Microcement vs. epoxy is a choice between two thin coatings suited to different rooms. Epoxy is a low-cost resin floor coating, most often used at home in garages and basements over bare concrete. Microcement is a mineral coating troweled by hand over floors, walls, showers, and countertops.
Craftex is the exclusive US distributor of Cement Design microcement and does not sell epoxy, so we can clearly say where each one belongs, and where it does not.
Key Takeaways
- Installed epoxy costs about $3 to $12 per square foot, while installed microcement in Washington State costs $25 to $31 per square foot.
- Epoxy mainly coats concrete garage and basement floors, while microcement also covers walls, showers, and countertops over many substrates.
- Epoxy can yellow in sunlight unless it gets a UV-resistant topcoat.
- Microcement installation takes 3 to 14 days, and the surface is ready for use about 48 hours afterward.
- Durability depends on the job: solid epoxy resists heat, chemicals, and scratches, while microcement textures are graded by foot traffic.
What Is the Difference Between Microcement and Epoxy?
Epoxy flooring is a resin coating applied over a prepared concrete slab and is a common, low-cost choice for garages and basements. Decorative flakes or metallic pigments can be added to change the look.
Microcement is a cement-based coating made from eco-cement, minerals, water-based resins, and selected aggregates. Installers trowel it by hand in layers totaling 2 to 3 mm, over concrete, tile, wood, plasterboard, and other stable substrates. Because it is applied by hand, no two microcement floors look exactly alike.
Epoxy vs. Microcement Floor: How Do They Compare?
Epoxy wins on price, and microcement wins on where it can go. Here are the differences that matter most in a home.
Which Is More Durable?
Each is more durable for different jobs. Solid epoxy is most resistant to heat, chemicals, and scratches, making it a practical choice for a garage or workshop floor. Its weak points are sunlight without a UV-resistant topcoat and spilled soap or oil, which can make it dangerously slippery.
Microcement durability depends on the texture and the sealer. Of the four Craftex Eco-Cement textures, two are made for traffic: Transit, a medium grain for high foot traffic, and Rustic, a coarse grain for shopping centers, workplaces, and garages.
Pick the texture for the traffic before you pick it for the look. How long a microcement floor lasts depends on the system, installation quality, traffic, maintenance, and periodic resealing, and an installer can fill small chips and reseal the surface.
Which Works Better in Living Spaces?
In most homes, microcement works better because it does not stop at the floor. One finish can run from a kitchen floor up the backsplash, or across a bathroom floor and into the shower. It also goes over existing tile and works with underfloor heating, so the microcement vs. epoxy question often settles itself once walls or old tile are involved.
Indoor air is the other consideration. Some epoxy types release volatile organic compounds during application, and solvent-based epoxy is high in VOCs and flammable while it goes down.
Cement Design microcement products carry EC-1 Plus certification from GEV EMICODE, the scheme's very low emissions class.
Our microcement flooring page shows finished interior floors.
How Do Cost and Installation Compare?
Epoxy is cheaper, and there is no point pretending otherwise. Professional epoxy installation runs $3 to $12 per square foot, and much of that job is surface preparation and curing time.
Installed microcement in Washington State costs $25 to $31 per square foot, and prices in other states vary based on local labor rates.
Microcement installation takes 3 to 14 days, depending on project size, substrate condition, the number of layers, and the system installed. The surface is generally ready for use about 48 hours after installation and reaches full cure at around 28 days.
Our application process explains each layer.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid With Either Coating?
Most coating failures come from the slab or the specification, not the product. Check for these before either one goes down.
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Still weighing microcement vs. epoxy? Send your floor plan and a few photos through the Craftex contact page, and we will tell you whether microcement suits the room and which texture fits the traffic.
Read next: Where to Buy Microcement: A Buyer's Guide to Sourcing Quality Product
Frequently Asked Questions
Can microcement be used in a garage?
Yes, with the right texture. Rustic, the coarsest Eco-Cement texture, is designed for high-traffic areas including garages and industrial floors. Where chemical spills are frequent, solid epoxy's chemical resistance is the stronger argument.
Can microcement be used outdoors?
Yes. Outdoor surfaces need UV-resistant, weatherproof primers and sealers, and the substrate needs proper drainage so water does not collect. Selected Eco-Cement textures suit patios and other exterior areas, as our outdoor microcement projects show.
Does microcement need resealing?
Yes, every few years depending on traffic. Day to day, clean it with a pH-neutral cleaner and avoid abrasive pads and harsh chemicals, which wear down the sealer faster. Resealing on schedule protects the layers underneath.
Where can I see microcement before deciding?
Book a visit to the Craftex showroom at 5701 6th Ave S, Suite 207, in Seattle. If you are outside Washington, order a color sample instead, starting at $50 for a 12-by-12-inch panel, and check it under your own lighting.
Sources
- This Old House, How Much Does Epoxy Flooring Cost?, updated March 2026.
