Microcement commercial spaces

Why commercial interiors use microcement

Commercial microcement gives a cafe, salon or shop one continuous surface across floors, walls and counters. There are fewer joints to collect dirt, the look is distinctive without being busy, and once sealed the finish is suited to high-traffic areas.

It is practical for refits, too. With a build-up of only 2–3 mm, microcement can often go over a sound existing substrate, which means less demolition and less disruption for neighbouring tenancies.

Cafes, salons and retail

Each type of business asks something different of its surfaces:

• Cafes and hospitality: counters, bar fronts, floors and feature walls, with sealer and cleaning routines planned around coffee, oils and constant wiping.
• Salons: reception desks, product walls and floors, where hair colour and styling products call for prompt cleaning.
• Retail: display plinths, counters, fitting rooms and shop floors that carry steady foot traffic.

Think about the whole customer path, from the shopfront threshold to the counter, fitting rooms or styling chairs. Back-of-house areas such as storerooms and staff kitchens may call for a simpler, more practical finish than the spaces customers see.

Luxury Concrete collaborated with SuiL Architects on ULA Café in Collingwood, where microcement runs across curved walls, counters and thresholds. The project has been featured by publications including ArchDaily. For workplaces, see microcement offices.

Planning commercial microcement around trade

Timing is often the deciding factor. Most applications take 5–7 days, with drying time between each layer, and the surface keeps hardening over the following weeks. Plan for light use in the first week after completion, and tell us early about trading hours, access and any areas that must stay open.

Every substrate in scope, from slab floors to plasterboard walls and joinery, is checked for stability, level, cleanliness and humidity below 5%. Floor slip resistance and any wet-area waterproofing are project-specific, so they are settled with the builder or relevant professional before finishes are locked in.

Counters and joinery are often built by other trades, so coordinate early. The substrate needs to be fixed, stable and ready before microcement work begins, and the order of work matters when several trades share a site.

Budgets depend on substrate condition, complexity and project requirements. As a general range, Luxury Concrete's microcement application is $160–$300 AUD per square metre, including materials and labour; the cost guide explains what moves the figure, and architects, designers and builders can also start from the trade page.

Finishes that suit a busy interior

Mid-tones are usually the most forgiving on commercial floors, showing less dust and scuffing than very pale or very dark colours. Plomo keeps a neutral backdrop for merchandise, Panacotta and Latte suit softer salon interiors, and Arcilla, Indico or Graphite can carry a brand colour on a counter or wall.

Day to day, sweeping and damp-mopping with a pH-neutral cleaner protect the sealer, and periodic sealer maintenance belongs in the premises' upkeep plan. Avoid harsh degreasers, bleach and abrasive pads on the finished surface. The commercial interiors guide covers maintenance planning in more detail.