Microcement vs Epoxy
Epoxy resin is heavy-duty industrial flooring. Microcement is a residential decorative finish — softer, warmer and far easier to repair.
Epoxy is best for garages, warehouses and labs. It's chemically resistant but visually plastic and difficult to repair.
Microcement looks like natural stone or polished plaster, feels warmer underfoot, and accepts colour pigments more naturally.
Sealing makes microcement waterproof and abrasion-resistant for home and hospitality — without the industrial look of epoxy.
At a glance
| Microcement | Epoxy resin | |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Cement and polymer mineral coating | Two-component synthetic resin |
| Appearance | Matte mineral, hand-trowelled variation | Uniform, often high-gloss and plastic-looking |
| Over existing substrate | Yes — tile, screed, concrete or plaster | Yes, on prepared concrete; poor over tile |
| Walls and ceilings | Yes — the same system works vertically | Rarely — a floor product in practice |
| UV stability | UV-stable finishes available for outdoor use | Most epoxies yellow under UV |
| Repairability | Can be re-coated and re-sealed locally | Difficult to patch invisibly |
| Underfoot feel | Warmer, mineral, matte | Hard, cold, industrial |
| Best use | Homes, hospitality, retail and offices | Garages, workshops, warehouses and labs |
Where epoxy still wins
We supply microcement, but it is not the right answer everywhere. These are the cases where we would point you elsewhere.
- Garages and workshops where hot tyres, dropped tools and oil spills are routine.
- Warehouse and plant floors that need to be hosed down, line-marked and driven on.
- Heavy vehicle traffic and point loading beyond what a decorative 2–3 mm coating is designed to take.
- Aggressive chemical exposure — laboratories, processing areas and workshops where solvents and acids are handled.
What it costs in Ireland
Both systems are priced by area and by the amount of preparation the substrate needs. Microcement supply-only runs roughly €35–€70/m²; epoxy varies widely with build thickness and the grade of resin specified.
Our complete kits are €516.60 for 10 m², €867.15 for 20 m² and €1,186.95 for 30 m², all inclusive of 23% VAT. The relevant question is usually not price but purpose: epoxy is industrial flooring, microcement is a residential and hospitality finish that also works on walls, ceilings and worktops. Our full price list is on the pricing page.