Guide · East Sussex · BN1
Brighton Microcement with underfloor heating — cost, spec and build programme
For new-build microcement with underfloor heating in Brighton, the questions are about programme integration and screed compatibility — the visual finish is confirmed at sample stage. That's why the spec sheet below matters more than the aesthetic on this brief. 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.
What's specific about Brighton for this brief
What the finish sits on
Microcement is one of the most UFH-compatible floor finishes on the market — 2 mm thickness gives fast thermal response and low resistance (0.02 m²K/W). But the screed must be commissioned to a slow heat-up schedule first, cracks resin-injected, and expansion joints honoured through the finish.
How to make it read as designed, not applied
A continuous microcement floor across a large open plan with UFH is the single most requested combination in modern-build interior design. Colour the microcement 1–2 shades darker than the joinery for the room to read as bright without going stark; sealer matt for domestic, satin for hospitality.
What we're actually installing
On-site programme
- Screed commissioningWeek 1–4
UFH commissioned to a manufacturer schedule — typically a slow ramp to 55°C then back to ambient. Cannot be skipped.
- Substrate prepDay 1–2
Cracks resin-injected, screed skimmed flat to SR2, moisture tested (below 75% RH).
- Base coat + meshDay 3
Fibreglass mesh embedded in reinforced base coat, honouring the substrate joints.
- Colour coatsDay 4–5
Two 1 mm colour coats, hand-trowelled.
- SealerDay 6–7
3 coats polyurethane floor sealer. UFH re-commissioned at 1°C per day increment after 7 days.
What to watch for on quote comparison
- ✕Firing the UFH before microcement cure — the finish crazes.
- ✕Missing substrate expansion joints — cracks telegraph through.
- ✕High-conductivity floor with a rug — creates a stress line at the rug edge.
- ✕Ambient-only cure — UFH schedules matter for both the screed and the microcement.
ufh-ready floors in Brighton — Q&A
Other guides for Brighton
Microcement with underfloor heating — other Sussex towns
Related products & services
The short version
For ufh-ready floors in Brighton: expect a £90–£160 per m² budget, a build programme of about 6–10 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.