Guide · East Sussex · BN7
Lewes Microcement over existing tiles — cost, spec and build programme
Refurb briefs in Lewes for microcement over existing tiles typically arrive at the point the client has already ruled out tile. The reason is almost always the same — one of cliffe industrial estate resin refits sit alongside period-home kitchen work in the nevill and wallands, a continuous cliffe industrial estate resin refits sit alongside period-home kitchen work in the nevill and wallands — and microcement over existing tiles is the finish that answers it. The Lewes catchment we work across covers BN7, BN8 — reached via the A27 / A26, 15 min from brighton via the a27. Nearby coverage includes Ringmer (2 mi), Kingston near Lewes (2 mi), Firle (5 mi). Site conditions matter here: chalk substrate — dry, stable, easy to prime. That shapes the primer and sealer specification below, not just the visible finish.
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.
What we're actually installing
The local considerations for Lewes
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.
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.
Common questions from Lewes clients
Other guides for Lewes
Microcement over existing tiles — other Sussex towns
Related products & services
The short version
Lewes 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.