CTX BasicAgglo® Micro Cement Grey

The Cement Grey concept. Unlike the classic marble selections of the CTX family (Sivec, Carrara, Thassos), “Micro Cement Grey” is not aimed at a marble impression but at an industrial exposed-concrete look. The polyester resin matrix is adjusted with grey pigments so that the chippings visually “disappear” into the grey base colour and remain visible only as fine, slightly darker or lighter stippling in micro format. The result is a homogeneous mid-grey to anthracite surface with the discreetly rough character of a finely honed industrial floor, but without its structural weaknesses (carbonation, shrinkage, long drying times, the acid sensitivity of the cement matrix).

The chippings. In the “Cement” variant too, the grain base remains a natural marble aggregate – typically neutral light grey marble chippings, whose own colour plays only a subtle part in the grey matrix. The grain size lies in the micro range (≈ 0.5–2 mm), which makes the slab appear almost single-coloured from a medium distance and reveals a dense, very finely distributed dot mosaic at close range – stylistically closer to a “design floor” than to marble character.

Format and fabrication. Civet usually supplies the agglomerate slabs in a large format of around 305 × 144 cm or 320 × 160 cm in thicknesses of 2 and 3 cm; individual lines also thinner for wall applications. The slabs can be cut, profiled, calibrated and drilled with diamond tooling like a dense engineered stone. Vacuum compaction ensures very low water absorption; frost resistance is not declared, and the material is clearly conceived as an interior material. Because of the polyester binder the following applies: heat resistance is considerably lower than with pure natural stone – never set hot pots or heating appliances down directly on the surface, and avoid sustained temperatures above roughly 80–90 °C. Direct UV exposure can yellow the resin in the long term, so no fully sunlit conservatories or open loggias.

Applications. In design terms, Micro Cement Grey is a clear choice for minimalist, “industrial style” interior architecture: lofts, contemporary bathrooms, concept stores, boutique hotels, café and restaurant concepts with an industrial reference. The look harmonises with black steel, oiled wood, exposed concrete, Corten steel, black sanitary fittings and matt wall paints. Compared with real exposed concrete, the slab is ready to install immediately, dimensionally stable, can be made considerably thinner and is calculable in colour tone – no formwork to erect, no curing, no site-related variation.

The ROSSITTIS range. We carry Micro Cement Grey as a polished large-format slab with greater stock depth. From it we fabricate interior floors in large format or tile format, stairs with treads and risers, window sills, wall claddings, washstands, skirtings, benches and individual furniture tops. Wall panels in a thinner thickness are also technically possible.

Comparison. Against real exposed concrete (architectural concrete, ground screed), the engineered stone remains clearly superior in format, dimensional accuracy, colour consistency and fabrication speed, but is less “raw” in its direct material character. Against engineered quartz (CaesarStone Concrete lines, Silestone Loft), the marble-based agglomerate is optically warmer and more authentically mineral, but, because of its polyester content, more sensitive to UV, high temperatures and strongly acidic cleaners. Against porcelain with a concrete décor (Laminam Calce, Florim Magnum Concrete), the slab remains warmer to the touch and less brittle, but is thermally and chemically less resilient.

Our honest assessment. Micro Cement Grey is an unambiguous material in design terms – not a classic marble material, but a controlled concrete impression in slab form. Anyone looking for a clean, industrial base tonality for contemporary interior architecture, and not expecting real marble veining, gains the advantages of the material in format, care and delivery. Anyone who needs an expressive natural stone look should take a honed basalt or granite.