Updated November 2025

Almost three decades ago, we brought X-Bond Microcement to the market as a surface alternative to concrete with all the same visual advantages, but with even more added benefits. Follow along as we go through the differences between microcement and concrete, and why the former is fast becoming Australia’s top choice — trending in residential and commercial projects from the country’s top designers and architects.

But first, what is microcement? Essentially, it’s a hand-applied overlay system made from cement (or stone), liquid polymer, and colour pigments; whereas concrete is a building material created from a mixture of cement, water, sand, and rock that is poured in slabs using machinery. While they can look similar, the key comparisons lie in the application — let’s dive deeper.

Remodel without removal

Due to its advanced adhesion and flexibility properties, microcement can be installed over a wide range of existing substrates — including timber, tiles, plaster, brick, ply, plaster, laminate and concrete. This system saves time and costs on remodel projects, while also decreasing environmental waste by preventing the existing materials from going to landfill.

Concrete cannot be installed over existing materials. Rather, the slab needs to be poured onto a base of compacted soil, gravel, or formwork. This process involves more labour, equipment, and drying time, and is generally not suitable for renovations where height restrictions or existing finishes are in place. Unlike microcement, which is applied at 2-3mm over tiles, screed, or other stable substrates, concrete installation is a structural process rather than a surface application.

In short: concrete builds the structure; microcement refines its surface — and while they share a cement base, they serve very different roles in construction and design.

A before and after transformation, where X-Bond was installed over existing floor and wall tiles.

Seamlessly hand-applied

The added bonus to the X-Bond overlay system is no mess or machines. Microcement is hand-trowelled by trained installers as opposed to being applied with machinery. So, installing X-Bond means less debris and minimal equipment.

There’s also no need for expansion joints or grout lines. X-Bond is installed as a continuous covering for a seamless, uniform look. This is great news if you’re looking to cover an entire room from floor to ceiling, or are sick of scrubbing your shower tiles and want something easier to maintain.

Minimal thickness

Microcement is a lot thinner than concrete, but has the same structural integrity and resistance to cracks (see below!).

As X-Bond is hand applied at 2-3mm thick, it’s an easier and faster way to cover tricky surfaces when compared to concrete. We’ve installed X-Bond microcement on: floors, walls, ceilings, pools, stairs, coffee tables, basins, desks, and joinery.

Durability

We mentioned Liquid Membrane above — and it really is X-Bond’s best friend. It forms a continuous waterproofing barrier, while also boasting exceptional adhesion and anti-fracture benefits. This makes the microcement just as durable and practical as concrete.

Installed with Liquid Membrane, you can create an X-Bond pool (from spas to olympic sized), shower, sauna, or basin. It can also solve problems with stabilising wooden or cracked substrates, and waterproofing flat roofs or anhydrite screeds/subfloors.

Versatile finishes and colours

Microcement comes in a wide range of finishes and colours. This means that, despite the difference in composition and application, you can still achieve the concrete look that you love — or, you can do something totally different and unique. Take your pick from four textures, from the smooth hand-trowelled Luma finish to the raw Natural Concrete option.

Within each texture family, there are plenty of different shades. You can even create your very own custom colour, if you really want to make your project unique.

Looking for more design inspiration? Read our article on the Top Material Trends for 2025.

There are many reasons why microcement is becoming a popular concrete alternative. While there’s nothing wrong with the real thing, an overlay system might be a better fit if you’re looking to remodel or are seeking greater versatility. Want to find out if X-Bond Microcement is the right surface for you? Let us know more about your project and one of the Alternative Surfaces experts will get in touch.

Click here to go back: What Is Microcement?

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlike tiles, stone, or concrete, microcement is applied thinly over existing surfaces without joints or grout. This saves time and cost in some cases.
It also offers long-term value through low maintenance and design flexibility across floors, walls, joinery and furniture.
If you’re based in Melbourne or the Mornington Peninsula, get in touch with our team here and we can organise a site visit + provide a free quote.
At Alt., we only trust X-Bond as our microcement system of choice. Known for its advanced latex polymer formula, X-Bond delivers superior molecular bonding and exceptional adhesion to a wide range of substrates. It’s trusted for both residential and commercial applications due to its durability and proven performance over more than 25 years — with CodeMark certification for wet areas, and no recorded cases of de-lamination. X-Bond consistently sets the benchmark for quality and reliability in the Australian microcement market.

Microcement vs. Concrete: What’s the Difference?