How to Choose the Best Microcement Contractor in New Orleans

Microcement looks simple — it's a thin, hand-applied coating. That's exactly why so many general contractors and painters have started saying they install it. The problem: microcement isn't paint. It's a craft. The difference between a great install and a failure shows up in months, not years.

Before you hire anyone in New Orleans (us included), here are the seven questions worth asking.

1. How many full microcement projects have you personally installed?

Not how many projects their crew has touched. How many they themselves have hand-applied start to finish. Microcement is a feel-based craft — minimum 10 completed installs is the floor before someone should be running your project.

2. Can I see a microcement shower you installed at least 18 months ago?

Anyone can show photos from week one. The real test is what the surface looks like 18+ months into daily use. Ask to visit (or video-call) a real installation that's been lived in.

3. What primer and sealer system do you use?

There's no universal answer — but the contractor should name a specific system (Topciment, Mortex, Pandomo, etc.) and explain why they chose it for your substrate. 'We figure it out as we go' is the wrong answer.

4. How do you handle expansion joints and corners?

Corners are where microcement either looks like a million bucks or fails inside 6 months. If a contractor can't explain their corner detail in 30 seconds, walk away.

5. Do you carry liability insurance and a Louisiana contractor's license?

Non-negotiable. Ask for both certificates of insurance and the LSLBC license number. Verify it on the Louisiana State Licensing Board site.

6. What's your timeline — and what happens if you go over?

Microcement requires curing time between coats. A 'we'll finish in 3 days' claim for a full bathroom is a red flag. Realistic NOLA timeline: 4–7 days for a single bathroom.

7. Will you give me an actual finish sample before applying?

Microcement color and texture is subtle. A real installer will hand-apply a small finish sample on a board so you can see — in your actual lighting — what the final wall will look like. If they refuse, that's a problem.

One bonus question

'Can I see your portfolio of NOLA-area installs?' Local matters. New Orleans humidity, slab foundations, and older substrates are different beasts than dry-climate microcement work. Make sure your contractor has actually solved problems in this city.