Microcement Flooring, Footasylum, Manchester
BT Microcement recently completed a 245m² microcement floor installation at Footasylum in the Trafford Centre, Manchester. As part of the store’s refurbishment, the client wanted a contemporary flooring solution that would complement the updated retail interior while providing a durable, seamless finish suitable for a high-traffic commercial environment.
Microcement was specified across the retail floor to create a modern, continuous surface with minimal visual interruption, helping to achieve the clean, industrial aesthetic of the newly refurbished store.
245m2 Commercial Microcement Installation
This microcement floor installation required detailed preparation works prior to the microcement system being applied. The floor design incorporated a series of triangular microcement sections surrounded on all sides by a tiled finish, making accurate levels and transitions critical to the final result.
BT Microcement were trusted to prepared the substrate using approximately 20mm of self-levelling compound, bringing the floor precisely up to the tile trim. Careful attention was given to achieving consistent levels across each section, ensuring the tiled and microcement surfaces would meet seamlessly without any unwanted steps or changes in floor height.
This preparation created a smooth, stable and accurately levelled substrate ready for the subsequent microcement application, while maintaining the clean geometric detailing required by the store’s floor design.
With a tight commercial programme, our full eight-man installation team worked through the nights to maintain an efficient, uninterrupted installation. Following three days of detailed substrate preparation, the complete 245m² microcement installation was delivered over five days, keeping the project on schedule.
The floor system incorporated reinforcement mesh for crack prevention, before the microcement was applied in a bespoke RAL colour selected specifically for the Footasylum store design. Careful coordination across the team was essential to maintain consistency in colour, texture and finish throughout the large retail floor.
The completed microcement floor creates a seamless, contemporary finish throughout the Footasylum store. The bespoke colour works great with the industrial interior, while the precise transitions between the microcement and contrasting tiles bring the overall floor design together.
Completed within a demanding commercial programme, this project demonstrates the level of detail and precision we bring to our work, even when working within tight time constraints. Another successful commercial microcement installation for a high-profile brand in the Manchester area.
To complete the installation, the microcement was protected using our extra-strength sealer system, specifically selected for commercial floors subject to high levels of foot traffic. This provides enhanced protection to the finished surface while retaining the appearance and character of the microcement — an important consideration for a busy retail environment such as Footasylum.
A key detail within the floor design was the transition between the microcement and multiple tile finishes, including wood-effect, terrazzo and darker grey tiles. Careful preparation and precise levelling allowed each material to meet flush, maintaining a consistent finished floor level throughout the store.
The microcement application itself required a high level of skill and precision. Each section was carefully hand-finished up to the tile trims to create sharp, clean edges without marking, damaging or staining the surrounding tiles and trims — particularly challenging given the intricate angles incorporated throughout the floor design.
