Armourcoat polished hard plasters, from The Polished Plaster Company are celebrated for their smoothness, lustre and decorative richness. They give a sumptuous, enduring finish which can be enhanced by a host of textures and colours, thereby blending or contrasting with any setting, whether classical or modern.
Emulating quarried stone such as marble and limestone is achieved easily, convincingly and cost-effectively – particularly for columns and curves – and with significantly less weight.
The incredible hardness and durability of Armourcoat polished plaster ensure years of maintenance-free service with no fear of cracking or fading. What’s more, the unique Armourcoat aesthetic will ensure the material remains a cut above the more usual internal decorative finishes.
Finishes
Smooth
The smooth polished finish is similar to the marmorino stucco, used extensively in Northern Italy during the Renaissance period, as an internal and external wall finish and as a background for the ornate frescoes which dominated much of the decoration at that time. It is this combination of material and technique that is widely regarded as Venetian plaster.
The final appearance of this finish is dependent on the hand of the individual applicator, making it possible to achieve anything from a plain, lightly polished surface to a more highly burred and marbleised effect.
Spatulata
The Spatulata finish is pure luxury. Pioneered by the Egyptians; improved by the Romans; it became known as stucco lustro veneziano by the Venetians. Traditionally it was applied in 10-15 fine coats over a background of two-three layers of semi-dry marmorino and finally polished with hot irons. Modern additives have greatly improved the working characteristics, enabling it to be successfully applied in just five-seven layers and polished to a glassy shine with a small steel blade or trowel.
The Spatulata finish is a unique mix of high-grade aged lime putty, micronised marble powder and special additives. For many, it is the ultimate Venetian stucco. It is certainly the one with the highest sheen and the most intriguing texture. Applied in numerous fine layers and then trowel polished to a glassy surface, it possesses remarkable depth and sheen.
Armuralia
The latest addition to the Selector range of polished plaster, Armuralia provides an exquisite, silky smooth finish with subtle tonal variations. This finish has an inherent elegance, achieving unrivalled depth and vibrancy of colours.
The final appearance of this finish is very dependent on the hand of the individual applicator, making it possible to achieve anything from a plain, lightly polished surface to a more highly burred and marbleised effect.
Pitted
The rugged, more grainy appearance of the Pitted finish combines with a less highly polished surface to create the appearance and feel of honed or lightly polished limestone. It is most effective when used to create the appearance of a monolithic stone surface or a natural stone block. The Pitted finish is seen to best effect in lighter or natural stone colours and can benefit greatly from acute down lighting to accentuate the slightly pitted nature of the surface.
This finish has a subtle quality and, although not visually dramatic over large areas or when viewed from a distance, it is used extensively as a rich backdrop for artwork and high fashion. All Pitted finishes, with or without colourwash, combine superbly with pearlescent glaze.