Guide
Microcement over tile: skip the demolition
Cover it, don't tear it out.
Ripping out tile is the messy, expensive, disruptive part of most bathroom and floor renovations. Because microcement is a thin coating that bonds to almost any sound surface, it can go straight over existing tile — grout lines and all — to create one continuous, seamless finish. The result looks nothing like tile, and you never picked up a demolition hammer.
How it goes over tile
The tile is cleaned and checked for anything loose or hollow. Grout lines and any low spots are filled and levelled so nothing telegraphs through, then the surface is primed. From there it's the normal microcement process — base coats, often over a reinforcing mesh, then the fine finish coats, sanded and sealed. The old tile disappears entirely under a few millimetres of seamless mineral surface.
When it's the right call
- The existing tile is sound, well-bonded and not badly cracked
- You want to avoid demolition, dust and disposal
- You'd like to keep floor levels and door heights roughly as they are
- You want a seamless, grout-free look in place of the tile
- You're updating a bathroom, kitchen, floor or splashback
What to check first
The key is what's under the tile. Microcement is only as stable as the surface it bonds to, so loose, drummy or cracked tiles need attention first, and any movement or damp issue in the substrate has to be resolved — otherwise it can show through the new finish. In a wet area, the waterproofing is handled as a system before the microcement goes on. This is exactly what a site visit is for: we check the tile and the substrate and tell you honestly whether it's a good candidate.