waiting for you, in whichever of our 20 colours you like best. So what are you waiting for? Come to our shop and get going! Discover our kitchen microcement kits.
Reviewed by the Smartcret technical team.