Microcement installation occupies a relatively small part of a construction programme, but the conditions created by the trades working before and after it can have a significant influence on the finished surface.
For main contractors and site managers, the key is to treat microcement as a specialist finishing package rather than simply another floor or wall covering. Substrate condition, sequencing, access, environmental conditions and protection all need to be considered before the specialist applicators arrive on site.
The Viero OLTRE Microcement System can be specified across floors, walls, bathrooms, staircases and selected architectural elements, but every application relies on an appropriate and stable substrate.
Early coordination between the contractor, design team and Viero UK's installation team can therefore prevent avoidable programme disruption later in the project.
What Should Be Checked Before Microcement Installation?
The substrate is one of the first considerations.
Microcement has a relatively thin build-up and should not be expected to compensate for significant irregularities, movement or defects within the underlying construction. The surface presented for installation therefore needs to be appropriate for the specified system.
Before installation, consideration should be given to:
- Substrate type and condition
- Stability of the underlying construction
- Existing cracks or defects
- Surface flatness and levels
- Moisture condition
- Existing coatings or coverings
- Junctions between different substrates
- Movement within the underlying construction
- Underfloor heating where present
- Waterproofing requirements
- Interfaces with thresholds, drainage and adjoining finishes
Identifying these issues early gives the project team time to determine whether additional preparation is required rather than discovering problems once the decorative finishing programme has begun.
Why Does Substrate Stability Matter?
A finished microcement surface follows the substrate beneath it. If the underlying construction is unstable or subject to inappropriate movement, this can affect the decorative system above.
This is particularly important where several construction types meet within the same area.
A refurbishment, for example, might include existing screed alongside new construction, repaired areas or other substrates. Stairs, bathrooms and bespoke joinery introduce further interfaces that need to be considered individually.
Existing cracks and structural or movement joints also need to be identified rather than simply concealed beneath the new finish.
The appropriate treatment depends on the project construction and specified build-up, which is why these details should be reviewed before installation rather than addressed with a generic site solution.
Coordinate Finished Levels Early
Finished floor levels are another important consideration for contractors.
Although microcement has a relatively thin build-up, the complete system still needs to be incorporated into the setting-out of adjoining finishes.
Thresholds, door clearances, skirting details, stair nosings, drainage channels and transitions to materials such as timber, stone or carpet should therefore be coordinated before installation.
Bathrooms require particular attention. Falls, drainage positions, shower details and interfaces with sanitaryware all need to be established within the underlying construction rather than relying on the decorative microcement coats to resolve them later.
The same applies to staircases. Tread and riser dimensions, edge details and junctions with surrounding floors should form part of the construction planning before the finishing package begins.
Moisture and Underfloor Heating Need to Be Addressed Beforehand
Substrate moisture needs to be appropriate for the specified microcement system before application begins.
Rather than relying on assumptions about how long a screed has been installed, contractors should ensure the relevant substrate requirements have been satisfied and any necessary assessment has taken place before handing the area over for specialist finishing.
Underfloor heating also needs to be identified during the planning stage.
Viero OLTRE is compatible with appropriately designed underfloor heating systems, but the substrate, heating system and installation programme need to be coordinated correctly. The applicable commissioning and operating requirements should be established for the particular project rather than leaving the heating system to be adjusted during decorative application.
This is particularly relevant on larger residential developments, hotels and commercial interiors where different areas may reach finishing stage at different points in the programme.
When Should Microcement Be Programmed?
Trade sequencing is one of the most important practical considerations on a microcement project.
Because the final decorative and protective coats become visible finished surfaces, installation should take place when the area can be properly controlled. Activities generating significant dust, debris or risk of accidental damage should be planned accordingly.
Ideally, the programme should allow the specialist installation team suitable access to complete each stage without unnecessary interference from surrounding trades.
Before the microcement package begins, contractors should consider whether:
- Dust-generating works have been completed in the immediate area
- Substrates are ready for specialist preparation
- Required drainage and falls have been formed
- Relevant first-fix work is complete
- Access can be controlled during application
- Suitable environmental conditions can be maintained
- Subsequent trades understand that a finished decorative surface will be present
- Adequate time has been allocated for the complete system and its required drying or curing stages
This coordination is particularly valuable on fast-moving fit-outs where several finishing trades may otherwise be competing for the same area.
Plan Junctions Before the Applicators Arrive
Some of the most visible details in a microcement installation occur where it meets another material.
Door thresholds, floor transitions, shower screens, drainage channels, skirtings, cabinetry and metal trims can all influence the final appearance.
These junctions are much easier to resolve when they have been considered during design development and setting out.
For example, if a designer intends microcement to continue from a bathroom floor onto the walls and across a vanity, the contractor needs to understand how the underlying elements relate to one another before the decorative system begins.
The same principle applies in commercial interiors where microcement may move between floors, stairs, reception desks or other architectural features.
Early coordination allows these details to appear intentional rather than becoming compromises resolved during the finishing stage.
Wet Areas Require the Complete System
Where OLTRE is specified for bathrooms, showers or other appropriate wet areas, the OLTRE Barrier stage incorporates a waterproofing skim coat and mesh that creates the waterproof layer required within the complete microcement build-up.
Contractors should therefore coordinate the microcement package with drainage, falls, sanitaryware, shower screens, penetrations and adjoining finishes before installation starts.
This is particularly important where different contractors are responsible for the substrate, plumbing, waterproofing, specialist finishes and final bathroom installation.
Clear responsibility for each stage helps prevent later trades from inadvertently compromising completed work.
Protecting the Finished Microcement
Completion of the decorative surface does not necessarily mean the surrounding construction work is finished.
On many projects, electricians, plumbers, joiners and other trades will still require access for second-fix work. Protecting the completed microcement therefore needs to be incorporated into the site programme.
The required curing period and protection method should be confirmed with the specialist installation team rather than assuming the surface can immediately accept normal site traffic.
Protection also needs to be suitable for the finished system and installed without introducing contamination, trapped moisture or physical damage.
On larger projects, a phased handover can be useful so that completed areas are protected and controlled while work continues elsewhere.
What Information Should Contractors Provide Before Installation?
Good information at the beginning of the process makes specialist installation easier to programme accurately.
Useful information includes drawings showing the extent of the microcement, substrate specifications, floor build-ups, underfloor heating details, wet-area information and details of interfaces with adjoining materials.
For more complex schemes, coordination should begin well before the proposed installation date.
This is especially important for projects incorporating microcement across several different applications, for example, a hotel with reception flooring, guest bathrooms and staircases, or a residential project where the finish continues between floors, walls and bespoke features.
Providing this information early allows technical questions to be resolved while there is still sufficient time to make changes to the underlying construction.
Working with Viero UK on Site
Viero UK provides more than the decorative material itself. Our team works alongside architects, interior designers, contractors and developers to help coordinate the Viero OLTRE Microcement System with the wider project.
Our in-house, CSCS-carded artisans undertake professional microcement installation across residential and commercial projects, including larger schemes exceeding 1,000m².
For contractors, involving the specialist installation team early provides an opportunity to review substrates, interfaces, sequencing and project requirements before the microcement package reaches site.
This collaborative approach is particularly valuable on complex refurbishments and commercial fit-outs where the specialist finish needs to integrate with multiple other trades.
Professional Specification & Installation
Viero UK provides technical specification support and professional OLTRE installation for projects throughout London, across the UK and internationally.
We work with contractors and wider design teams to establish the required system, review relevant project details and coordinate the finish with surrounding materials and construction. Handcrafted samples and bespoke colour matching can also be developed with the architect or interior designer where required.
Our in-house installation team then carries the agreed finish through to site, providing a direct connection between the specified Viero system and its professional application.
If you have an upcoming microcement project, call 0870 609 2827 or get in touch with Viero UK to discuss the project before installation begins.
Trade Professionals
Professional decorators and specialist applicators purchasing materials for their own installations can visit the Viero UK online shop to explore the complete OLTRE Microcement System, including preparation, decorative and protective products.