Microcement and Venetian plaster are both popular alternatives to traditional surface materials. While there are some similarities between the two, each finish has unique characteristics to take into consideration when choosing which one is best for your project.

Microcement is a cement-based coating that's known for its durability, versatility, and beautiful seamless finish. It’s a newer innovation in the surfacing industry; we were the first Australian microcement installers in 1999. It’s a good choice for creating a concrete look and feel, but with a lightweight construction and more widespread functionality. It’s suitable for a variety of surfaces: floors, walls, ceilings, and furniture in both internal and external spaces, including wet areas.

Venetian plaster is a lime-based plaster with a rich history that dates back to Roman times. Venetian plaster is known for a finish that can give the appearance of marble or stone, but it can also be customised for a more subtle texture (very similar to microcement) in a very wide range of colours. It's applied only to walls and best suited for indoor settings.

Similarities between microcement and Venetian plaster

Microcement and Venetian plaster are both considered luxury, high-end finishes. In terms of aesthetics, they can appear very similar. The finished surface provides a more textured and dynamic result than standard paint and plaster — with visible trowel marks and tonal variation. There are opportunities to customise the colour and texture of both microcement and Venetian plaster surfaces. Application technique is also quite similar, as both are applied by hand in thin layers.

Differences between microcement and Venetian plaster

Costs: Pricing for hand-rendered finishes always depends on project dimensions, area of installation, and substrate. When you compare the cost of installation for microcement and Venetian plaster, there are savings to be found with both. Resurfacing tiles, for example, is a more cost-effective exercise with microcement as it can be installed straight over the top. In other cases, such as a small feature wall, it might be cheaper to use Venetian plaster as you can DIY the installation.
Durability: While both are decorative coatings, microcement is stronger as it’s made with cement. This means microcement can be applied to high-traffic flooring while Venetian plaster is only rendered on walls. Microcement is also crack resistant with a more flexible formula, while Venetian plaster might need upkeep as cracks appear from substrate movement over time.
Applications: You can apply Venetian plaster over porous substrates such as prepared plasterboard, brick, cement board, and concrete. Microcement can be installed over almost any existing hard material, including tiles.
DIY: Some companies sell DIY microcement kits, but most microcement suppliers only supply it to trained renderers as it can be difficult to execute correctly without specialised knowledge — especially as it’s commonly installed in high-traffic areas, intricate/complex shapes, or needs waterproofing. Venetian plaster is more suitable for home owners taking on DIY projects, as it’s only applied to flat walls.
Outdoor Areas: Venetian plaster is not recommended in external environments, while microcement is durable enough to hold up in all climates and conditions.
Waterproofing: When applied indoors, both materials are sealed to created a wipeable, water repellant surface; but only microcement can be fully waterproofed and installed in wet areas like showers, pools, and sinks.
Design: Both microcement and Venetian plaster can be customised in colour and texture, but Venetian plaster typically has a wider range of colour possibilities.