Choose the finish for each kitchen surface
A kitchen can have a continuous mineral appearance without using the same finishing product everywhere. Microfinishing is the wall finish for splashbacks and decorative walls. Microtraffic is the floor finish for areas subject to footfall. Worktops need a project-specific specification that accounts for their substrate and everyday use. Tell us which surfaces you want to coat rather than ordering a kitchen as one undifferentiated area.
Microcement is applied as a thin coating over a prepared existing surface. On sound tiles, plaster or concrete, the documented preparation allows the original substrate to remain. The absence of grout lines changes the appearance of the room, especially where a splashback meets a wall or an island. It does not remove the need for sound construction, careful detailing or the right protective sealer.
Build-up for kitchen walls and floors
The standard cement-based sequence begins with substrate preparation and the specified KC Primer. Apply Microbase as the structural base: three coats on walls and floors, maximum 1 mm per coat, with 50 g fibreglass mesh embedded in the fresh base coat and mandatory on floors. The finish follows the surface: two coats of Microfinishing on walls and splashbacks, or two coats of Microtraffic on the floor.
The microcements are mixed with the documented resin and pigment requirements. Complete the standard system with two-component PU Varnish. The finished surface is water-resistant once sealed, not waterproof. Each stage serves a different role: bond, base, finish and protection. Do not leave out a stage because an existing tile looks smooth or a wall is less exposed to wear. Use the application guide alongside the product data sheets.
Preparation: look beneath the desired finish
Tiles must be sound and well fixed, and glossy surfaces require the preparation set out in the method. Clean and degrease the substrate, repair cracks and resolve loose material before priming. Kitchen residues should not be left beneath the coating. A clean-looking surface is not necessarily a prepared one, so explain its condition and previous finish when requesting a specification.
For a worktop, send the substrate details and photographs before choosing the build-up. Include the surfaces around the sink, edges and returns as well as the main horizontal top. The coating follows the substrate: unstable or flexible construction needs assessment rather than an assumption that the decorative finish will stiffen it. Existing movement joints and substrate limitations still matter when the visual aim is continuity.
Measure walls, splashbacks, worktops and floors separately
Measure in metres, multiplying length by width for the floor and width by height for each wall or splashback. Add the areas that will use the same finishing system. Keep worktops and detailed returns in their own notes so their preparation can be considered separately. A kitchen floor area does not include the wall behind the units, the island sides or a coated worktop.
Microbase consumption is ≈2.0 kg/m² in total for the 3 coats — one 20 kg bucket per 10 m² on walls and floors, with mesh mandatory on floors. Microfinishing uses 0.5 kg/m² for two coats on walls only. Microtraffic uses 0.95 kg/m² for two coats. These figures describe the named products, not an entire kitchen kit including primer and sealer. Use the kit calculator with the measured area, then check the kit range and confirm any mixed-surface specification before ordering.
Colour continuity without confusing the ranges
The cement-based systems share 40 standard colours. Pure Lime has its own separate 33-colour palette. A colour decision should stay with the selected system rather than assuming that every product offers the combined range. Use the colours page to distinguish the palettes, and order standard Colour Samples to assess a shade beside your existing units, floor and fixtures.
The sealer sets the final sheen, while hand application contributes to the surface character. Choosing a sample is therefore part of specifying the finish, not a substitute for choosing the correct wall or floor product. For the countertop-specific discussion, including heat and care, read the microcement kitchen worktops guide.
Worktop heat, cleaning and protective care
A sealed microcement worktop is heat-resistant in normal kitchen use, not heatproof. Use a trivet under hot pans rather than putting them directly on the finish. The protective sealer is part of the surface and should not be treated like an unprotected mineral slab. The kitchen guide discusses the distinction between the coating and its protective layer; confirm the specification before ordering worktop materials.
Use a soft cloth and a mild, neutral cleaner for everyday care. Avoid abrasive pads and aggressive chemicals that can affect the sealer. Floors and worktops benefit from a periodic sealer refresh according to wear. Follow the product curing instructions before use, and do not invent a walk-on or worktop-use deadline from the apparent dryness of a coat. KCBerry provides material guidance, while the person applying the system controls the preparation and coat sequence.