Finishes
Five hand finishes, and what each is for
We apply every one of these by hand. Each shows a little differently in every room, which is why we start with boards.
Limewash
A mineral wash brushed on in thin coats. It soaks into the wall and leaves soft, cloudy color that moves with the light.
Plaster, block, stucco and adobe-style walls
Two to four thin coats
Blends in when touched up
Polished plaster
Thin coats of fine plaster troweled flat and burnished until the wall has depth and a soft sheen. Often called Venetian plaster.
Baths, fireplaces and feature walls
Needs a smooth, well-prepared wall
Repaired a panel at a time
Troweled lime plaster
A matte plaster pulled across the wall in broad passes, so the trowel marks become the texture.
Living rooms, halls and arches
Hides small flaws in old walls
Choose the texture on a board
Glaze and scumble
A see-through color dragged or wiped over a base coat. Used to warm, age or add depth to a color you already have.
Walls, doors, mantels and trim
Worked while wet, so it goes room by room
Matched by hand, not exactly
Metallic and accent finishes
Copper, gold or pearl worked into plaster or glaze, kept to small areas: a niche, a powder room, a ceiling edge.
Small areas, not whole houses
Seen best under lamp light
A board first, always
What comes first
Prep that goes under every finish
Most of the work is done before the plaster comes out of the bucket.
Read the surface
Drywall, old plaster, block and stucco each need a different base.
Open and fill cracks
Hairline cracks are opened and filled, then skimmed flat.
Prime to hold the finish
A primer made for lime or plaster goes on first, so the finish bonds.
Mask and protect
Floors, trim, outlets and furniture are covered before a trowel is lifted.
Test a patch
Old or patched walls get a hand-sized test patch behind a door.
Seal and cure
Plaster is left to cure between coats and sealed when the wall asks for it.
Questions about the finishes
Can you plaster or limewash over painted walls?
Often, after sanding and a primer made to hold the finish. Limewash needs a surface that can take it, so painted drywall gets a special primer first. The estimate says what your wall needs.
Who buys the materials, and which ones?
We do, and the estimate lists the plaster, lime or glaze by type. Ask for the product data sheet for any of them and we will send it before you decide.
Can a hand finish be touched up later?
Usually, but a patch never matches a finished wall exactly. Limewash blends over a wider area; polished plaster is repaired a whole panel at a time. We tell you which at the end of the job.
Does the Tucson summer change how you work?
Yes. Plaster and limewash dry fast in dry heat and can cure unevenly, so from June to September the crew starts at 5:30 a.m. and keeps the room cooler. During the monsoon, humid days slow drying and we move the schedule.
Not sure which finish? Start with a board.
Tell us the room and what is on the wall. We bring boards and help you choose.