Lime plaster is a mineral wall finish bound with slaked lime rather than a synthetic resin. It hardens by carbonation, gradually reabsorbing carbon dioxide from the air, and it stays vapour permeable once cured, so moisture moves out of the wall instead of being trapped behind the surface. Silk Plaster offers two lime-based finishes: Marmorino Carrara and Travertino Naturale.
Marmorino Carrara
Marmorino Carrara is a mineral decorative plaster made from high-quality slaked lime, for interior and exterior walls. It is produced with 24-month aged slaked lime: the long carbonation period yields a denser, more workable paste with a deeper polish, so the finished surface burnishes to a smooth satin or glossy marble lustre and develops a stone-like patina over time.
It is 100% vapour permeable with natural mould-resistant properties, rated A+ for indoor air quality, and mineral-based and UV stable, which is what allows it to be used on protected exterior facades as well as inside. Depending on how hard the final passes are compacted, the finish runs from full matt through satin to a polished gloss.
Travertino Naturale
Travertino Naturale, also known as Intonachino, is a lime-based decorative plaster that recreates the look of natural travertine stone. It is made from aged lime hydrate, pure clay, selected marble grains and natural sands, and it finishes as a matt stone effect with a pitted travertine texture.
Three texture variants are available: Naturale, Romano and Toscano. Coverage is approximately 10-12 m2 per pack across two coats, depending on thickness. The material is VOC A+ rated, breathable, resistant to mould and mildew, and UV stable. It can be applied inside or outside, including on drywall and wood panelling with a suitable primer.
Which of the two to choose
Marmorino Carrara is the smoother and more reflective of the pair. It carries a fine marble grain and can be compacted to a satin or polished marble lustre, which suits feature walls, hallways, hospitality and retail interiors where depth and sheen are the point.
Travertino Naturale is the more openly textured and matt of the two, with a pitted stone surface. It suits walls where tactility and a quarried stone look matter more than gloss, and it is forgiving enough that a first-time applicator can finish a wall confidently.
Lime plaster and indoor air quality
Because lime finishes stay vapour permeable and avoid the solvents used in synthetic paints, they come up regularly where indoor air quality is assessed formally rather than assumed. Both Silk Plaster lime finishes carry an A+ indoor air quality rating.
For the wider picture, see our article Natural Lime Plaster Finishes, Indoor Air Quality and the WELL Building Standard.
How lime plaster is applied
Both finishes need a matured substrate, sound, smooth and dust-free, with a minimum of 28 days before work starts, and both need priming for lime plasters. Marmorino Carrara is trowelled on with a stainless-steel Venetian spatula: a first coat that forms the swells which become the marble veining, then a tight, thin second coat that is compacted under pressure as it sets to bring up the satin or polished lustre. It can then be sealed with a varnish, pearl topcoat, velatura or natural wax.
Work between +10 and +35 degrees Celsius at under 75% humidity. Full cure takes 7 to 12 days. Best results come from an experienced decorator, since the burnishing passes are what create the signature lustre. Full step-by-step detail, substrate limits and technical data are on each product page.
