What Makes Forcrete Different?
Microcement has become one of the most talked-about finishes in contemporary Irish interiors. Seamless bathrooms. Calm kitchens. Continuous floors flowing from room to room.
But here’s the question we’re increasingly asked at Concrete Fair:
Are all microcements the same?
The short answer?
No — and the differences matter.
As approved installers of Forcrete, we’ve seen first-hand how much variation exists between systems — in composition, durability, waterproofing performance, and long-term appearance.
Let’s break it down.
Microcement (sometimes called microcement coating, microquartz, or decorative cement) is a thin, cement-based coating applied over existing substrates such as:
Concrete screeds
Tiles
Plasterboard
MDF
Existing floors and walls
It’s usually 2–3mm thick and creates a seamless, joint-free finish.
But while many brands look similar once installed, their formulation, testing, and technical performance can vary significantly.
Some microcements are described as “water resistant” rather than fully waterproof.
That’s a big difference — particularly in:
Wet rooms
Showers
Bathrooms
Commercial hospitality settings
Forcrete is part of a fully tested waterproof system when installed correctly. That means belt-and-braces performance — not just a decorative skim over hope and silicone.
Ireland’s climate (and heating systems like underfloor heating) means substrates move.
Lower-grade systems can be brittle. Over time, this can result in:
Hairline cracks
Delamination
Surface failure
Forcrete incorporates flexible resins within the system, improving elasticity and long-term durability — particularly important in new builds and renovations.
Not all microcements give the same aesthetic result.
Some appear:
Flat and lifeless
Overly industrial
Patchy in tone
Forcrete offers controlled texture depth and a refined, architectural finish — from soft, natural tones to bolder design statements. It delivers a calm, design-led look rather than a raw construction aesthetic.
Perfect for:
Contemporary homes
Architect-designed builds
High-end renovations
One of the biggest differences between brands is pigment stability.
Lower-cost systems can:
Fade under UV
Discolour in wet areas
Show inconsistent batching
Forcrete offers:
Carefully controlled pigment blending
Colour matching options (including RAL and premium paint palettes)
A curated architectural colour range
This matters in open-plan spaces where light changes throughout the day.
The sealer is just as important as the microcement itself.
Inferior sealers can:
Mark easily
Scratch
Stain from coffee, wine, oils
Forcrete uses high-performance protective sealers designed for both residential and commercial use — creating a surface that is:
Hard-wearing
Stain resistant
Easy to maintain
At Concrete Fair, we don’t install every microcement brand available.
We chose Forcrete because it aligns with our core values:
✔ Design-led
✔ Technically robust
✔ Fully system-based
✔ Suitable for residential & commercial
✔ Backed by training and support
We are currently focusing heavily on Forcrete floors and walls across Ireland — particularly for:
New builds
Self builds
Bathroom renovations
Kitchen renovations
Commercial spaces
It’s:
Which system is technically sound, properly installed, and backed by experience?
Microcement is not just a product — it’s a system.
And like polished concrete, the skill of the installer matters as much as the material itself.
If you’re building or renovating and considering a seamless finish instead of tiles, Forcrete offers:
Continuous floors & walls
100% waterproof systems
An array of contemporary colours
Suitable for underfloor heating
Minimal maintenance
Based in Ireland and working nationwide, Concrete Fair is proud to be installing Forcrete across residential and commercial projects.