Poznań – the Polish capital of microcement stairs. Interview with Tomek Grabarczyk [photos]

Tomek Grabarczyk – the biggest specialist in microcement stairs in Poland.

Poznań is famous for billy goats and Marciński croissants. Now it is starting to be known as the capital of microcement stairs, thanks to Tomasz Grabarczyk, the owner of the Twója Ściana company, who mastered the technology of microcement stairs to perfection. Today, Tomek reveals the backstage of his work, explains what the implementation process looks like and why more and more customers choose this method of finishing the stairs.

At the beginning, please tell us what is the history of your business, how did you start, what are you doing now and what is the profile of your clients?

T.G.: I have been running the company since 2015. In the initial phase I dealt mainly with painting and simple finishing works such as putty or panel assembly. Over time, decorative plasters were added to my offer, and gradually they became my main activity. At the moment, we no longer provide services other than microcement and architectural concrete. We operate mainly in the Poznań area and serve individual clients who buy semi-detached or terraced houses.

How many microcement stairs have you made in your career, how many do you make each year?

T.G.: We don’t keep exact statistics, but I think we already have about 100 pairs of stairs in our portfolio. We are currently working in a team of three, with a strict division of responsibilities, which is why our work is very efficient and time-optimized. In a month, we are able to prepare up to 4 pairs of stairs and finish up to 8! Occasionally we have projects where we cover two flights of stairs with microcement — that’s 32 steps on one project.

Why do investors choose stairs made of microcement and not, for example, wooden or tiled ones?

T.G.: Customers choose our service for many reasons. They are looking for alternatives to wood and tiles, and microcement stairs perfectly fit into current interior design trends. The stability of material prices speaks in favor of microcement compared to wood. The price of wood for stairs is systematically growing, and carpenters who can perform precise assembly are often unavailable. That’s why our service is very attractive to potential customers. The financial aspect also speaks in our favor — our solution is competitively priced compared to traditional ones.

What is the investor’s journey from the first phone call to the finished staircase?

T.G.: We have a well-defined procedure, thanks to which cooperation with our company is transparent and pleasant 🙂

After the first call from the customer, we ask for basic information about the project — number of stairs, steps, dimensions, photos, and location along with the desired date of implementation.

Based on this information, we prepare an offer. After its acceptance, we sign the contract, collect the advance payment and book the date. Before signing, we invite the client to see our previous projects with microcement stairs live, so they can imagine what their final result might look like. We also choose the color and prepare samples with possible finishes.

We divide the work into two stages:

• Stage 1 – preparation of the substrate (4–5 working days), done after the staircase construction is complete, approximately in the middle of other finishing works at home.
• Stage 2 – application of microcement (3–4 working days), performed after most of the finishing works are done — usually before only the railing installation and housewarming 🙂

What is the biggest challenge when it comes to the implementation of microcement stairs?

T.G.: I can mention two main challenges.

The first one is performing the service inside homes where clients already live. Such projects are logistically demanding — we have to synchronize our work stages with household activities. Fortunately, these situations are rare.

The second is incorrect step heights. Even small differences can be annoying, but when the last step differs by 5–6 cm, it causes great discomfort. Our record? 25 bags of self-leveling screed poured into one staircase — that’s 625 kg of dry mix!

In addition to making stairs, you also conduct training in the application of microcement on stairs. Could you tell us more?

T.G.: I lead thematic microcement trainings at the Festfloor headquarters in Warsaw — on average once a month. The groups are small, maximum 10 participants. The course consists of theoretical and practical parts. We discuss the system for making stairs with cement boards, unusual situations, etc. In the practical part, I show how to prepare stairs for the application of microcement and how to apply it properly. The training lasts about 6 hours. Each participant receives a diploma, a microcement test kit and a discount code for their first online purchase – 15% off.

Microcement training led by Tomek Grabarczyk at the Festfloor headquarters in Warsaw.