Italian Lime Venetian Plaster: How to Choose
Short answer: For luxury interior walls, start with the finish you want, then pick the plaster that makes it.
- Smooth and polished with a deep shine: Fenice.
- Soft satin, stone-like marmorino: Marmorino Classico, or Marmorino Fine if you want fewer trowel marks.
- Marble or travertine effect: Marmo d'Autore or Marmo Antico.
All of these are San Marco plasters made in Italy with an air-hardening lime binder. They're trowel-applied in at least two coats, come ready to use, and are tinted with oxide-based pigments.¹⁻⁶
What is lime venetian plaster?
Lime venetian plaster is a decorative wall finish based on slaked (air-hardening) lime, mixed with marble dust or fine aggregate and applied by trowel in thin layers.
- How it cures: the lime hardens by carbonation, which means it slowly takes up carbon dioxide from the air. Drying and carbonation are sensitive to temperature and humidity, so San Marco recommends applying between 10 °C and 35 °C with air humidity under 75%, out of direct sunlight.¹ ² ³
- Breathability: lime plasters are highly vapor-permeable, so the wall can breathe.¹ ² ³
- Low VOC: the sheets list very low VOC content (1–30 g/L max, depending on the product).¹⁻⁶
Lime vs. acrylic: we also sell Stucco Veneziano, an acrylic (synthetic) venetian plaster for interiors. It isn't a lime product. Choose it if you specifically want an acrylic system.⁷
The San Marco lime plasters we carry
| Plaster | Finish | Indoor / outdoor (per San Marco sheet, except Fenice) | Coverage (per our product page) | Coats | Dry time (25 °C, 65% RH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenice | Smooth polished, lime-putty effect, works in strong colors too | Indoor only | 9–10 sq ft per 1 kg, 225–250 sq ft per 25 kg (2 coats) | At least 2 | Touch dry 3 h, recoat after 6 h¹ |
| Marmorino Classico | Satin marmorino ("marble-type"), or a sponge-finished colored roughcast | Indoor and outdoor | 3–4 sq ft per 1 kg, 75–100 sq ft per 25 kg (2 coats) | At least 2 | Touch dry 2–3 h, recoat after 12 h² |
| Marmorino Fine | Fine, smooth, matt-satin marmorino, more compact than Classico, without the usual trowel marks | Indoor and outdoor | 8–10 sq ft per 1 kg, 200–250 sq ft per 25 kg (2 coats) | At least 2 | Touch dry 3 h, recoat after 6 h³ |
| Marmo d'Autore (Botticino, Rubino, Emerald) | Smooth, semi-matt, with colored marble and mica flecks | Outdoor and indoor | 6.5–8 sq ft per 1 kg, 160–200 sq ft per 25 kg (2 coats) | At least 2 | Touch dry 2–3 h, recoat after 12 h⁴ |
| Marmo Antico | Textured, close to travertine marble | Indoor and outdoor | 3.5–4 sq ft per 1 kg, 88–100 sq ft per 25 kg (2 coats) | At least 2 | Touch dry 2–3 h, recoat after 12 h⁵ |
| Antica Calce Plus | Brushed effect in slight relief, polished to bring out the strokes | Indoor | 0.4–0.6 kg per ~10 sq ft (2 coats) | 2 | n/a⁶ |
Coverage depends on how smooth and absorbent the wall is. San Marco recommends a test patch to find your actual spread rate.¹⁻⁵
Fenice's technical sheet does not state indoor or outdoor use. We do not recommend Fenice for outdoor use.
How to choose
-
Pick the sheen.
- Fenice polishes to a smooth, shiny finish.
- Marmorino Classico and Marmorino Fine give a softer satin.
- Marmo d'Autore is semi-matt.
- Patina wax on top raises the gloss on any of them.¹ ² ⁸
-
Pick the texture.
- Smoothest: Fenice, Marmorino Fine.
- More visible stone character: Marmorino Classico (quartz up to 0.7 mm).
- Stone effects: Marmo d'Autore and Marmo Antico.² ³ ⁴ ⁵
-
Indoors or outside?
- Interior-only: Fenice and Antica Calce Plus.
- Rated for exteriors: Marmorino Classico, Marmorino Fine, Marmo d'Autore and Marmo Antico.
- Outdoors, San Marco says to protect fresh plaster from rain and damp for about 72 hours.
- Don't use Marmorino on outdoor concrete.¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵ ⁶
-
Pick the color.
- We tint Fenice to order from the color chart.
- If you tint yourself, use oxide-based pigments.¹
- Colors look different on screen, so order the color chart or a finished sample (available for Marmorino Classico, Marmorino Fine and Marmo Antico).² ³ ⁵
-
Work out quantity from the coverage column above. Buy enough from one batch for the whole wall: San Marco recommends remixing multiple batches together, and outdoors using one batch corner to corner.² ³
Finishes
- Polished venetian (Fenice): apply at least two coats with a stainless steel trowel. Once the surface is ready, compact it with small amounts of material and polish with the trowel before it dries completely.¹
- Satin marmorino (Marmorino Classico, Fine): apply two coats and compact them with a steel or plastic trowel as the plaster starts to set.² ³ Marmorino Classico can also be finished with a sponge trowel for a colored roughcast look.²
- Stone effects (Marmo d'Autore, Marmo Antico): trowel-applied. The effect depends on technique and on the colored marble in the mix.⁴ ⁵ Marmo d'Autore is usually left untinted so the colored granite stays visible.⁴
Where to use it
- Interiors: luxury homes, high-end restaurants and shops (our Fenice page), plus architectural details like cornices and columns for the acrylic Stucco Veneziano.¹ ⁷
- Restoration and historic buildings: Marmorino Classico, Marmorino Fine and Marmo d'Autore are described by San Marco as well suited to restoration work, including on historic buildings.² ³ ⁴
- Exteriors: only the plasters rated for outdoor use (see the table). Fenice is not for outdoor use.
- Bathrooms: yes in dry areas of bathrooms. No in wet areas such as showers.
Preparing the wall
San Marco's sheets list these suitable surfaces:¹⁻³
- new and old plasters based on hydraulic binders
- mineral paints and coatings that are dry, compact and absorbent
- absorbent mineral conglomerates
- gypsum board (listed for Fenice)¹
Steps:
- Make sure the surface is fully dry and aged, clean and dust-free. Fill cracks.¹⁻³
- If the substrate isn't uniform (old paint, patches, filler), prime with Marcotherm Primer. Its sand grains give lime finishes like Marmorino something to grip.² ³ ⁹
- On flaky or chalky walls, consolidate first with Atomo.² ³ ¹⁰
- Don't apply over freshly painted surfaces.² ³
Protecting the finish
- Patina wax: a water-based wax for indoor lime finishes. It gives a high gloss and makes the surface slightly water-repellent. Clear, silver, gold and bronze; about 200 sq ft per liter.⁸
- 4Protection: a water-based penetrating clear coat for lime and venetian plasters. It improves stain protection and stops water absorption with minimal change in sheen (it may shift the color slightly). About 150 sq ft per liter.¹¹
Tools you'll need
- Stainless steel trowel. The sheets call for one for every plaster here.¹⁻⁵ Pennelli Tigre trapezoidal, or see all trowels.
- A small or oval stainless steel trowel for corners and curves.
- Plastic trowel for compacting marmorino and applying wax: flexible plastic decorating trowel.² ³
- Spatula for edges and tight spots: Japanese stainless spatula.
- Sponge trowel or sponge for Marmorino Classico's roughcast finish: sponges.²
- Mixer. Lime plasters can thicken in storage, so stir them mechanically before use.² ³ Paint & varnish mixing tool.
- Primer: Marcotherm Primer or Atomo, depending on the wall.
FAQ
What's the difference between venetian plaster and marmorino? Both are lime plasters.
- Polished venetian plaster (Fenice) is very smooth and trowel-polished to a shine.
- Marmorino (Classico, Fine) has a soft satin, stone-like look. Classico has more visible texture, and Fine is more compact, without the typical trowel marks.
Which lime plaster gives the glossiest finish? Fenice is the one that polishes to a high, smooth shine. Adding Patina wax on top raises the gloss further, or gives it a tint.
How much venetian plaster do I need? For two coats, as a rough guide per 25 kg pail:
- Fenice: 225–250 sq ft
- Marmorino Fine: 200–250 sq ft
- Marmo d'Autore: 160–200 sq ft
- Marmorino Classico: 75–100 sq ft
Do a test patch, because absorbent or rough walls use more.
Can lime venetian plaster go outside? Some can. San Marco rates Marmorino Classico, Marmorino Fine, Marmo d'Autore and Marmo Antico for exteriors. Fenice and Antica Calce Plus are interior only. Keep fresh exterior plaster out of rain and damp for about 72 hours, and don't apply Marmorino to outdoor concrete.
Can lime venetian plaster be used in a bathroom? Yes, in dry areas of bathrooms. Do not use it in wet areas such as showers.
How many coats does venetian plaster need, and how long between them? At least two coats.
- Marmorino Classico and Marmo d'Autore: recoat after 12 hours.
- Fenice and Marmorino Fine: recoat after 6 hours.
Times are at 25 °C and 65% humidity and change with conditions.
What primer goes under lime plaster? On uneven walls with old paint, patches or filler, San Marco recommends Marcotherm Primer, whose sand grains help lime finishes grip. Use Atomo first on flaky or chalky surfaces.
Do I need to seal lime venetian plaster? It isn't required, but it helps. Patina wax adds gloss and slight water repellency indoors. 4Protection is a clear coat that improves stain protection and stops water absorption with minimal change in sheen.
What tools do I need for venetian plaster?
- a stainless steel trowel (the main tool for every lime plaster here)
- a plastic trowel for compacting and waxing
- a small trowel or spatula for corners
- a mixer to stir the plaster before use
Questions about your walls or colors? Call 608-620-5066. Orders typically ship same or next business day.