Guide · East Sussex · BN1
Microcement basement floors — Brighton specification
Most of our microcement basement floors enquiries in Brighton come through interior designers or homeowners already halfway into a phased refurbishment. The brief is nearly always continuity — no tile joints, no threshold trims, one poured surface reading across the space. The Brighton catchment we work across covers BN1, BN2 — reached via the A23 London Road, 5 min from our brighton workshop via the a23. Nearby coverage includes Hove (2 mi), Rottingdean (3 mi), Saltdean (4 mi). Site conditions matter here: salt-heavy coastal air demands UV-stable polyaspartic top-coats. That shapes the primer and sealer specification below, not just the visible finish.
Substrate and preparation
Basement conversions carry the highest failure risk for any floor finish because of upward moisture pressure. Microcement over a properly tanked and drained basement floor is fine; over a damp slab it will lift within a year. The substrate diagnosis matters more than the finish specification.
Design detailing choices
Basements benefit from a lighter microcement tone than the upstairs floor — bounces light into low-ceiling spaces. Continue the colour up onto the plinth as a coved skirting for a smaller, more designed feel.
The spec sheet
How the install actually runs
- Moisture testPre-start
Digital hygrometer readings across the slab — must be below 75% RH before any finish work.
- DPM if requiredDay 1–2
Two-part epoxy DPM applied where moisture exceeds threshold. 24-hour cure between coats.
- Base coatDay 3
Reinforced base coat with fibreglass mesh.
- Colour + sealerDay 4–7
Colour coats, then 3-coat polyurethane sealer.
What to watch for on quote comparison
- ✕Applying without a moisture test — the finish debonds when moisture cycles.
- ✕Missing DPM on a marginal slab — hydrostatic pressure lifts the finish.
- ✕Ignoring the basement tanking guarantee — voids it and passes liability to the finish.
- ✕Wet-cured sealer trapping moisture — use a solvent-free polyurethane, not wax.
What's specific about Brighton for this brief
Brighton — frequently asked
Other guides for Brighton
Microcement basement floors — other Sussex towns
Related products & services
The short version
The short answer for Brighton: basement floors is a designed alternative to tile-and-grout, priced at £95–£170 per m², installed in about 3–5 working days, and carries a 10-year materials-and-workmanship warranty when we install it ourselves.