Old Town · Uneven Walls · Stairs · Feature Walls
Altea climbs a hill to its church dome, and its houses are rarely square. Microcement can suit that character, softening old walls and stairs, provided the surface is read carefully and the finish is chosen to match.
Wander the upper lanes and you will see why finishes need care here. Walls lean, floors dip a little, and rooms have been joined, split and rebuilt across generations. A rigid sheet material would struggle, whereas a thin hand-applied coating can follow the quirks of the house.
Altea is also a town of artists and long-term incomers, so many owners want something with character and not a showroom copy. Microcement can have a soft, cloudy, hand-worked look that sits comfortably against whitewashed walls, wooden beams and old stone.
Lower down, towards the sea and the surrounding hillsides, are villas and apartments with big windows and views. There the interest is more often a clean contemporary bathroom, kitchen or hallway. We cover both ends of the town and advise on which finish fits which.
Older houses
In an old townhouse, the first job is deciding what the wall is made of. Lime plaster, stone, brick and later cement patches may all sit side by side, and each takes primer differently. We test small areas, repair weak plaster and stabilise the base before any coating goes on.
Fine cracks in old walls often reflect long-standing movement rather than anything new, but they can reappear through a rigid finish. Mesh reinforcement and flexible details help, and we will explain where a hairline might still show and why it need not worry you.
Damp is the other question. Thick old walls hold moisture, and a sealed coating over a wet wall will blister. If a wall is damp, we say so and recommend treating it first, which may involve our damp specialists.
Stairs and details
Many old-town houses have steep internal stairs, sometimes in worn tile or rough cement. Microcement can unify them, with treads and risers in one tone, but grip and edges need real thought. We discuss texture, nosings and sealer, so the stairs look good without becoming slippery.
A fireplace, a kitchen alcove or a single wall behind a bed are popular places for a hand-worked finish. These small areas let you try the look at modest scale, and the trowel marks can be softened or left expressive depending on your taste.
Access can be tight, with narrow doorways and steps up from the lane. We work out how materials arrive, shield existing floors and tiles, and work carefully around timber, which should not be sanded or wetted more than necessary.
Sea-view homes
Away from the lanes, villas and modern apartments favour streamlined bathrooms: a wide walk-in shower, a floating vanity and a single tone across floor and wall. This is where microcement looks its sharpest and where our waterproofing and plumbing coordination matters most.
Light in Altea is strong, and finish colour changes through the day. A grey that looked warm in a showroom can turn cold in a north-facing bathroom. We leave sample boards in the actual room, so you can look at them morning and evening before deciding.
We can run the same finish through a hallway or living area, which helps modern homes feel connected. If the base slab or old floor tiles are doubtful, the quotation will state what preparation is needed first.
How it works
We begin with a walk through the house, testing walls and floors and asking what you want to keep. Old houses reveal surprises, so the written quotation states what we assumed, and we tell you promptly if opening up changes the picture.
For owners abroad, we send photos as each layer goes on and agree colour on a video call before the final coats. A single project manager coordinates plumbers, plasterers and the microcement team, so no trade works against another.
Questions
Often, once the wall has been tested and repaired. We check plaster, damp and movement, then prime and reinforce the surface. If a wall is damp or crumbling, treating that comes first.
It can be, with attention to grip and edges. We agree the texture, nosing detail and sealer with you, and tell you if the existing steps are too uneven or loose to coat.
Gentle undulation is usually fine, since the coating follows the shape, but deep dips are normally levelled first. We check with a straight edge at the survey and note any levelling in the quotation.
Yes. Trowel texture and colour variation are part of the finish and can be calmer or more expressive. We show samples before work, and you can approve the tone in your own room.
Across the area
Towns along the coast and up the valley offer different housing and different surface problems, so each has its own page. Follow a link to see how we handle microcement close by.
Microcement in Benidorm apartments: seamless bathroom, shower and floor finishes planned around lifts, neighbours and rental turnaround. Free quotation.
View Benidorm →Microcement in La Nucía villas and urbanisation homes: continuous floors, kitchens and bathrooms, with slabs and joints assessed before work. Free quotation.
View La Nucía →Microcement in Finestrat hillside villas: split-level floors, stairs, bathrooms and terraces, with sun and slope explained honestly. Free quotation.
View Finestrat →Microcement in Calpe for seafront apartments and hillside villas: bathrooms and floors where humidity and salt air demand careful sealing. Free quotation.
View Calpe →Microcement in Alfaz del Pi and Albir: holiday-let bathrooms, seafront flats and hillside villas, finished between bookings. Free quotation.
View Alfaz del Pi & Albir →Microcement in Polop village houses and hillside villas: old floors, thick stone walls, damp checks and hand-worked finishes explained. Free quotation.
View Polop →Microcement in Benissa: fincas, tall old-town houses and coastal villas, with kitchens, stone surroundings and varied surfaces assessed first. Free quotation.
View Benissa →Microcement in Villajoyosa: seafront flats, old-street townhouses and inland villas, finished for year-round family living. Free quotation from Dragon Reforms.
View Villajoyosa →Microcement in Callosa d'en Sarrià, home of Dragon Reforms: village houses, hillside fincas and valley homes, with easy site visits. Free quotation.
View Callosa d'en Sarrià →Microcement in Albir: holiday apartments near the promenade and villas beneath the Sierra Helada, with showers, floors and sealing explained. Free quotation.
View Albir →Get in touch
Tell us which room or staircase you are thinking about and we will come and look at it, with sample boards in hand.
A written, no-obligation quotation follows the visit. It explains how our guarantee on the work applies, so you know where you stand before anything begins.
Customer reviews
Genuine Google reviews from Dragon Reforms customers.
Professional Collaboration & Complete House Renovation – Calpe
“We have been collaborating for many years on projects both large and small, with excellent results. Our latest collaboration was the complete renovation of a house in Calpe. Thanks to their professionalism and reliability, they were able to handle all phases of the project. We hope to continue working together for many years to come.”
Complete Apartment Renovation – Benidorm
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Dragonreforms. Nico and his team did an excellent job renovating our 2 bedroom apartment in Benidorm. This included a beautiful new bathroom, kitchen, flooring, interior doors, plumbing and complete electrical works. Truly amazing workmanship. You have made our dreams come true.”
More from Dragon Reforms
Everything Dragon Reforms does in Altea, each with its own page.
Get a quote
Tell us about the job and the property and we will get back to you to arrange a visit.
