When it comes to luxurious, textured wall finishes, Venetian Plaster, Polished Plaster, and Microcement are three standout choices. Each offers a unique aesthetic, performance profile, and practical benefit—making them popular among architects, interior designers, and discerning renovators alike. Whether you’re creating a classical interior, designing for contemporary luxury, or specifying a robust surface solution, this guide will help you navigate the best finish for your project.
In this guide, we’ll focus on comparing three high-end finishes—Venetian Plaster, Polished Plaster, and Microcement. Each offers a unique aesthetic, performance profile, and emotional appeal—ideal for everyone from architects and interior designers to DIY Pinterest fans chasing the next design trend. Whether you’re after a timeless Italian feel, a sleek modern finish, or a durable surface that handles moisture and the outdoors, this article will help you choose the right product for your space.
Venetian Plaster
Venetian Plaster is a traditional lime-based finish made from slaked lime and marble dust, prized for its soft, marble-like effect and a luxurious tactile quality that evokes old-world craftsmanship.
Ideal Application Areas
- Interior feature walls and ceilings
- Fireplaces
- Hallways and entry foyers
- Best for interiors where a timeless, classic look is desired
- Not suitable for floors
Aesthetic Appeal, Durability & More
Timeless, luxurious, and softly textured. Venetian Plaster exudes elegance with its hand-finished depth and movement—perfect for classical or Mediterranean-inspired interiors. While durable indoors, it’s more delicate than other options and susceptible to water damage if continually wet. With proper maintenance and care, it can last for decades.
It is highly breathable due to its natural lime base, making it ideal for heritage homes, and is also fire-resistant and eco-friendly with low VOC content. Venetian Plaster is highly artisanal—textures and tones vary depending on the applicator’s technique, making each wall unique. However, it requires multiple coats and a skilled artisan, making it a labour-intensive process. Maintenance involves periodic sealing and gentle cleaning.
Cost of Application
- Estimated between $130–$180 per square metre
Time Required
- Requires 3–5 coats with drying time in between
- Application takes 3–5+ days depending on area size
Limitations
- Not suitable for exteriors or areas prone to wetting like shower cubicles
- Should not be used on floors
Polished Plaster (Tufftex Polished)
Tufftex Polished is a next-generation acrylic-based plaster system that delivers the look and feel of traditional Venetian Plaster, but with dramatically improved versatility. It retains the beauty and depth of traditional finishes while being tough enough for exterior and wet-area use. It is just as hard as Venetian Plaster and slightly more flexible than Microcement, providing a balanced performance in modern environments.
Ideal Application Areas
- Internal walls and ceilings
- Bathrooms, kitchens, laundries
- Outdoor feature walls and façades
- High-traffic areas where durability is essential
- Not suitable for floors
Aesthetic Appeal, Durability & More
Polished Plaster offers the same rich, marble-like aesthetic as Venetian Plaster but with more consistency and options for a modern or bold finish. It is better than traditional Venetian Plaster in moist environments. Its acrylic base makes it weather-resistant, water-repellent, and longer-lasting, though it slightly reduces breathability compared to lime plaster.
This system is moderately eco-friendly—its long lifespan helps reduce environmental impact. Tufftex Polished is highly customisable in texture and colour and is less labour-intensive than Venetian Plaster due to faster drying times. Maintenance is minimal, as it is washable and resistant to moisture, dirt, and impacts. Though not natural, it’s a smart modern alternative for designers who want beauty and performance in one.
Cost of Application
- Estimated between $130–$180 per square metre
Time Required
- Quick drying and layering process
- Completed within 2–3 days
Limitations
- Should not be used on floors
- May differ slightly in texture from lime-based Venetian Plaster
- Requires experienced applicator for premium finish
Unique Feature
Tufftex Polished has an acrylic base, making it suitable for use in wet areas and on exterior walls exposed to the elements—offering the same look as Venetian Plaster with better performance in harsh environments.
Microcement
Microcement is a cement-based decorative coating that delivers a sleek, continuous finish. Ideal for minimalist and industrial aesthetics, it’s seamless, modern, and exceptionally robust. It is the hardest of the three materials and the most resistant to cracking, although it offers slightly less flexibility than acrylic-based polished plaster.
Ideal Application Areas
- Bathrooms and wet areas (including inside showers)
- Kitchen splashbacks
- Floors and stairs
- External walls and built-in furniture
- Swimming pools (widely and successfully used across Europe)
- Can be applied over ceramic tiles
Aesthetic Appeal, Durability & More
Minimalist and contemporary, Microcement is perfect for lovers of uninterrupted surfaces and industrial design. It provides excellent durability—ideal for floors and high-traffic zones. It’s the most crack-resistant of the three finishes and is even suitable for submerged applications like pools.
While breathability is limited, Microcement excels in waterproofing when properly sealed. It’s moderately eco-friendly due to its long life span and application efficiency. It’s available in a range of colours and textures and can unify walls, floors, and even furniture for a seamless aesthetic. It does require skilled application, including careful surface preparation, and may feel colder and harder underfoot compared to plaster options. Regular sealing every few years helps maintain its premium look.
Cost of Application
- Estimated between $200–$350 per square metre
Time Required
- Requires 5–7 days for layering, curing, and sealing
Limitations
- Cracking may occur if not applied correctly or if substrates shift
Less forgiving for substrate movement
Not as breathable
Unique Feature
Microcement is suitable for both horizontal and vertical surfaces, including floors and pools—making it the most versatile and industrial-grade solution of the three.
Summary Table
Feature |
Venetian Plaster |
Tufftex Polished Plaster |
Microcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Material | Lime and marble dust | Acrylic | Cement and polymers |
| Suitable for Exteriors | No | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Wet Areas | No | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Floors | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cost per m² | $130–$180 | $130–$180 | $200–$350 |
| Time to Apply | 3–5+ days | 2–3 days | 5-7 days |
| Aesthetic Style | Classic, marble-like | Classic or modern | Modern, industrial |
| Durability | High | High | Very high |
| Breathability | High | Moderate | Low |
| Eco-Friendliness | High | Low | Moderate |
| Maintenance | Medium | Low | Low to medium |
| Customisation | High | Very high | High |
| Fire Resistance | High (natural lime) | Moderate (acrylic base) | High (cement base) |
| Resistance to Impact Damage | High | High | Very high |
A Word of Caution
As the popularity of these finishes continues to rise, more small-scale manufacturers and operators have entered the market. While some are promising, many do not have the experience, product integrity, or financial stability needed to ensure lasting results. Unfortunately, failures due to poor-quality materials and inexperienced application are becoming more common.
To protect your project and investment, always choose materials from a reputable manufacturer with many years of experience and a proven track record in the industry. Ensure the company is of a reasonable size, offers product warranties, and is likely to still be around if you ever need to claim them.
Final Thoughts for Architects, Designers, and Style Enthusiasts
Whether you’re designing a boutique hotel lobby, renovating a residential bathroom, or specifying finishes for a commercial fit-out, these products offer compelling options tailored to both vision and function.
- Choose Venetian Plaster for refined elegance and a timeless, artisanal feel.
- Opt for Tufftex Polished when you need a durable, weather-resistant finish that still delivers high-end visual appeal.
- Select Microcement to achieve seamless, modern surfaces that flow across walls, floors, and even wet zones.
Each system delivers a distinctive aesthetic and set of advantages—designed to meet the demands of today’s most ambitious design projects.
