Polished Plaster Walls – Everything you need to know

Thinking of creating polished plaster walls on a surface in your home? Here’s an expert guide we’ve put together to help you. 5 key facts with everything you need to know about using polished plaster in your interior design project.

Firstly, let’s start by answering the most important question.

What are polished plaster walls?

Polished plaster is a decorative plaster finish which you apply to any type of surface. It produces a smooth, uniform decorative finish that has a beautiful texture.

Polished plaster is an umbrella term for a wide range of decorative plasters. Each has a unique quality in terms of origin, colour, texture and technique. The different types of plasters vary in texture from very smooth and highly polished finishes to matt or pitted finishes. Extremely durable, they are a luxurious choice for interior surfaces, adding a bespoke finish with depth and character.

Here’s our top 5 list of exactly what you need to know about using Polished Plaster in your home

1. A hygienic breathable surface

This means that the plaster allows moisture to escape through the surface of the plaster. This is ideal for wet rooms, such as bathrooms and showers. Additionally, one of the key ingredients of the plaster is slaked lime. Lime is highly alkaline, which, as well as reducing moisture retention, helps to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew in damp areas.

2. Polished plaster is waterproof

The highly durable smooth surface is naturally waterproof. It is also possible to further enhance polished plaster walls with the addition of a protective wax coating. This creates an impenetrable waterproof seal. For the best effect, apply a top-up coat from time to time – which is easy to apply.

3. Polished plaster is low in VOCs

Polished plaster has a high percentage of natural ingredients. Unlike traditional plasters and paints, it is low in volatile organic compounds – VOC’s. These are the solvent-based by-products that are released into the atmosphere from building materials such as paint and plaster. In addition to leaving nasty lingering smells, they are known to have adverse effects on respiratory health. For added shine, a final seal is provided by a natural beeswax coating. Alternatively, there is also a sealing coating available which is vegan and free of animal products.

4. Precision matching to a range of colours

With the ability to match from the RAL colour system, there is an almost limitless range of colours available. RAL is a European standard in colours for construction and architecture. Most commercial paint brands have RAL colour code matches for their colour charts.

This means it’s possible to match a paint colour you love. A Farrow and Ball colour, for example, brings a bespoke quality to your interior design project. We have a variety of sample boards available to view to help in choosing your perfect surface finish. Contact us to find out more

5. There are several different names for Polished Plaster

Finally, as we mentioned earlier, polished plaster is actually an umbrella term for many different types of plaster. Additionally, each of them have their own unique qualities from their origins and uses over time. There’s another blog on the way that looks at different varieties of polished plaster in more detail, but for now, let’s take a quick overview of a few of these here.

Tadelakt Plaster

Tadelakt is a lime-based plaster from Morocco which has been used for thousands of years.

Venetian Plaster

Venetian Plaster – Marmorino and Lucidato, made from crushed marble and lime putty, are the most common forms.

Microcement

Microcement is a versatile and waterproof alternative to polished plaster. Microcement is a cement-based coating which can be applied to many different surfaces.

C Ferri Interiors provides expert application of all of these types of polished plaster, alongside traditional decorating services. Read reviews from our many satisfied customers on Houzz.