Microcement vs polished concrete: the key differences

Microcement vs polished concrete is a comparison worth making early, because the two finishes are built in very different ways. Both suit modern, industrial interiors, and on a floor they can look similar. Underneath, they differ in weight, where they can go, how they handle movement and how long they take to install.

Two ways to achieve a concrete look

Polished concrete is concrete: a thick, heavy layer that is poured, left to cure, then ground and polished. It is mainly used for floors, and its appearance largely depends on the aggregate in the mix.

Microcement is a coating. This polymer-modified, cement-based material is trowelled by hand onto a suitable existing surface in several thin layers, then sealed and polished. It can go over cement mortar, tile, plaster, plasterboard or metal, on floors, walls and furniture.

The work itself looks different too. Polished concrete relies on heavy grinding equipment working through progressively finer stages, while microcement is built up by hand with trowels, with drying and sanding between layers.

Microcement vs polished concrete at a glance

Six differences that matter

1. Thickness and weight

At around 2–3 mm, microcement adds very little weight or load to a structure. That suits renovations, upper levels and joinery, where adding a heavy layer of concrete is often not an option. Polished concrete relies on the mass of a full concrete layer, which has to be planned into the structure. The thin build-up also matters at doorways and thresholds, where a thicker topping would change floor levels.

2. Where each can be applied

Microcement can be used on floors, walls and furniture, indoors and outdoors, so one finish can run from the floor, up a wall and across a benchtop. Polished concrete is mainly used for floors and suits large, open spaces.

3. Joints and continuity

Microcement creates a continuous surface without joints. Polished concrete often needs expansion joints to manage movement in the slab, and those lines become part of the finished floor.

The difference shows most in open-plan homes. Microcement can run through several rooms without a visible break, while a polished slab's joints are typically set out across the floor.

4. Flexibility and cracking

Microcement is more flexible, which reduces the risk of cracking from minor substrate movement. It still depends on a stable base, because significant substrate movement or a building shift can crack any finish. Polished concrete can show cracks if the slab moves or settles, and our guide to whether microcement cracks explains the common causes.

Before microcement goes over an existing slab, cracks and any movement joints are assessed, so the finish is not asked to bridge ongoing movement.

5. Colour and texture

Both can be customised, but microcement offers a wider range of colours and textures, from pale Alaska to deeper Gris Marengo, in finishes from matte to glossy. Polished concrete's appearance comes largely from its aggregate. With microcement, you choose the colour from samples before work starts, whereas the final look of polished concrete is partly revealed as the slab is ground. Browse the collections on our colours and textures page.

6. Installation and drying time

Microcement is generally quicker to apply and dry, which can benefit renovation projects. Application typically takes 5–7 days depending on size and complexity, and the surface keeps hardening over several weeks. Polished concrete generally takes longer to install and dry.

For a renovation, fewer days on site can also mean less time living around the work. See how long microcement takes for a stage-by-stage timeline.

Comparing cost

Our microcement application generally ranges from $160–$300 AUD per square metre, including materials and labour, depending on the substrate, the complexity of the work and other project requirements. Polished concrete has its own set of cost drivers, from the slab itself to grinding, joints and polishing.

Compare complete projects rather than rates. For a renovation, include any demolition, new slab or topping work, and the time the space will be out of use. Our microcement cost guide explains what moves a microcement project within its range.

Which should you choose?

Start with three questions. Are you building new or renovating, which surfaces do you want to cover, and how much weight and time can the project accommodate?

In a renovation, microcement's ability to go over an existing surface can be the deciding factor, because there is no need to break out old floors or pour a new slab. In a new build, the choice is more open and comes down to the look you want and the surfaces you want to cover.

Microcement tends to suit

• Renovations, where it can go over suitable existing tiles, mortar or plaster
• Designs that continue one finish across floors, walls, stairs and joinery
• Upper levels and furniture, where added weight matters
• Projects that call for a specific colour or texture
• Timelines where a shorter installation is important

Polished concrete may suit

• New builds where a slab is being poured anyway and can be specified for polishing
• Large, open floor areas where expansion joints are acceptable
• Designs built around the look of the aggregate itself

If you are still undecided, send an enquiry with your plans, and compare microcement samples with the rest of your material palette.

A concrete look beyond the floor

If you like the mineral character of polished concrete but want it on walls, stairs or benchtops, a concrete-toned microcement is worth considering. Greys such as Aluminium, Plomo and Graphite give floors and walls a similar mood in a thin, joint-free layer. Because the colour is chosen from samples, walls, floors and joinery can be coordinated with one another or deliberately contrasted.

For ULA Café in Collingwood, created with SuiL Architects, microcement was used on curved walls, counters and thresholds, surfaces that go well beyond a floor slab.

Care and long-term performance

Both finishes need sensible care. For microcement, that means cleaning with a pH-neutral product, avoiding abrasive pads and harsh acids, using felt pads under furniture and maintaining the sealer over time. Correctly applied and sealed, it resists traffic, knocks, scratches and chemicals, which suits busy homes and commercial spaces alike.

Polished concrete also needs appropriate cleaning products and periodic maintenance, so ask your installer for care guidance specific to your floor. With microcement, take particular care during the first week while the surface continues to harden.