Guide · East Sussex · BN7
Lewes Microcement staircases and risers: what actually goes on the wall
Refurb briefs in Lewes for microcement staircases and risers 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 staircases and risers 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
- Structural prepDay 1
Timber staircase screw-and-glued; noses radiused; substrate dust-free and primed.
- Base and meshDay 2
Reinforced base coat with fibreglass mesh at every junction.
- ColourDay 3–4
Two 1 mm colour coats, hand-trowelled — the trickiest surface in the whole system to trowel evenly.
- Sealer + nosingDay 5–6
3 coats floor-grade polyurethane; anti-slip aggregate broadcast on the nosing.
What we're actually installing
Working in Lewes
Substrate and preparation
A microcement staircase covers treads, risers and stringers in one continuous finish. The substrate must be squeak-free — moving timber under a rigid mineral finish is what causes crack lines at the nose. Screw-and-glue the treads and risers, dust off, then a proprietary bonding primer.
How to make it read as designed, not applied
A single-colour staircase from tread to stringer reads as sculpted rather than assembled. Contrast the wall paint 2 tones lighter than the microcement so the stair holds the eye. A brass or oak handrail against a warm-grey microcement stair is a signature detail.
What to watch for on quote comparison
- ✕Ignoring squeak — the crack line appears the first month.
- ✕Sharp 90° tread nose — chips on first use; radius 5 mm minimum.
- ✕Missing anti-slip broadcast on the nose — the sealer alone is a slip hazard.
- ✕Standard 3-coat sealer without floor-grade PU — wears through in a year on a busy stair.
- ✕Attempting a stair as a first-time DIY — the failure rate is close to 100%.
Common questions from Lewes clients
Other guides for Lewes
Microcement staircases and risers — other Sussex towns
Related products & services
The short version
For staircases in Lewes: expect a £2,800–£6,500 per installation budget, a build programme of about 3–5 working days on site, and a survey-to-install window of 4–6 weeks. The finish is one continuous mineral surface — no joints, no trims, no visible transitions.