The questions clients ask before commissioning a project.

Microcement is a polymer-modified cement coating, applied in micro-thin layers (typically 2-3mm total) over almost any sound substrate. It produces a continuous, seamless, fully waterproof surface with no joints, grout lines or tiles.

Hand-applied microcement in the UK typically ranges from £150 to £250 per square metre supplied and installed, depending on substrate, complexity, finish and colour. Bathrooms and stairs sit at the higher end because of detail work; large simple floors at the lower end. Kitchen worktops are £350-£500/m². Every Cornwall Microcement quote is fixed and written, with no day rates.

Yes — when installed using the correct CimentArt Aqua Ciment system and 2K polyurethane sealer, microcement is rated for permanent wet environments including walk-in showers, wet rooms and steam rooms. Bathrooms also receive a full tanking layer beneath as belt-and-braces.

In most cases yes. Existing tiles save lifting cost, dust and time. They must be sound (no drumming), well-bonded, degreased and have flush grout lines. We assess on a site visit before quoting. Tile overlay typically saves £900-£1,400 on a Cornish bathroom.

Most rooms take 5-7 working days on site, with a further short cure period before first use (light foot traffic at day 7, full cure at 28 days). Larger projects are phased. We give every client a written day-by-day programme before work starts.

Properly installed microcement — with correct substrate prep, primer, fibreglass mesh and full number of base coats — does not crack. Cracks in microcement almost always trace to skipped substrate preparation, omitted mesh or a moving substrate.

Warm water and a soft cloth, or a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid bleach, ammonia, acidic descalers, citrus degreasers and abrasive scourers. We supply every client with a written care guide on handover.

A correctly installed microcement floor or wall has a working life of 15-25 years before any major intervention. Sealed surfaces benefit from a light re-seal every 3-5 years in high-traffic or wet areas — a service we offer as part of aftercare.

Yes. Unlike tile, microcement is repairable in situ. We can re-finish damaged areas, blend new patches into existing surfaces, and re-seal as required. We invoice repair visits at fixed cost.

Yes — the system is fully compatible with hot-water and electric underfloor heating. At 2-3mm total build-up it has minimal thermal mass, so the floor warms quickly and evenly. We commission the heating gradually after cure to bed the floor in. Maximum surface temperature 28°C.

More than 60 colours across five CimentArt systems — System Ready, Aqua Ciment, Eficiencia, Natture and Industrial. Tones run from bone whites and ivories through sands, clays, taupes, stones and inks, plus terracottas, ochres, mosses and sage greens in the Natture range. Custom Pantone and RAL matches are possible for commercial projects.

Yes — microcement worktops are one of the most striking applications in the range. The surface is heat-resistant (use a trivet for pans), stain-resistant when sealed correctly, and food-safe. Always specify a rounded-sm or bullnose edge profile, full fibreglass mesh in the substrate, and a four-coat 2K polyurethane sealer. Cost: £350-£500/m².

Yes — floors are one of the most common applications. The polymer-modified mineral coating handles foot traffic, furniture and pet claws when sealed correctly. We use the Eficiencia system for high-traffic and commercial floors, and System Ready for residential.

Standard sealed microcement has an R10 slip rating — equivalent to honed stone or a low-sheen porcelain tile. For wet rooms and shower floors we add a fine grit additive to the final sealer coat to achieve R11, the rating specified for permanent wet barefoot areas.

Yes — microcement on stairs is a signature finish, wrapping treads, risers and stringers as one continuous surface. We work on timber and concrete staircases, including spiral and floating designs. Typical cost £250-£350 per linear metre.

Limited applications only. The polyurethane sealer breaks down under prolonged UV exposure, so we do not recommend microcement for unsheltered outdoor surfaces. Covered loggias, porches and verandas are fine with the correct UV-stable specification.

Wadebridge based, we cover the whole of Cornwall (Padstow, Rock, Truro, St Ives, Penzance, Newquay, Falmouth, Bodmin and everywhere between) and the wider South West as standard, and travel nationwide for larger commissions and bespoke architectural projects across the UK. No travel charge for site visits within Cornwall; travel for nationwide projects is quoted transparently with the works.

Yes. Cornwall Microcement carries full public liability insurance and provides a written health-and-safety method statement for every job. Jonathan Heywood is a trained and approved CimentArt applicator. Documentation available on request.

Jonathan Heywood is the founder and sole applicator at Cornwall Microcement. Based in Wadebridge, he has 20+ years in the building industry working across all property types, specialising in bespoke buildings and high-end residential work, and is a trained CimentArt applicator. Every Cornwall Microcement installation is mixed, trowelled and sealed personally by him.

Every project is mixed, trowelled and sealed personally by Jonathan Heywood — no subcontracted installers, no swap-out crews. You speak to the person doing the work, from first call to final coat. We use one system (CimentArt) exclusively, so technique and finish are consistent across every project.

Yes, over a properly prepared timber substrate — typically 18-22mm WBP plywood, fully screwed down with no movement, and with full fibreglass mesh embedded in the base coat to manage any seasonal substrate movement.

Polished concrete is a 50-100mm structural slab that is power-troweled and then mechanically ground and polished in situ. Microcement is a 2-3mm decorative coating applied over an existing substrate. Both are mineral surfaces with a similar visual language, but microcement can go anywhere (walls, stairs, worktops, over tiles) while polished concrete is floor-only and requires major structural work.