Do you want to refresh the interior of your home but are tired of the debris, dust, and toxins that come with renovating? We will share with you six alternatives to today’s conventional finishing materials. And most importantly, these six alternatives come from pure nature, are breathable, create a healthy indoor climate in your living space, and are an environmentally friendly choice! Natural materials are free of harmful substances and putty dust. These are fine natural plasters that can be used to achieve very luxurious-looking finishes as well as rustic and rustic surfaces. The choice is yours!
Clay plaster – living and breathing
Properties: 100% natural, breathable, allergy-free, regulates humidity, neutralizes bad odors and harmful substances, cleans the air, antistatic, accumulates heat, neutralizes electromagnetic pollution, does not contain organic or synthetic volatile particles, strong and durable – German clay plaster standard (DIN 18947 : 2013-08).
Finishing surface: Clay plaster can be created with both a structural and smooth surface. The range of colors is wide, and the shades are mostly pastel and matte. To achieve a more effective wall, it is possible to add decorations: straw, flax, seashell, cornflower, marble, semi-precious stones, and mica.
If you asked: “What would be the best interior decoration material for a panel house apartment?”, We would answer you without thinking any further: “Definitely clay plaster!”
Why do we bring out a panel house apartment and clay plaster? This natural material with endless color and surface structure possibilities has unique construction physical properties that significantly affect your well-being. And its effect is incredibly definite in the spring-autumn and summer periods. What exactly does this mean?
One problem that the residents of a panel house often face is mold caused by excessive moisture! There is a situation where the moisture has nowhere to go, and mold forms. Many apartments in the panel house do not have a ventilation system, old windows are replaced with plastic windows, and synthetic paints and wallpapers are used in the interior decoration.
Clay plaster is coming to the rescue! Clay is a material that binds moisture in the room and returns it in dry weather, keeping the humidity at a level suitable for humans (50-60%). Clay plaster regulates humidity. This means that your room air is no longer as dry or too humid, and you feel much better in the room! What’s more, clay has the ability to bind moisture, and in a panel house apartment, this means a significantly softer microclimate where no mold is formed. In addition, clay plaster neutralizes unpleasant odors and harmful substances such as kitchen fumes, food odors, etc.
In addition to all the above, clay plaster keeps the flag high in terms of aesthetic appearance: natural, cozy, and strong, and high quality. Clay has an endless number of pastel colors, which are achieved by mixing different colored clay or adding natural color soils and pigments.
Lime plaster – natural moisture resistance
Properties: 100% natural, durable, with good surface strength, moisture resistant, inhibits mold formation, breathable, allergy-free, antistatic, does not contain organic or synthetic volatile particles. Finishing surface: It is possible to achieve both a smooth and matt finishing surface as well as a rustic and rough surface.
Lime plaster is a natural plaster that is resistant to constant temperature fluctuations, humidity, and wear. Such resilience has been observed over time in cold Nordic countries as well as in sunny and hot Greece and Morocco. Therefore, lime plaster can be used both indoors and outdoors. Lime is particularly suitable for damp rooms such as bathrooms and basements, where the special property of lime, its high pH level, helps to prevent the formation of molds.
In terms of building physical properties, lime plaster is very similar to clay plaster, creating a “breathable” indoor climate that is allergy-free and antistatic.
Traditional lime plaster has a white, uneven, and rough surface on the wall and creates a rustic interior. If you don’t like this style, don’t worry. The marble lime plaster with a thinner grain size leaves a smoother and lighter surface structure, and with the lime plaster called stucco, you also achieve a perfectly smooth and even surface, the result of which can be both matt and glossy.
Stucco – smooth and luxurious
Properties of lime stucco: 100% natural, durable, with good surface strength, inhibits mold formation, water-repellent, breathable, allergy-free, does not contain organic or synthetic volatile particles.
Properties of clay stucco: 100% natural, durable, with good surface strength, breathable, allergy-free, neutralizes electromagnetic pollution, inhibit mold formation, does not contain organic or synthetic volatile particles.
Finishing surface: Venetian rich shine. Both glossy and matte results can be achieved. Wide range of color tones and the possibility to combine several colors on one surface, achieving an effect wall. You can also choose a light and dark shade of your favorite and create a surface where the light shade gently turns dark.
Clay stucco is inspired by Japan, where it has historically been used a lot and is still used today. When finishing clay stucco, special Japanese trowels are used, giving it its characteristic shine and strength. At the same time, this clay has its softness, which invites you to touch it with your hand. Clay stucco is perfect for finishing demanding surfaces with a higher workload: corridors, public spaces. To make the surface of the clay stucco cleanable, a layer of wax is added to the finish. Clay stucco is also used to finish clay floors, which leaves a beautiful smooth surface and is easy to clean.
Stucco is the best choice if you prefer a completely smooth surface with a matte or glossy finish. But in addition, it is essential to distinguish between clay stucco and lime stucco. Both have their characteristics and properties, but they both have one unique feature: stucco allows you to combine several colors on one surface. In this way, it is possible to create colored effect walls or a transition of tones where the two colors merge.
Lime stucco was created inspired by Italy, where it was called stucco Veneziano or stucco Lustro. It has a stronger surface and is easier to maintain, and it can also be washed if necessary. Lime stucco can be used, among other things, in damp rooms to achieve a luxurious finish on surfaces where daily water exposure is minimal. We recommend covering areas with high humidity, such as a shower, with Tadelakt instead. Lime stucco can also be safely used on the wall behind the kitchen counter, where you can create a personal and effective surface using the charms of stucco color magic.
Marmorino – a luxurious marble effect
Properties: 100% natural, durable, outstanding surface strength, water-repellent, breathable, allergy-free, antibacterial, free of harmful contaminants.
Finishing surface: A marble-like surface, the final finish of which can be satin-matt or glossy.
Marmorino is a finishing putty that is suitable for demanding customers and demanding surfaces that must be able to be cleaned and washed. The installation of marmorino is easy and fast, and its properties fit very well into public buildings, such as schools, hospitals, corridors, offices, etc. Marmorino is a 100% natural lime plaster putty that mimics marble. This finishing putty gives your interior a luxurious touch that will not leave anyone indifferent. Marmorino is a natural white color that can be tinted to achieve precisely the result you imagine in your mind. The finished surface will remain satin-matte or glossy, depending on what you prefer. Marmorino is also ideal for luxury hotel rooms, offices, saunas, and bathrooms with low humidity, but of course, also for regular homes.
Tadelakt – an alternative to ceramic tile
Properties: 100% natural, durable, with excellent surface strength, water-repellent, inhibits mold formation, breathable, allergy-free, does not contain organic or synthetic volatile particles.
Finishing surface: Soft as silk, strong as stone. Smooth and water-repellent surface with a wide range of shades.
Tadelakt – this is an opportunity to give your bath or shower personality! Tadelakt is the best plaster to mimic the shapes and curves of the substrate. It can create curved corners, sinks, baths, vases, sculptures, or even lamp domes. Tadelakt can also be used to cover round, unique ovens. Tadelakt is a lime-based finishing plaster ideal for replacing ceramic wall tiles, and the result is joint-free. Unlike ordinary lime plaster, the surface of this plaster is silky smooth and water-repellent but at the same time strong as stone. Thus, it is well suited for damp rooms, especially in places where there is close contact with water, such as a shower. Tadelakt is the most durable natural building material for constant water contact. Therefore it is preferred in rooms with a higher humidity load. The water-repellent surface of Tadelakt is achieved by compacting and polishing the surface with a special small tool – a polishing stone – and in addition, organic olive oil soap is used for finishing.
Natural clay and lime paints
Properties: 100% natural, diffuse, allergy-free, antibacterial, does not contain organic or synthetic volatile particles.
Finishing surface: Matt, pastel and slightly structural.
Lime paints are mainly used on facades because they are weather resistant. The lime paint creates a special environment on the facades, leaving the surface mottled. This peculiar environment can be seen and felt most in Stockholm’s Old Town, where all the buildings are exclusively covered with lime paint. Clay and lime paints are 100% natural paints. The main advantages of which, compared to other paints, are that they are odorless and do not contain volatile organic compounds or synthetic adhesives and preservatives. These paints are also “breathable”, ie, they do not impede the water vapor binding of the substrate.
Clay paint is naturally the cleanest and safest paint you can make. Children can also be confidently involved in clay finishing. Nothing happens when a child accidentally puts colored fingers in his mouth. Clay colors are pastel and cozy, creating a romantic feeling of space. These colors of our mother’s land are in harmony with our environment, creating a sense of peace and ground in us.
Surfaces covered with clay paint remain velvety matte and slightly structural, which does not reflect light. These paints are very easy to apply and have good coverage.
If any of the above finishing materials inspired you, please contact us! We help you find suitable materials for the surface of your home – this is our competence.
