Concrete Finishes
Microcement & Concrete Finishes
A seamless, hand-troweled concrete look for floors, walls, showers, and countertops — applied in thin layers over what you already have, no demolition required. Anchored by Concretta from Meoded.
Microcement is a thin cement-and-polymer coating — typically around 2–3mm — troweled by hand over existing surfaces to create a continuous, seamless concrete look without grout lines or joints. Concretta bonds directly to sound existing tile and over a primer on new construction, so it goes onto floors, walls and countertops without the demolition, weight, or downtime of poured concrete. Properly sealed, it stands up to foot traffic and wet areas alike. At Arizona Paint Supply, Concretta from Meoded is one of our three most-requested specialty finishes, alongside lime wash and Moroccan Clay, and our staff can walk you through the full system before you start.
The Basics
What microcement is — and isn’t
Microcement (also called micro-topping or micro-screed) is a polymer-modified cement coating applied in thin, troweled layers. Total build is usually about 2–3mm — thin enough to go over existing floors, walls, and tile without raising heights or adding meaningful weight.
It is not poured concrete, and it is not epoxy. Poured concrete is a structural slab measured in inches; microcement is a surface finish measured in millimeters that bonds to a substrate you already have. Epoxy is a self-leveling resin that is poured and flows flat, typically with a glossy, plastic-looking finish; microcement is hand-applied with a trowel, leaving the subtle movement and matte, mineral character of real concrete. Microcement’s cement-polymer makeup also gives it flexibility that resists hairline cracking.
- Thin overlay (~2–3mm), not a structural slab
- Hand-troweled for natural movement, not poured flat like epoxy
- Bonds over existing floors, walls, tile, and countertops
- Matte, mineral, true-concrete look — no grout lines or seams
The System
How a microcement finish is built
Microcement is a layered system, and the prep and the sealer matter as much as the cement. The surface is cleaned and stabilized. New construction gets a primer first; Concretta goes directly over sound existing tile without one. On floors and high-stress areas a fiberglass mesh guards against cracking.
Base, or body, coats go on next to build the foundation and are sanded smooth between passes. Finishing coats follow to set the final color and texture. The system is then sealed — the sealer is what delivers water, stain, and abrasion resistance, so it is not optional. Concretta from Meoded is built around this approach: roughly 3mm in two coats, paired with PlasterGuard and PlasterSeal Plus sealers depending on whether you’re finishing walls or floors.
- Prep & stabilize the substrate
- Primer on new construction; none needed over tile
- Reinforcing mesh on floors
- Base/body coats, sanded between layers
- Finishing coats for color and texture
- Sealer for water, stain, and wear resistance
Wet Areas
Showers, bathrooms, and water resistance
One of microcement’s biggest draws is the seamless wet-area look — a shower or bathroom with no tile grid and no grout lines to scrub. Concretta in particular is formulated as a water-resistant lime-and-cement plaster intended for showers, tub surrounds, backsplashes, and countertops.
Water resistance comes from the sealer system, not the cement alone. In a shower, the finish is paired with the appropriate sealer build and silicone caulking at change-of-plane joints. Done correctly — with proper substrate prep, waterproofing where required, and the full sealer schedule — microcement performs in wet areas while keeping that continuous, modern surface.
- Seamless showers and tub surrounds with no grout lines
- Concretta is formulated for wet and humid areas
- Water resistance depends on the correct sealer system
- Silicone at joints; waterproofing where the build requires it
Color & Finish
Color, texture, and the desert-contemporary look
Microcement is tintable, so the palette runs well beyond raw gray — warm sands, greiges, taupes, soft whites, and deeper charcoals are all on the table. The finish is typically matte with subtle hand-troweled movement. It suits the warm, minimal interiors common here.
Concretta is 0-VOC and solvent-free, with a matte, lightly textured surface. Because the look is continuous from floor to wall to vanity, it is a common choice for indoor-outdoor living in modern Phoenix and Scottsdale homes.
- Tintable — sands, greiges, whites, charcoals, custom colors
- Matte finish with natural troweled movement
- 0-VOC and solvent-free (Concretta)
- Suits desert-contemporary and warm-minimalist design
Living With It
Durability and maintenance
A well-installed, well-sealed microcement surface is built to handle daily life — foot traffic, dropped utensils, and spills — and the cement-polymer body resists chipping and cracking better than rigid finishes. The sealer carries the wear, so the maintenance story is mostly about the sealer.
Routine care is simple: clean with a pH-neutral cleaner and a soft cloth or mop, and avoid harsh abrasives that attack the topcoat. Plan to refresh the sealer periodically — commonly every few years, sooner on hard-working floors and showers, longer on low-traffic walls — to keep the water and stain resistance intact. Reseal on schedule and a microcement finish stays looking right for many years.
- Resists chips and cracks; sealer takes the wear
- Clean with pH-neutral cleaners and soft cloths
- Refresh sealer periodically (more often on floors/showers)
- Long service life when maintained
At a glance
- Type
- Cement/polymer microcement (thin overlay)
- Typical thickness
- ~2–3mm total
- Main product
- Concretta by Meoded
- Application
- Hand-troweled, layered (primer on new construction / body / finish / seal)
- Reinforcement
- Fiberglass mesh on floors & high-stress areas
- Substrates
- Concrete, tile, drywall, countertops, stairs
- Finish
- Matte, lightly textured, seamless
- VOC
- Concretta is 0-VOC / solvent-free
- Sealers
- PlasterGuard (walls) / PlasterSeal Plus (floors)
- Maintenance
- pH-neutral cleaning; periodic resealing
Typical uses: Floors — seamless concrete-look living areas over existing slab or tile · Walls & ceilings — continuous feature walls and warm-minimalist interiors · Showers & tub surrounds — grout-free wet areas with the right sealer system · Countertops & backsplashes — monolithic concrete-look surfaces · Stairs — seamless treads and risers that match adjoining floors · Indoor-outdoor transitions — consistent finish for desert-contemporary spaces
Questions we hear at the counter
Can microcement go over my existing tile or floor?
Yes — that’s a core advantage. Microcement is a thin overlay (~2–3mm) that bonds directly to sound existing tile, so most projects skip demolition. New construction gets a primer first. The substrate must be sound and properly prepped, and tile grout lines are addressed during prep so they don’t telegraph through.
Is microcement waterproof enough for a shower?
Microcement is well suited to showers and bathrooms when the full system is done right. Water resistance comes from the sealer schedule, not the cement alone, plus proper substrate prep, waterproofing where required, and silicone at the joints. Concretta is specifically formulated as a water-resistant plaster for wet and humid areas.
How is microcement different from epoxy?
Epoxy is a self-leveling resin that’s poured and flows flat, usually with a glossy, plastic look, and it’s prized for chemical and heavy-load resistance. Microcement is hand-troweled cement applied in thin layers with a matte, natural concrete character and more flexibility to resist hairline cracking. They’re different materials for different looks and uses.
Is it the same as polished or poured concrete?
No. Poured concrete is a structural slab measured in inches and adds significant weight and downtime. Microcement is a surface finish measured in millimeters that bonds to surfaces you already have — same concrete look, far less demolition and load.
What colors does microcement come in?
It’s tintable well beyond gray — warm sands, greiges, taupes, soft whites, and deep charcoals, plus custom tints. The finish is matte with subtle troweled movement, which is why it works so well in Arizona desert-contemporary and warm-minimalist interiors.
How durable is it, and how do I maintain it?
Sealed microcement handles foot traffic, spills, and everyday knocks, and resists chipping and cracking. Clean it with pH-neutral cleaners and soft cloths, avoid harsh abrasives, and refresh the sealer periodically — sooner on busy floors and showers, longer on low-traffic walls — to keep water and stain resistance intact.
Do I need a primer and sealer, or just the cement?
Microcement is a complete system. New construction gets a primer (Concretta needs none over sound tile), floors get mesh for crack resistance, and the sealer delivers the water, stain, and abrasion resistance, so it is never optional. Concretta pairs with PlasterGuard for walls and PlasterSeal Plus for floors. Our staff can spec the right system for your surface.
Made for the Valley
Arizona Paint Supply stocks and supports microcement and concrete finishes — led by Concretta from Meoded — at our North Scottsdale store. Whether you’re finishing a Scottsdale shower, a Phoenix great-room floor, or a desert-contemporary kitchen, our team can spec the full primer, body, and sealer system and talk through prep before you buy.
Concrete finishes & microcement
Ask about Concretta and related concrete-look finishes — including Vega and Golmex — for floors, walls, showers, and countertops. Call or visit for stock and color help.