Paint is not the only way to finish a wall. Venetian plaster, limewash and microcement give a surface depth and movement that flat paint cannot reproduce, because the colour sits within the material rather than on top of it. Light moves across them differently through the day.
They are also more expensive, less forgiving and harder to repair than paint, which is why they suit some walls and are a poor idea on others. Here is what each finish actually is and where it belongs.
Venetian plaster
The term covers a family of lime-based plasters applied in thin layers with a steel trowel and burnished to a polish. The two most common are:
Marmorino has a slightly coarser marble aggregate, producing a surface with visible mineral texture and a soft satin finish. It reads as stone. It is the more forgiving of the two and the more common choice in Australian homes.
Grassello, often sold as polished plaster, uses a finer aggregate and is burnished to a high gloss that resembles honed marble. It shows every flaw in the wall beneath and every inconsistency in the application, so it is only as good as the tradesperson applying it.
Both are built up in three or more coats, each one thin, and the final burnishing is what produces the depth. A properly finished Venetian wall changes appearance depending on where you stand.
Durability: lime-based plasters carbonate over time, meaning they get harder with age. Sealed with wax or a breathable sealer, they handle normal domestic wear well.
Where it works: feature walls, entries, stairwells, fireplace surrounds, bathrooms where a sealed lime finish suits the humidity, and period homes where the material is sympathetic to the building.
Limewash
Limewash is slaked lime thinned with water and applied with a wide brush in loose, crossing strokes. It soaks into the substrate rather than forming a film, and it dries to a chalky, matt, cloudy finish with visible variation.
It is the most informal of these finishes and the cheapest. It is also the only one with real breathability, which makes it the appropriate choice on solid masonry and heritage walls where trapping moisture causes damage.
Watch for: limewash chalks. On a wall that gets brushed against, it will transfer onto clothing unless it is sealed, and sealing removes some of the matt character people want it for. Keep it out of hallways and off anything at shoulder height in a busy house.
Where it works: bedrooms, living rooms, period homes, rendered exteriors, and anywhere a soft imperfect surface is the point.
Microcement
A polymer-modified cement coating applied in thin layers over a reinforcing mesh, then sealed. It produces a continuous, seamless, slightly mottled concrete-like surface with no joints.
Unlike the lime finishes, microcement goes on floors as well as walls, and it is genuinely waterproof once sealed, which is why it has become common in bathrooms and wet areas.
Watch for: it is the least breathable of the three and the most dependent on substrate movement. Any flex or crack in what is underneath will eventually telegraph through. Substrate preparation is most of the job.
Where it works: bathrooms, shower walls, kitchen splashbacks, floors, and contemporary interiors where the seamless look is the objective.
Comparing the finishes
| Marmorino | Grassello | Limewash | Microcement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Soft stone texture | Polished marble | Chalky, cloudy | Seamless concrete |
| Sheen | Satin | High | Dead matt | Matt to satin |
| Breathable | Yes | Yes | Most of all | Least |
| Wet areas | Yes, sealed | Yes, sealed | No | Yes |
| Floors | No | No | No | Yes |
| Shows substrate flaws | Some | Heavily | Little | Heavily |
| Repairable invisibly | Reasonably | Difficult | Easily | Difficult |
| Relative cost | High | Highest | Lowest | High |
Substrate preparation is most of the cost
This is the part people underestimate. None of these finishes hide anything. A wall that looks acceptable under low-sheen paint will need work before it can take polished plaster, because the burnished surface throws raking light across every undulation.
Typical preparation involves:
- Filling, sanding and levelling the entire wall, not just the obvious defects
- A skim coat where the existing surface is uneven
- Checking for and resolving movement cracks, which will reappear through the finish
- A tinted base coat or primer, which both seals the substrate and provides the undertone the finish is built on
On an older Melbourne home with solid plaster walls, this stage frequently costs more than the decorative finish itself. If a quote for Venetian plaster seems unusually cheap, preparation is where it has been cut.
Living with these finishes
Cleaning: sealed lime plasters and microcement wipe down with a damp cloth and a neutral cleaner. Avoid anything acidic on lime, which will etch it. Unsealed limewash cannot be washed.
Repairs: this is the real trade-off against paint. A paint repair is a touch-up. A repair to polished plaster is a patch that has to be blended across a whole panel, and even skilled work can leave a visible join. Limewash is the exception, forgiving of patching because its character is already variable.
Longevity: a well-applied lime plaster will outlast several repaints. Microcement in a wet area depends entirely on the sealer, which needs renewing periodically.
Resale: a well-executed feature wall adds genuine appeal. The same wall done badly is worse than paint, because it reads as expensive and wrong, and the next owner has to strip it.
Is it worth it over paint?
On one or two walls that people actually look at, usually yes. The depth is real and photographs do not do it justice.
On a whole house, rarely. The cost multiplies, the repair problem multiplies with it, and the effect loses its impact when every wall has it. Most of the best applications of these finishes are a single surface in a room where the rest stays painted.
If your real objective is simply a wall with more presence, a well-chosen paint colour in the right sheen may get you most of the way for a fraction of the cost. Our guides to feature wall ideas and the paint sheen guide are worth reading before you commit to a specialist finish.
Decorative finishes with Expert Painting and Renovation
Expert Painting and Renovation is a family-run, Aussie-local company based in Richmond with more than 9 years of experience across Melbourne homes. Because we handle plastering and rendering as well as interior painting, we can take a wall from uneven substrate through to finished surface as one job, which matters a great deal with finishes that reveal everything underneath them.
We will tell you honestly whether a wall is a good candidate, and where paint would serve you better. See our portfolio or the suburbs we cover on our service areas page.
FAQ
How much more does Venetian plaster cost than paint? Substantially more per square metre, because it is a multi-coat hand-applied finish and the substrate preparation is more demanding. Costs vary widely with wall condition, so get it quoted on the actual wall.
Can Venetian plaster go in a bathroom? Yes, when properly sealed. Lime plaster handles humidity well. For shower walls and direct water contact, microcement is the more common choice.
Can it be applied over existing painted walls? Usually yes, provided the paint is sound and the wall is prepared and primed correctly. Glossy or flaking paint has to be dealt with first.
What happens if it gets damaged? Small damage can be repaired, but on polished finishes the repair is typically blended across a full wall panel rather than spot-patched, and a skilled repair may still be faintly visible.
Is limewash suitable for exterior walls? Yes, on breathable masonry and render it performs well and weathers attractively. It is not suitable over modern film-forming paints.
About Expert Painting & Renovation
Expert Painting and Renovation is an Aussie-local, family-run company based in Richmond, Melbourne, with more than 9 years of experience in residential and commercial painting and renovation. Our specialists deliver premium workmanship, timely service and durable finishes designed for Melbourne homes.
- Ceiling crack repairs
- Sagging ceiling restoration
- Water‑damaged ceiling repairs
- Cornice replacement
- Full plastering services
- Interior & exterior painting
- Weatherboard restoration
- Deck & timber maintenance
- Roof painting
- Rendering & texture coating
- Commercial Painting
- Plastering Services
- House Painting
Whether you need maintenance advice, a single-room refresh or a full home makeover, our team is just a call away.
đź“Ť Our Service Areas Across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast & Phillip Island
Melbourne & Bayside
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Richmond
- Expert Painting and Renovation in St Kilda
- Expert Painting and Renovation in South Yarra
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Malvern
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Hawthorn
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Kew
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Balwyn
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Mount Waverley
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Ringwood
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Doncaster
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Hampton
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Frankston
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Mount Eliza
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Mornington
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Mount Martha
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Rosebud
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Sorrento
Phillip Island & Bass Coast
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Flinders
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Somers
- Expert Painting and Renovation in San Remo
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Cape Woolamai
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Cowes
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Coronet Bay
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Tootgarook
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Rye
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Blairgowrie
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Portsea
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Inverloch
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Kilcunda
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Ventnor
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Newhaven
Surf Coast & Bellarine Peninsula
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Geelong
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Torquay
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Ocean Grove
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Barwon Heads
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Anglesea
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Lorne
- Expert Painting and Renovation in Apollo Bay
