Guide · East Sussex · BN1
Microcement over existing tiles — Brighton specification
For Brighton refurb clients, microcement over existing tiles 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 over existing tiles solves both — one continuous mineral surface at roughly a third of the stone-and-fixings price. 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
Microcement can be laid over sound existing tiles — mechanical bond primer, mesh-reinforced base coat, then the standard system. Failure risk depends entirely on the tile bond: any hollow or drummy tiles must be lifted or the finish will crack over the void.
Design detailing choices
The value of going over tiles is speed and cost — no strip-out, no waste to skip. The visible result is identical to a new-substrate installation once the finish is on. Best on kitchen and bathroom floors where lifting tile would require weeks and disruption.
System specification
On-site programme
- Percussion surveyPre-start
Every tile tapped — hollow tiles marked, lifted and re-bedded, or the floor levelled with self-smoothing compound.
- Primer + broadcastDay 1
Epoxy tile primer with broadcast quartz for mechanical bond.
- Base + meshDay 2
Fibreglass-reinforced base coat across the entire floor.
- Colour + sealerDay 3–5
Two colour coats + 3-coat polyurethane sealer.
Common install-time pitfalls
- ✕Skipping the drummy check — every hollow tile becomes a crack line in the microcement.
- ✕Wrong primer — standard PVA does not bond to glazed tile.
- ✕Ignoring the level rise on doorways — plane the door or plan the reveal.
- ✕Extending over a grout line without mesh — the joint telegraphs through in 6 months.
The local considerations for Brighton
over tiles in Brighton — Q&A
Other guides for Brighton
Microcement over existing tiles — other Sussex towns
Related products & services
The short version
Brighton over tiles in one line: mineral finish, single continuous surface, hand-applied by our own team, £85–£140 per m², 3–5 working days on site. Free survey with a written spec back inside 3 working days.