Our Specialisms
Polished Plaster in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire's homes run from the timber-framed and Georgian houses around St Albans Cathedral and Fishpool Street to the Victorian villas of Harpenden, the long historic high street of Berkhamsted, the large modern houses of Radlett, and farmhouses and barns in the villages around Tring, Hertford and Bishop's Stortford. Choice Finishes applies Venetian plaster, Marmorino, grassello, Tadelakt and microcement across the county, bringing the same sampling and preparation we use on London hospitality projects. Explore all our finishes for polished plaster in London.
Finishes: Venetian plaster · Marmorino · Tadelakt · Microcement
Venetian Plaster — Lucido
New-build and contemporary homes
Radlett and parts of Harpenden are known for large modern and rebuilt houses, often with open-plan ground floors, double-height spaces and extensive glazing. Here polished plaster is a natural partner to stone, timber and metal. A smooth Venetian finish or a satin Marmorino can run across an open-plan kitchen and living space, while a high-polish Lucido makes a strong feature in a study, bar or dining room. In new-build houses we check that the substrate is suitable and properly prepared, as we level and prime the wall ourselves before any decorative coat goes on.
Barn conversions and farmhouses
Converted barns in rural Hertfordshire combine oak frames, vaulted roofs and large openings. A hand-worked Marmorino or Spatulata gives the walls between the frames a soft, natural texture that suits the building's character. As lime-based finishes, they also suit the breathable construction of older agricultural buildings. Where walls or panels need repair first, our lime plasterers can carry it out.
Period houses in St Albans and Berkhamsted
In St Albans and Berkhamsted many older houses are listed and in conservation areas. These were built with lime, and the right decorative finish needs to stay breathable. Marmorino and grassello, made from slaked lime and marble, are generally compatible with solid walls. We assess the background, repair in lime where needed, and agree the specification with the conservation officer. In Victorian villas in Harpenden, with tall hallways and cornices, a satin Marmorino in the hall and staircase gives a durable, elegant surface.
A London project in an understated palette
Our polished and architectural plaster projects are in London rather than Hertfordshire. For The Hoxton in Holborn we developed an aged off-white architectural plaster with subtle tonal variation, refined through full-scale samples on site until it sat comfortably alongside copper leaf detailing. That understated, textured off-white is a good fit for a barn conversion or a contemporary Hertfordshire kitchen, and the Hoxton case study shows how we arrived at it.
Bathrooms, showers and wet rooms
For showers and wet rooms, Tadelakt is the traditional waterproof Moroccan lime plaster, polished with stones and sealed with olive-oil soap, and suitable when correctly detailed. Venetian plaster and Marmorino are water-resistant once waxed and suit bathroom walls away from direct water and cloakrooms. Microcement offers seamless floors and walls. In every wet area the waterproofing behind the finish matters as much as the surface.
Ceilings and external polished plaster
Polished plaster ceilings suit vaulted barn spaces and double-height halls, with curves applied and burnished by hand. Outside, a breathable, weather-resistant lime-based system over sound render can be used on garden walls, courtyards and outbuildings. As we also carry out external rendering, we can handle the background and the finish together.
Plastering in Hertfordshire
Our Hertfordshire area page covers our heritage lime plastering, cornice restoration and rendering across the county.
Polished plaster in Hertfordshire: frequently asked questions
Yes, as long as the substrate is suitable and correctly prepared. We level and prime the walls ourselves before applying the decorative coats, so the finish is not let down by the background.
Yes. Hand-worked Marmorino and Spatulata finishes suit exposed frames and vaulted spaces, and being lime-based they work with the breathable construction of older barns.
Lime-based finishes such as Marmorino and grassello are generally compatible with traditional solid walls. We repair the background in lime where needed and agree the specification with the conservation officer.
Get in Touch
Planning polished plaster in Hertfordshire?
Send us drawings or photographs and tell us about the property and the finish you have in mind. We will arrange a site visit, on-site sampling and a fixed quote. Call 07854 393865 or email choicefinishesltd@gmail.com.