Stainless Steel vs Microcement Tables — Which Is Right? | Marlot Baus
Stainless Steel vs Microcement Tables: Which One Is Right for You?
Marlot Baus builds tables in two materials that look nothing alike and age in different ways: stainless steel and microcement. Both are handmade in our workshop in Sabadell, Barcelona, and both are built to last decades — but they serve different kinds of rooms. This guide compares them honestly, so you can choose the one that fits your space, your routine, and how you want the table to feel in ten years.
Stainless steel vs microcement at a glance
| Criterion | Stainless steel | Microcement |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Cool, precise, architectural | Mineral, warm, matte |
| Surface | Satin or mirror finish | Continuous, joint-free, nine-layer sealed |
| Spills | Wipe off; no pores | Sealed and waterproof; damp cloth |
| Repair | Light scratches can be polished out | Local touch-up by a specialist |
| Weight | Solid, substantial | Lighter than natural stone |
| Best for | Kitchens, contract, bright industrial interiors | Living rooms, dining, warm contemporary interiors |
Stainless steel tables: precision as a material
Our stainless steel dining tables — the Ander and the Vicca — are cut, bent, welded and polished by hand. Steel brings a presence that microcement cannot: reflection, line, architecture. It is the natural choice for kitchens open to the living room, for contract projects, and for interiors where the table should read as an object rather than a surface. Explore the full stainless steel collection.
Microcement tables: a mineral surface sealed in nine layers
Our microcement tables are built over a high-density base and sealed with a nine-layer system: primer, base coat, fine coats and a final waterproof seal. The result is a continuous, joint-free surface with a soft matte depth that no laminate or lacquer can imitate. The microcement furniture guide covers the material in depth; the microcement collection covers the models, from dining to coffee tables.
Durability and maintenance, side by side
Steel is harder; microcement is more forgiving. A light scratch on satin steel can be polished out; a mark on microcement wipes off with a damp cloth, and a deeper one can be retouched locally by a specialist. Both materials tolerate real daily use. The difference is in the ritual: steel asks you to wipe along the grain of the finish and keep the surface dry; microcement asks for a neutral soap and a wax pass every six months. Full care instructions are in our maintenance guide.
Aesthetics: which room asks for which table
- Steel belongs in bright, linear, architectural interiors. It reflects light and sharpens a space.
- Microcement belongs in warm, contemporary interiors. It softens light, pairs with oak and walnut bases, and calms a room.
- Both work in kitchens and open-plan living; steel leans industrial, microcement leans residential.
Lead time, warranty and shipping
Both materials are made to order in Barcelona: 8–10 weeks from confirmation, insured DAP delivery across the EU, and a 3-year warranty on every table. Choosing one material over the other does not change the process.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose stainless steel if the table is the architectural object of the room, or if the space is a kitchen, a contract project, or a bright industrial interior.
- Choose microcement if you want a warm mineral surface, a continuous joint-free top, or a piece that pairs with wood bases and soft light.
- Choosing both is common: a steel dining table and a microcement coffee table in the same home read as one house, not two projects. The Graça table even combines both materials in a single piece.
Frequently asked questions
Which material is easier to clean?
Both are easy. Steel: a soft cloth, wiped along the grain of the finish. Microcement: a damp cloth with neutral soap, plus a wax pass every six months.
Can microcement crack or chip?
The nine-layer sealed system includes flexible layers that absorb small movement in the base. Normal daily use does not crack it, and any marked area can be retouched locally.
Do you ship outside the EU?
Across the EU, delivery is insured DAP to your door. For the UK and the US we have dedicated shipping guides: UK and US.
Can I mix steel and microcement in one room?
Yes — and it often works well. A stainless steel dining table with a microcement coffee table, or a single table that combines both, like the Graça, reads as one coherent house.