Micro-Cement & Polished Concrete Finishes in North London: What's Involved & Who It's For

Micro-cement — a polymer-modified cementitious coating applied in thin layers (typically 2–3mm total) to walls and floors — has become one of the most requested contemporary finishes in North London renovation projects over the past five years. It's particularly popular in kitchen extensions, open-plan rear ground floors, and bathroom wet rooms — applications where its seamless, mouldless finish, water resistance, and contemporary aesthetic work well against period architecture.

What Micro-Cement Is

Micro-cement is not concrete — it is a thin-film, polymer-modified cement-based coating that can be applied over existing solid substrates (tiles, concrete, ply-sheeted floors) without requiring demolition of the existing surface. The total system thickness is typically 2–4mm, applied in multiple layers over a primer, with each layer sanded before the next is applied. The final surface is sealed with a penetrating or film-forming sealant that provides the finish sheen (from matte through to satin and semi-gloss) and waterproofing.

Suitable Substrates

Micro-cement requires a dimensionally stable, non-flexing substrate — it will crack if applied over a flexing floor or a substrate with significant movement. Solid concrete, screed, and well-fixed ply over joists are all suitable. Suspended timber floors with normal deflection are generally not suitable without significant modifications — this is the most common application error we see in North London properties.

Micro-cement application specialists in NW3 and North London — call 020 7101 3168 for a project assessment.