A hand-troweled wall finish changes how a room feels. Light moves across it differently, and the color seems to sit within the surface rather than on top of it. Pro Mason Supply offers two such finishes for decorative interior walls: Color Skim lime plaster and Microcement Wall Finish. Their colors share names, but they are different materials, and each brings its own character to a room. Durability is the other core difference: sealed with Concrete Paint Armor Coat – Advanced Sealer, a heavy-duty two-part sealer, Microcement is a harder, durable, scrubbable surface that may take on a higher sheen, and is suited to kitchen backsplashes and other walls that need regular cleaning.
Two kinds of character
Color Skim is a smooth, sand-free lime plaster used in place of paint. Color is built into the plaster, so trowel strokes and minerals show as soft, cloudy movement. It can be left matte or burnished for a soft sheen.
Microcement gives an interior wall the look of cement and concrete: the grounded, mineral presence of an architectural material, brought into a living room, dining room or bedroom. Sealed with Armor Coat, a heavy-duty two-part sealer, it is a harder, durable, scrubbable surface, may take on a higher sheen, and is suited to kitchen backsplashes and other walls that need regular cleaning. For basic wall protection, it can instead be sealed with Lime Plaster Sealer – Water Based. Armor Coat may also deepen the color.
Neither is better overall. If you picture soft lime color with gentle movement, start with Color Skim. If you picture the character of cement on a feature wall, look at Microcement. And if you need a harder, durable, scrubbable finish—for a kitchen backsplash or other walls that need regular cleaning—Microcement sealed with Armor Coat is the better fit. That sealer may also bring a higher sheen.
What each is made of
- Color Skim: lime and fine crushed marble, with no sand.
- Microcement: fine cements and crushed quartz.
Even where color names match, the two finishes won't look the same. Compare each one in its own material.
On the wall
Both are applied by trowel in thin decorative coats of 1/16 inch or less on suitably prepared walls. They are finishes, not fillers: neither is meant to build up a surface or fill gaps. Microcement is for decorative interior walls only, not floors, showers or countertops. When sealed with Armor Coat, it is also suited to kitchen backsplashes and other walls that need regular cleaning.
Preparation, priming and sealing differ between the two, so follow the current instructions for the finish you choose, including its recommended primer (Lime Plaster Primer – Smooth, where a primer is specified) and sealer.
At a glance
| Color Skim | Microcement | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Soft lime color with trowel movement; matte or burnished | Cement and concrete look |
| Material | Lime and fine crushed marble, no sand | Fine cements and crushed quartz |
| Durability / cleaning | A softer lime surface, not meant for regular scrubbing | Sealed with Armor Coat, a harder, durable, scrubbable surface that may take on a higher sheen; suited to kitchen backsplashes and walls that need regular cleaning |
| Sealer options | Lime Plaster Sealer – Water Based after a 1–3 week cure, or a wax, soap or oil finish | Lime Plaster Sealer – Water Based (basic) or Concrete Paint Armor Coat – Advanced Sealer (heavy-duty, two-part). Armor Coat may deepen the color and change the sheen |
| Good for | Living spaces and feature walls (interior walls only) | Feature walls and other decorative interior walls; kitchen backsplashes and walls that need regular cleaning, when sealed with Armor Coat |
Choose with samples in your own room
Room images can help you picture a finish, but screens vary. Physical samples let you compare color and texture in person.
If samples of both finishes are available, compare them side by side, and ask which material each sample represents before comparing. Hold samples against the wall you have in mind. Look in morning light and again in the evening, beside your timber, stone and textiles. A small sample is a guide; a full wall can still read differently with light and application.
Explore Color Skim · Explore Microcement