Do microcement tables crack? Myths, real causes, and how to prevent it
If you’re looking at microcement tables, you’ve probably seen questions on Google like “Doesn’t this crack?” or “I’ve heard microcement always fissures.” It’s understandable: there are many badly executed projects out there that have given the material a bad reputation.
The truth is, a well-designed, well-built microcement table doesn’t have to crack. At CimentStudio, for example, we work with a high-performance, flexible microcement and an internal structure specifically designed to minimise the risk of fissures in our microcement furniture.
So where does this fear come from, and what really makes the difference?
When you see photos of cracked microcement, it’s almost always a mix of several factors:
Poorly prepared substrates
Applying microcement over unstable surfaces, with movement or without proper priming, is almost a guarantee of cracks appearing sooner or later.
Low-quality materials
Not all microcements are the same. Very rigid products or those with weak formulations cope badly with movement, expansion and temperature changes.
Excessive thickness or poor application
Microcement is meant to be applied in thin layers. If you try to “bulk it up” in one go to level a surface, you create internal tensions.
Bad workmanship
Insufficient drying times, no mesh where it’s needed, not following the manufacturer’s recommendations…
On tables and microcement furniture, these mistakes are even more visible, because the piece is always in sight and used every day.
What do we do to prevent cracks in the tables?
In your case, there are several key factors that help microcement tables stay stable and free from cracks over time.
Each table starts with a stable structural core, built in your workshop in Valencia, which prevents strange flexing and movement that could later translate into fissures on the surface. It’s not just any board: the base is designed specifically for:
- the dimensions of the table,
- the type of support (legs, bases, cantilevers),
- and the intended use (dining table, office table, meeting table, etc.).
- High-performance microcement applied in thin layers
The tables are made with high-performance microcement, applied in 3–4 thin coats depending on the model, creating a continuous mineral finish (with no joints) and low porosity.
Working in thin layers makes it possible to:
- distribute tensions more evenly,
- follow the geometry of the piece,
- and achieve a uniform, stable surface on the microcement table.
- Sealing and protection
The system is finished with a two-coat polyurethane varnish specifically formulated for microcement. This protective sealer guards the surface against stains and wear and helps the microcement furniture age evenly over time.
What to look for when comparing microcement tables
If you’re comparing different options on the market, there are a few useful questions that can help you see whether you’re really looking at a piece designed to last:
- Who actually makes the table, and where?
- Do they work with high-performance microcement specifically formulated for furniture?
- Does the table have a structural core designed for that piece, or is it just a generic board coated in microcement?
- How many layers of microcement and how many coats of sealer does the system include?
- Do they explain how to maintain the table and what can be done if one day the finish needs to be refreshed?
When a manufacturer can answer all of these questions clearly, it’s much less likely that you’ll end up with a microcement table that starts cracking after a couple of years. Come back to our HOME to keep reading.