Microstructural and nanomechanical surface properties of cement based pastes were experimentally investigated. Samples were prepared from CEMI42.5 cement, with water to cement ratio equal to 0.5 and enriched with SiO 2 nanoparticles (d=14nm), with low concentration ranging from 0% up to 0.5% (by weight of binder). X-rays diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed a linear increase of crystal size of calcium hydrate (CH) products with the addition of nanoparticles, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed a denser microstructure with more defined grains for the higher SiO 2 nanoparticles concentration. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies of samples after the grinding/polishing process indicated a strong dependence of surface roughness with the CH crystallite mean size and the materials mechanical properties. Finally, statistical analysis of nanoindentation mapping data revealed a decrease of elastic modulus with the increase of nanoparticles concentration.