What is the difference between microcement and Venetian plaster?
The difference is the material and the job. Microcement is a thin cementitious coating, reinforced and sealed, for surfaces that take wear. Venetian plaster is built from thin layers of lime-based plaster, compressed and burnished by hand for depth and sheen, on walls and ceilings. Both are applied by hand and leave no grout lines.
| Aspect | Microcement | Venetian plaster |
|---|---|---|
| Base material | Cementitious coating | Lime-based plaster |
| Where it is used | Floors, walls, showers, wet rooms, kitchens, worktops and staircases | Walls and ceilings |
| Finishes | A smooth, mineral surface | Marmorino, Stucco Lustro, polished, metallic, and textured or matte |
| Water | Water-resistant once sealed; waterproofing comes from the tanking membrane beneath | Not specified for shower zones or floors |
| Warranty | 2-year written warranty on microcement installations | The written warranty applies to microcement installations |
| Cost | See the cost guide | No rate is published; confirmed after a survey |
Which suits a bathroom or shower?
Microcement suits shower zones, wet rooms and bathroom floors. Microcement is water-resistant once sealed; waterproofing comes from the tanking membrane beneath. Atelier does not specify Venetian plaster for shower zones or floors. Whether it suits a particular bathroom wall is discussed on enquiry.
The wet-room build-up is described in the guide to microcement in bathrooms and on the microcement bathrooms and wet rooms page.
Which suits floors, walls and ceilings?
Microcement suits floors, staircases, worktops and walls. Venetian plaster suits walls and ceilings: feature walls, reception areas, living and dining rooms, archways and ceilings. The two can share a room, with a microcement floor beneath a Venetian plaster wall, and where each finish goes is decided at survey.
- Microcement: floors, wet rooms, kitchens, worktops and staircases. See microcement in London.
- Venetian plaster: feature walls, reception areas, ceilings and archways. See Venetian plaster in London.
Is polished plaster the same as Venetian plaster?
In UK use the terms overlap. Venetian plaster is the layered, burnished, lime-based technique, and polished plaster is one of Atelier's Venetian plaster finishes, alongside Marmorino, Stucco Lustro, metallic and textured or matte. Polished plaster is smooth, with a controlled sheen from matte to high gloss.
How do the warranties differ?
A 2-year written warranty is provided on microcement installations. This does not affect your statutory rights. The position for Venetian plaster is set out on the Venetian plaster page: the written warranty applies to microcement installations. Warranty scope for a particular project is confirmed on enquiry.
How do you choose between the two?
Choose by the surface and the exposure. Floors, wet rooms and worktops point to microcement. Walls and ceilings away from direct water, where depth and sheen matter, point to Venetian plaster. Many projects use both. A survey confirms what each surface can take before a finish is specified.
For ongoing care, see the guide to how long microcement lasts. For cost, see the microcement cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for a bathroom, microcement or Venetian plaster?
Microcement suits shower zones, wet rooms and bathroom floors. Atelier does not specify Venetian plaster for shower zones or floors.
Is polished plaster the same as Venetian plaster?
In UK use the terms overlap. Polished plaster is one of Atelier's Venetian plaster finishes: smooth, with a controlled sheen from matte to high gloss.
Can you use microcement and Venetian plaster in the same room?
Yes. A microcement floor can sit beneath a Venetian plaster wall, and where each finish goes is decided at survey.
Does Venetian plaster come with a warranty?
The written warranty applies to microcement installations.
What is the main difference between microcement and Venetian plaster?
Microcement is a cementitious coating for surfaces that take wear or water. Venetian plaster is a lime-based, hand-burnished finish for walls and ceilings.
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