Microcement in Melbourne's western suburbs

Warehouses, cottages and new estates

The inner west has a long industrial history, and many former warehouses and factories in Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville have been converted into homes, studios and offices. Between them sit streets of Victorian and Edwardian workers' cottages, with nineteenth-century houses around Williamstown's historic port.

Cottage renovations tend to centre on a small bathroom, laundry or kitchen at the back of the house. Firmly adhered tiles there can often stay under the new finish, which keeps the work contained on a tight block.

Further out, Point Cook, Tarneit and parts of Werribee are largely new estates, while Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds and Essendon mix period homes with newer apartments and townhouses. Each calls for a different approach to microcement, but the substrate rules are the same everywhere: stable, level, clean and below 5% humidity.

Microcement in warehouse conversions

Converted industrial buildings often come with an existing concrete floor that's structurally sound but stained, patched or uneven. Microcement can give that floor a new continuous surface at around 2–3 mm, provided the concrete is stable and dry; where levels need correcting, a self-levelling mortar can go down first.

It also works on the vertical surfaces a conversion tends to have: rendered masonry, new plasterboard partitions and metal elements such as columns or joinery panels. For a raw, industrial feel, concrete greys such as Plomo and Aluminium or the deeper Gris Marengo and Graphite are natural choices; where there's plenty of brick and timber, a warmer tone can sit more comfortably.

Large steel-framed windows and skylights can throw strong, raking light across a floor, which exaggerates any variation in texture. A smoother or more textured finish can be chosen with that in mind, and samples are worth viewing in similar light.

If you're weighing up options for a large floor, our comparison of microcement and polished concrete sets out the differences in thickness, joints and application time. Microcement is the thinner, joint-free option, and it can also continue up walls and over joinery.

Commercial fit-outs across the west

The west's shopping villages and commercial precincts, from Yarraville and Seddon to Footscray, Sunshine and Moonee Ponds, include cafés, studios, salons and showrooms. For these spaces, microcement offers one continuous surface across floors, walls and counters that's durable once sealed and quick to clean.

Application is quicker and less disruptive than many traditional renovations, with no rubble or major construction work, which helps when rent is running before opening day. See commercial applications for the surfaces involved.

Microcement supply for builders and trades

Luxury Concrete supplies microcement as well as installing it. The system is two-component: Microcement Base builds a strong, seamless foundation on a properly prepared surface, Microcement Floor and Microcement Wall are the finishing products, and Microcement Resin is the Part B resin for the system.

Builders, designers and trades can find more on the trade page and the products page. Luxury Concrete microcement products come with warranties, and you can ask about quantities and the right products for your project when you enquire.

Starting a project in the west

The showroom is on the other side of the city, in Ferntree Gully, so it can make sense to begin with plans and photos. Send the address, the building type and the surfaces you'd like finished through the contact page, and an on-site assessment of the substrates comes before any quote.

For a new home in Point Cook, Tarneit or Werribee, include your builder's details and the current build stage. New screeds and mortars need to reach an advanced setting stage and a humidity below 5% before microcement can go on.