Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe
Limewash, Plaster and Microcement in Reno and Lake Tahoe
When you want a wall with texture and depth instead of flat paint. We apply limewash, Venetian plaster, Roman clay and microcement on interior walls, ceilings, fireplaces and accent walls, and we coat garage floors. Same crew, same prep-first approach as the rest of our work.
- Licensed and insured, NV Lic. #0090928
- Veteran-owned and family-run
- BBB A+ rated
- Backed by our in-house warranty
Which Finish Fits Your Room
Each of these looks and wears differently. Here's the short version.
Limewash
A mineral wash brushed on in layers. Good on brick and stone fireplaces and on walls where you want an old-world, lived-in look.
More on limewashVenetian Plaster and Roman Clay
Troweled on in thin coats. Roman clay stays matte, Venetian plaster is burnished to a soft sheen and depth.
More on plasterMicrocement
A thin cement-based coating with no grout lines or seams. A clean, modern look on feature walls and fireplace surrounds.
More on microcementGarage Floor Coatings
A coating system on the concrete slab that stands up to tires, salt and slush and sweeps clean.
More on garage floorsVenetian Plaster and Roman Clay
Both are troweled on by hand in thin coats. Roman clay dries to a smooth, matte finish that looks like soft stone. Venetian plaster goes a step further: each coat is pressed and burnished with the trowel, so the wall takes on depth and a soft sheen that changes with the light.
Where it works well
- Accent walls and entryways
- Fireplace surrounds
- Powder rooms and dining rooms
- Ceilings and arched or curved walls
Good to know
- Prep is the job. The wall has to be flat and sound, because plaster shows every dip under raking light.
- Roman clay is the quieter, matte option. Venetian plaster is the more polished one.
- A sealer or wax can go on top for rooms that see more hands and splashes.
- Like limewash, we work in sections so the dry air doesn't flash the edges.
Not Sure Which Finish? Let’s Narrow It Down.
Three quick taps or fewer. You'll get the finish we'd point you toward, and why.
1. Where is it going?
2. Which look are you after?
3. How much wear does that spot get?
Limewash
Limewash is made from lime and water, tinted with natural pigment and brushed on in layers. It soaks into the surface instead of sitting on top like paint, which is what gives it that soft, cloudy movement. No two walls come out exactly alike, and that's the point.
Where it works well
- Brick and stone fireplaces
- Living room, dining room and bedroom walls
- Ceilings, for a soft, matte finish overhead
- Rooms where you want warmth and texture without a heavy pattern
Good to know
- It needs a surface it can soak into. Over painted drywall, a mineral primer goes on first.
- It's matte and breathable, so it's best on walls that don't get scrubbed hard.
- It can be recoated later to refresh the color.
- Reno and Tahoe air is dry, so we work in small sections to keep the layers blending instead of showing lap marks.
Microcement
Microcement is a thin, cement-based coating troweled on in layers a few millimeters thick, then sealed. It gives you the look of poured concrete without the weight, the forms or the seams, and it can go right over a sound existing surface.
Where it works well
- Feature walls
- Fireplace surrounds and hearth walls
- Accent walls in kitchens and living spaces
- Rooms going for a clean, modern look
Good to know
- Right now we apply microcement on walls and fireplaces only. We don't do microcement floors or showers.
- The surface underneath has to be solid and stable, because the coating follows what's under it.
- The sealer is what protects it, so it goes on as part of every job.
- Expect natural variation in tone. It's a hand-troweled finish, not a printed one.
Garage Floor Coatings
A garage floor takes tires, salt, slush and dropped tools all winter. A coating system seals the concrete so it stands up to that and sweeps or hoses clean. The coating only holds as well as the prep under it, so most of the work happens before anything goes on the floor.
Where it works well
- Attached and detached garages
- Shop and workshop floors
- Garages that track in winter salt and slush
- Floors you want easy to sweep and hose off
Good to know
- The slab is mechanically prepped so the coating has something to bite into. A coat over bare, smooth concrete is what peels.
- Cracks and spalled spots are repaired before coating.
- We check the slab for moisture first, because moisture coming up through concrete pushes coatings off.
- Coatings need the slab and air warm enough to cure. Heated garages can be done any time. Unheated garages are scheduled for warmer weather.
How a Specialty Finish Job Runs
Same order every time, whichever finish you pick.
Walk the space
We look at the room, the surface and the light, talk through which finish fits, and give you a written quote.
Protect
Floors, furniture and fixtures get covered and masked before any prep starts.
Prep the surface
Repairs, sanding, priming or grinding, depending on the finish. This is most of the job.
Apply in layers
Brushed or troweled by hand in sections, coat by coat, then sealed where the finish calls for it.
Walk it with you
We clean up and go over the finished work with you before we call it done.
Specialty Coatings Questions
What's the difference between limewash, Roman clay and Venetian plaster?
Limewash is a thin mineral wash brushed on in layers, with a soft, cloudy look. Roman clay is troweled on in thin coats and dries to a smooth, matte, stone-like finish. Venetian plaster is also troweled, then burnished so it takes on depth and a soft sheen. Limewash is the most casual of the three and Venetian plaster the most polished.
Can limewash go over painted drywall?
Yes, with the right prep. Limewash needs a surface it can soak into. Over painted drywall, a mineral primer goes on first so the limewash grabs. Bare brick and stone take it directly once they're clean.
Do you do microcement floors or showers?
Not right now. We apply microcement on walls, fireplace surrounds and accent walls. Floors and wet areas like showers take a different system and more risk, so we don't offer them yet.
Can you coat my garage floor in winter?
It depends on the garage. Floor coatings need the slab and the air to be warm enough while they go on and cure. A heated garage can be done any time of year. In an unheated Reno or Tahoe garage, we schedule the work for warmer weather.
Can you paint over limewash or plaster later if I change my mind?
Yes. Limewash and plaster can be primed and painted over later, and limewash can be recoated to refresh it. Tell us up front if you think you'll want to change it, and we'll plan the finish around that.
Is a specialty finish covered by your warranty?
Yes. Specialty finishes are backed by our in-house warranty, the same as the rest of our work.
Get a Free Estimate on a Specialty Finish
Tell us the room or the garage and what look you're after, and add a few photos if you have them. We'll come out, look at the surface and talk through which finish fits.
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