Microcement vs Cement Screed
not the same thing.
Cement screed is the structural base under your finish. Microcement is the decorative surface you see and touch. People mix the two up constantly — here is the clean distinction.
at a glance
| Cement screed | Microcement | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Structural substrate | Decorative finish |
| Thickness | 20–50mm | 2–3mm |
| Composition | Cement + sand + water | Cement + polymer resin + pigment + aggregate |
| Look | Grey, utilitarian, hairline cracks | Continuous, hand-trowelled, sealed cream tones |
| Where | Under tile, vinyl, or as raw industrial floor | Walls, splashbacks, bathroom walls, feature floors |
| Sealer needed? | Optional | Always (2 coats) |
| Cost | $4–7/sqft | $30–70/sqft |
"screed floor" is usually one of three things
- Raw cement screed. Industrial look, exposed substrate, sealed. Cheap, but greys aggressively and hairline-cracks.
- Polished concrete. Mechanically ground and sealed. Much more expensive than screed; closer to microcement in finish but not the same.
- Microcement floor. A 2–3mm decorative layer over screed. This is what most Singapore homeowners actually mean.
what we usually recommend
If you like the look of grey, brutalist screed — you are usually looking at microcement on a feature wall, not raw screed on the floor. Raw screed is unforgiving in a humid HDB. For floors, the SPC microcement-vinyl plank gets you 90% of the aesthetic at 20% of the cost and zero hairline cracks.
faq
is microcement the same as cement screed?
No. Cement screed is a 20–50mm structural substrate (the base under your tile). Microcement is a 2–3mm finish (the surface you see). One is structural, the other is decorative.
can i put microcement over cement screed?
Yes — and that is the textbook substrate. A flat, cured cement screed is the cleanest base for microcement plaster.
is cement screed cheaper than microcement?
On its own, yes. Screed alone is roughly $4–7 per sqft. Microcement plaster finish is roughly $30–55 per sqft (walls) or $35–70 per sqft (floors). The screed is the canvas; the microcement is the artwork.