Microcement Stairs
Microcement turns a staircase into one continuous surface: treads, risers and, if you want, the stringer and landing in the same colour. Stairs take more wear than a floor and the geometry is unforgiving, so the preparation, nosing detail and slip resistance decide whether the finish lasts.
Where this works
- Timber staircases in houses and extensions
- Concrete stairs in new builds and basements
- Tiled steps being refreshed without removal
- Landings carried on in the same finish
- Shop, office and hospitality stairs
How we install it
- 1Survey the stair
We check whether the stair is timber, concrete or tiled, how much it flexes and how it is used. Floating or cantilevered stairs need structural advice before any coating.
- 2Stabilise the substrate
Timber treads and risers get rigid cement board screwed and glued, with mesh-taped joints. Concrete is moisture tested, filled and primed. Tiles are primed and the grout lines meshed.
- 3Detail the joints
A small relief is cut at each tread-to-riser junction and filled with a flexible sealant compatible with the system, then over-coated, so movement does not show as a crack along the nosing.
- 4Base coats, finish and anti-slip seal
Microcement is trowelled in base and finishing coats, then sealed with an anti-slip additive or a discreet grit line set into each nosing.
Can you microcement stairs?
Yes, on most sound timber, concrete and tiled stairs, provided the substrate is made rigid first. Microcement is only 2 to 3 mm thick, so it shows whatever the stair does underneath; that is why the backer board on timber and the moisture test on concrete matter more than the finishing coats. Our microcement service page explains the system, and the microcement stairs guide covers the detailing in more depth.
Stair nosings and slip resistance
A smooth sealed tread can be slippery in socks, so every stair needs a slip detail. That is either an anti-slip additive in the final sealer or a grit line set into the nose of each tread. Approved Document K covers stair safety in England, so the nosing detail should be agreed before work starts rather than added afterwards.
Wrap the stringer or stop at the tread?
Wrapping the stringer and landing in the same finish makes the stair read as one sculpted piece. Stopping at the stringer keeps a coated tread on a separate frame. Both work; it is a design choice. Carrying the same colour from microcement flooring on the ground floor up the stair gives a continuous look.
Microcement or epoxy on stairs?
Epoxy can be applied to concrete stairs, but it is a thicker, more industrial coating, suited to plant rooms, car parks and commercial back-of-house stairs. In homes and front-of-house spaces microcement gives a finer mineral look and wraps timber stairs once boarded. For working stairs, see anti-slip floor coatings.
Microcement stairs cost and timing
Cost depends on the number of steps, the substrate, whether the stringer and landing are included and the nosing detail. A typical domestic flight takes several working days including drying and the sealer build, with light, bare-foot use only for the first evenings. We price after a free survey; you can start with our quote form.
Common pitfalls we prevent
Frequently asked
Can you microcement stairs?+
Yes. Timber stairs are boarded first, concrete stairs are moisture tested and primed, and tiled stairs are primed with the grout lines meshed. Floating stairs need structural advice.
Can you do epoxy on stairs?+
Epoxy works on concrete stairs, usually in commercial or industrial areas. For homes and timber stairs, microcement is normally the better fit.
How do you finish the stair nosing?+
We cut and seal a small movement joint at each tread-to-riser junction, then over-coat it, and add an anti-slip sealer or a grit line at the nose of each tread.
Do I need to pour or calculate concrete for the stairs first?+
No. Microcement goes over an existing sound stair. If a new concrete stair is being cast, that is structural work for a builder or engineer before we start.
How long does a microcement stair take?+
Several working days for a typical domestic flight, including drying between coats and the sealer build. We confirm the programme after the survey.
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