Guide · East Sussex · BN3
Microcement basement floors — Hove specification
For Hove refurb clients, microcement basement floors sits at the intersection of two things they've usually already tried: the tile-and-grout route (grout-line fatigue) and full-slab stone (cost). microcement basement floors solves both — one continuous mineral surface at roughly a third of the stone-and-fixings price. The Hove catchment we work across covers BN3 — reached via the A259 Kingsway, 3 min from our workshop along the a259 seafront. Nearby coverage includes Brighton (2 mi), Portslade (2 mi), Shoreham-by-Sea (5 mi). Site conditions matter here: salt-laden onshore wind — sealer specification matters. That shapes the primer and sealer specification below, not just the visible finish.
System specification
What the finish sits on
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.
What's specific about Hove for this brief
On-site programme
- 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.
Common install-time pitfalls
- ✕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.
Common questions from Hove clients
Other guides for Hove
Microcement basement floors — other Sussex towns
Related products & services
The short version
Hove basement floors in one line: mineral finish, single continuous surface, hand-applied by our own team, £95–£170 per m², 3–5 working days on site. Free survey with a written spec back inside 3 working days.