Microcement offices

Why microcement works in offices

Microcement offices pair a hard-wearing floor with walls that feel considered rather than corporate. The finish is hand-trowelled in thin layers, so reception, meeting rooms and open-plan areas can share one continuous surface without the visual noise of tile joints or carpet seams.

For a business, the practical case matters as much as the look. The surface is suited to high-traffic areas, it is straightforward to clean, and because it can often go over a sound existing floor, the work involves less demolition than replacing the floor outright. It also gives the tenancy one consistent material thread, from the front door to the last meeting room.

Planning floors, walls and joinery

Start by mapping how people move through the space. Entries, corridors and kitchenettes take the most wear, while reception and meeting-room walls are what visitors notice. Typical office applications include:

• reception floors and counters, where first impressions are formed;
• meeting-room and boardroom walls;
• open-plan floors that link several work zones;
• kitchenette splashbacks and benches, sealed for frequent wiping.

Office chairs deserve a specific mention. Hard castors concentrate weight on a small point, so soft castors or chair mats under desks are a sensible precaution for the sealer.

Hard, continuous surfaces also reflect more sound than carpet. In open-plan areas and meeting rooms, plan for rugs, upholstered furniture or acoustic panels alongside a microcement floor so the space stays comfortable to work in.

Substrates, timing and disruption

Office floors are often cement-based, such as a screed or self-levelling mortar, or existing tiles, and walls are commonly plasterboard or plaster. All can be suitable once confirmed stable, level, clean and below 5% humidity. Carpet, vinyl and other loose or flexible coverings are removed first, because microcement needs a rigid, bonded base.

Application typically takes 5–7 days depending on size and complexity, and the surface continues to harden for several weeks. In an occupied workplace, that shapes the schedule: work areas may need to be sequenced, and light use in the first week protects the new finish. Our process sets out the eight steps from preparation to polishing, and the timing guide explains where the days go.

Finish direction and upkeep

Most offices suit a restrained palette. Plomo and Aluminium give a soft concrete character, Gris Marengo and Graphite suit darker, more focused rooms, and Cacao warms a space dominated by glass and steel. A matte sheen tends to reduce glare under strong overhead lighting. Compare physical samples under the office's own lighting, and send an enquiry before committing a colour to a whole floor.

Daily care is a dry mop or vacuum followed by a damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner. Entrance mats catch grit before it reaches the floor, and avoiding bleach, harsh degreasers and abrasive pads protects the sealer, which can be maintained over time as part of building upkeep.

For larger fit-outs, the guide to microcement for commercial interiors covers planning in more depth, and the commercial spaces page looks at cafes, salons and retail.