Choosing the right Earthaus finish depends on your project. Earthaus offers seven interior finishes and several exterior options, and each creates a fundamentally different look and feel. This guide will help you narrow down the right finish based on what you're plastering, the look you want, and your skill level.

If you already know your project type, this will point you in the right direction:

Shower or wet area: Tadelakt Finish — Tadelakt is a water-resistant finish installed over a required waterproof membrane — the only Earthaus finish suitable for showers and wet areas. If your project involves a shower, tub surround, or any area with direct water exposure, Tadelakt is your only option. No other Earthaus finish should be used in wet areas.

Interior accent wall — depends on the look you want:

Full room — walls and ceilings: Stone Finish or Sand Finish — These are the most versatile and cost-effective for larger areas. Stone gives a smooth, refined look. Sand gives a warmer, textured feel.

Bathroom (non-shower walls): Stone Finish, Marble Finish, or Tadelakt Finish — All three work well in bathrooms. Use Tadelakt only for areas that get direct water. Stone and Marble work for bathroom walls and ceilings outside the shower zone.

Kitchen walls or backsplash: Stone Finish or Tadelakt Finish — Both are sealable. Tadelakt provides greater water and stain resistance for areas near sinks.

Fireplace surround: any plaster finish works. Tadelakt, Stone, Marble, Sand, and Base are all suitable.

Painted wall refresh (no plaster): Limewash Finish — Applied like paint with a brush. Gives a soft, matte, European wash effect. No plastering experience needed.

Brick, stone, or masonry surface: Lime Slurry Finish — A hand-brushed plaster coating that lets the texture and silhouette of the underlying substrate show through.

Exterior walls: Lime Stucco (Fine or Coarse) for a full stucco system, or Limewash over existing exterior surfaces.

Cost key: $ = least expensive per sq ft → $$$$ = most expensive per sq ft. Tadelakt costs the most because it has the most products in its system (6 products). Limewash and Lime Slurry cost the least because they are single-product applications.

Tadelakt Finish — Rooted in traditional Moroccan Tadelakt — a hand-burnished, water-resistant finish created when olive oil soap is burnished into lime plaster. The only Earthaus finish suitable for showers and direct water exposure — always installed over a required waterproof membrane in wet areas. Smooth, elegant, with a low lustre sheen. Colors appear slightly darker than the Fan Deck due to burnishing.

System: Primer Grit + Base Plaster + Tadelakt Plaster + Olive Oil Soap Sealer + Beeswax Protective Sealer + Pigment Packs

Skill level: Advanced. Tadelakt is timing-sensitive and multi-step. Several rounds of practice recommended before a real project. Project Consultations available.

Tadelakt Calculator · Sample Kit · Sample Board

Marble Finish — An ultra-smooth, polished finish inspired by traditional Italian Venetian plaster. High lustre with pronounced tonal variation and movement, especially in darker colors. A pearlescent, silky feel.

System: Primer Grit + Stone Plaster (base coat) + Marble Plaster (finish coat) + Olive Oil Soap Sealer + Pigment Packs

Skill level: Advanced. Requires polishing technique to achieve the characteristic sheen and movement.

Marble Calculator · Sample Kit · Sample Board

Stone Finish — The Goldilocks finish — an ideal balance of smooth texture and subtle depth. Inspired by traditional Italian Marmorino. The most versatile and popular Earthaus finish. Matte by default, can be burnished for slight sheen. The Fan Deck is based on Stone Finish, making it the most accurate color reference.

System: Primer Grit + Stone Plaster (base & finish coat) + Olive Oil Soap Sealer + Pigment Packs

Skill level: Intermediate. More forgiving than Tadelakt or Marble.

Stone Calculator · Sample Kit · Sample Board

Sand Finish — A matte, coarse-grained plaster with natural relief and texture. Warm, velvety, with quiet depth. Ideal for rustic, bespoke finishes inspired by sandstone, adobe, or raw concrete.

System: Primer Grit + Sand Plaster (base & finish coat) + Pigment Packs. Optional: Acrylic Sealer.

Skill level: Intermediate. The texture is more forgiving of minor application imperfections.

Sand Calculator · Sample Kit · Sample Board

Base Finish — The most heavily textured Earthaus finish. Coarse-grained with a bold, weighty aesthetic. Can be left raw and highly textured or troweled to a semi-smooth surface for a more refined look. Brings natural, organic character to walls.

System: Primer Grit + Base Plaster (base & finish coat) + Pigment Packs. Optional: Acrylic Sealer.

Skill level: Intermediate.

Base Finish Calculator · Sample Kit · Sample Board

Lime Slurry Finish — A breathable, hand-brushed plaster coating that provides an opaque, matte finish with soft, sandy texture. The underlying substrate — brick, stone, or masonry — subtly shows through. Ideal for a natural, timeworn aesthetic.

System: Lime Slurry only (1-gallon or 5-gallon). 5-gallon requires separate Pigment Pack. 1-gallon comes pre-pigmented.

Skill level: Beginner. Brush-applied, no troweling required.

Available in 54 colors. 1-gallon covers ~35 ft². 5-gallon covers ~175 ft².

Lime Slurry Calculator · Sample Bag

Limewash Finish — A hand-brushed mineral paint — not a plaster. Creates a soft, matte finish with subtle movement and brush strokes. Suitable for both interior and exterior use. Provides a lasting, natural patina that evolves over time.

System: Limewash only. Comes pre-pigmented — no separate Pigment Pack needed.

Skill level: Beginner. Applied with a brush, no plastering experience needed.

Available in 43 colors. 1-gallon covers ~200 ft². 5-gallon covers ~1,000 ft².

Sample Kit

For help choosing a finish, email support@earthausplaster.com or text 1-800-917-2414.