Various Types of Wall Finishes |

Interior Design and Architecture

What are Wall Finishes and the purpose of using them?
As the name Wall Finishes itself suggests that it is finish given to the wall
to enhance the interior or exterior look of the structure. Wall finishes used
for the interiors are quite delicate and need maintenance. The new
contemporary trend has brought about great deal of increase in the usage
of various types of wall finishes for the aesthetic purpose in the interiors
and exteriors.
In this article, we are going to discuss various types of wall finishes, their
preparation and application process
Here is a list of different types of Wall finishes:
1. Cement plastered Finish
2. Cement Textured Finish
3. Plaster of Paris Finish
4. Gypsum Plaster Finish
5. Glass Mosaic Finish
6. Designer Mirror Finish
7. Laminate Finish
8. Marble Powder Finish
We will be discussing some more different types of Wall Finishes in our
successive articles.
Cement plastered Finish
It is prepared in the form of mortar with cement, sand and water in proper
proportions and applied on masonry manually to achieve a smooth finish or
sand faced finish.

Cement Plaster Finish | Wall Finishes
Cement Textured Finish
This is a decorative finish and its mortar is prepared in cement based
material. It is applied with sand faced plaster with a trowel and after that it
is coloured with paint.

Cement Textured Finish | Wall Finishes
Plaster of Paris Finish
Plaster of Paris or simply plaster is a type of building material based on
calcium sulphate hemihydrates. This is a smooth finish achieved by plaster
of Paris generally applied on internal walls.

Plaster of Paris Finish | Wall Finishes
Gypsum Plaster Finish
This just like plaster of Paris finish but gypsum based material is used to
prepare mortar. It is more durable and finer as compared to Plaster of Paris
Finish.

Gypsum plaster Finish | Wall Finishes
Glass Mosaic Finish
Glass mosaic tiles are small 1x1 on a cloth to get a workable size 12x12
and this tile is pasted with an adhesive on wall surfaces. It can also be
pasted on curved surfaces.

Glass Mosaic Finish | Wall Finishes
It comes in different colours and generally used in swimming pools.
Designer Mirror Finish
Designer mirrors are obtained by small pieces on walls to create mural like
design.

Designer Mirror Finish | Wall Finishes
Laminate Finish
Laminate comes in various colours and designs. It comes in the form of
sheet and is pasted with fevicol on Plywood.

Laminate Finish | Wall Finishes
Marble Powder Finish
This is a very smooth finish. The finish looks like Marble flooring. This finish
is obtained by mortar of marble powder, white cement and water. It is
applied manually.

Marble Powder Finish | Wall Finishes
What is wallpaper?
In its most basic form, wallpaper consists of large, thick sheets of paper that usually
have designs printed on them. They can be pasted on walls and ceilings for
decorative purposes, as well as to hide any flaws or imperfections. The styles and
colours of wallpaper available are unimaginably varied and will cater to any budget
or style preference.

What types of wallpaper are there?
When wallpaper first became popular in Renaissance Europe, they literally
consisted of nothing more than large sheets of paper. In modern days, the paper is
usually treated in some form to make it more durable and attractive. Of these, vinyl-
based wallpapers are highly preferred due to its low maintenance and easy
removal.
The most popular types of wallpaper include:
Vinyl coated paper - This is paper that has been coated with an acrylic type vinyl or
polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is washable and relatively easy to strip, making it low
maintenance. It is also more grease and water-resistant than normal paper, which
makes it suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.
Coated fabric - Instead of paper, this consists of a fabric substrate that has been
coated with an acrylic type vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This type of wallpaper is
considered more 'breathable' and is preferable for low-humidity areas such as living
rooms.
Paper backed vinyl/solid sheet vinyl - This is similar to vinyl coated paper, except that
it is a layer of paper or pulp backed to a decorative vinyl surface instead of having
liquid vinyl painted on the paper. Similarly, it is easy to maintain and able to be used
in almost any type of area and climate.
Fabric backed vinyl - This consists of a layer of fabric laminated to a layer of solid
vinyl. There are two types of wallpaper in this category:
Solid vinyl - This type of wallpaper consists of a vinyl film laminated to a piece of paper or
fabric. As the vinyl is in solid and not liquid form, it is more durable and easier to maintain.
Paper - This is a layer of decorative paper that does not necessarily have a protective layer
laminated to it. The types of wallpaper classified under this category are extremely varied, so
be sure to check with your manufacturer before purchasing.








Wall cladding is a type of decorative covering intended to make a wall look like it is
made of a different sort of material than it actually is. Some of the most common
examples are on the outside of buildings, but cladding can also be an artistic
element in interior decorating. Its usually non-structural, which means that it doesnt
impact the stability or integrity of a buildings architectural core. In most cases its
designed to be permanent, and it may provide benefits like insulation and
waterproofing. It can be made out of almost anything, but various metals, stones,
and composite materials are the most common.
Main Function
Cladding is almost always intended to be stylistic rather than functional and is
usually designed to help accent a particular feature or room. Though it could
conceivably cover every surface in a house or building, its more common to find it
in just one or two key areas. A single bathroom wall might be covered in wood
paneling, for instance, which could give the illusion of depth and warmth, or a single
corner or side of a office building might be layered with intricate stone work. The
idea is usually to add interest and vibrancy without the expense of actually re-
building a wall or partition. As such, the various materials and textures are usually
affixed to the top of an existing structure.



Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition that, after application to
a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to
protect, color, or provide texture to objects. Paint can be made or purchased in
many colorsand in many different types, such as watercolor, artificial, etc. Paint is
typically stored, sold, and applied as a liquid, but dries into a solid.
Matte paint:
is the least reflective sheen available
has a velvety texture
helps hides imperfections in walls and ceilings
offers great depth of color
is generally considered the standard sheen for walls
can sometimes be difficult to clean
Eggshell and satin paint (satin is slightly glossier than eggshell):
have some reflectivity
offer improved durability
are frequently used in demanding environments, like kitchens and
bathrooms, where easy cleanup without a highly glossy finish is desired
Semi-gloss and gloss paint:
are the most reflective sheens
are highly durable and stand up to multiple cleanings
are traditionally used on baseboards, moldings, and doors
can make a statement, but also highlight imperfections
As durability improves across all sheen levels with newer paints, many people
are finding creative ways to mix and match them. Weve noticed that
customers are becoming more experimental in their use of paint finish, to
create real impact and texture within a scheme, says Farrow & Ball director
Sarah Cole. Try painting a stripe of full gloss on a matte wall in the same
colour to create a striking, textured look, she suggests. Gloss is also
increasingly being used to striking effect on ceilings and walls to create a
contemporary look, she says.
Sue Kim, color trend and forecast specialist at Valspar, also recommends
trying an accent wall with a gloss sheen, while painting the rest of a room
matte. But at the end of the day, Its all about how you want to set the
atmosphere of your home, she says. A matte sheen gives you a calm and
serene feeling, because of that textural element. On the other end of the
spectrum, gloss adds energy and excitement. As for eggshell and satin, Kim
likes to use them in smaller spaces with little natural light. I always say that a
satin finish is great in a powder room, she says. It reflects the light to bring
out the color.

There are several different types of interior wall paints. The more you know about
appropriate paintable surfaces and the effects that paint can achieve, the easier it is
to make the right choice among the varieties. Its also feasible to mix different types
of interior wall paint within a room.
Matt Paint
Matt color is the most common of interior wall paints. Theres no shine or sheen to
the finish, making it ideal for walls and ceilings where you don't want any visual
distractions. Its easy to apply, although it can often take more than a single coat to
create a good solid color. Matt paint can be applied with a brush or roller and works
well on walls that have imperfections. This makes it ideal for older houses. On the
downside, matt paint is easily marked. Although some marks can be removed with a
damp cloth, matt paint needs regular retouching.
Matt Enamel
Matt enamel is very much like matt paint, but tends to be far more durable. Its much
easier to clean and rarely needs retouching, giving it a great advantage, especially if
you have young children. It is also excellent for the kitchen, where youll regularly
need to wipe walls. The visual effect is very similar to matt paint and it can be
applied in the same way.
Satin
Satin finish is one of the types of interior wall paint that many people know of, but
few really understand. The finish is somewhere between matt and gloss and
produces a low, soft sheen. This makes it ideal for areas where youll need to clean
the walls regularly. However, you shouldnt use a satin finish where you have a wall
with imperfections because it will make them more apparent.
TIP: Painting professional Edward Kimble, author of Interior House Painting Blog,
notes, semi-gloss and eggshell paint go further than flat paint. One gallon of shiny
paint will go a lot further than one gallon of flat paint.
Eggshell
An eggshell finish has a shine thats extremely subtle but without the same
smoothness as a satin finish. Thus, it doesnt highlight imperfections quite as much,
making it much more suitable as an interior wall paint. Its easy to apply and can
often cover in a single coat, making it a better choice for many people.
TIP: Edward suggests, Shiny paints bring out imperfections. Trust me on this.
Spackle spots and other repairs are greatly accentuated by shiny paint, and they
have to be perfect. Flat hides, shiny brings out repairs. Also, spackle spots must be
primed or they will show up as flat spots in the shiny paint. The best way (this is my
secret) to cover spackle and repair patches under semi gloss is to buy a quart of flat
paint tinted to the color of the finish coat and spot prime the repairs.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss is another common interior paint, although its more commonly used on
trim rather than the walls. It offers a hard finish, is suitable to heavy use and is easy
to clean with just soap and water. The shine produced is less than full gloss paint,
but its usually easy to achieve a good covering with just a single coat.
Gloss Paint
Apart from matt paint, gloss paint is the most common interior wall paint. Its one
you can use on most walls, although some people use it sparingly on these surfaces
and prefer to use it on woodwork because of its high shine. Gloss paint shows up all
the imperfections on a wall and achieving an even coverage on a wall will often
need more than a single coat of paint.
TIP: Edward reminds you, Note that shiny paints take longer to dry, so plan your
project with hours of drying time between coats. Fans will speed up drying. Edward
Kimble, professional painter and author of Interior House Painting Blog, contributed
to this article.