Most Terraco facades in the UAE are finished with one of two products: Terracoat or Terol. Both give textured finishes such as granule and scratch, and both are used on Terraco EIFS. They are made very differently. Short answer: Terracoat is a pre-mixed acrylic coating that comes ready to trowel from the pail, in 50 standard colours, and dries in 3 to 4 hours. Terol is a mineral render of cement and lime that is mixed with water on site, comes in 16 colours, air-cures for 72 hours and is usually topcoated with Terracoat Stain. Terol Crystal and Terol Granite Glitter are mineral renders with exposed decorative aggregate. This guide compares them using Terraco’s technical data sheets.
Terracoat vs Terol side by side
| Terracoat | Terol | |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | Acrylic | Special cements, lime and organic binders |
| Supplied as | Pre-mixed paste, 25 kg pail | Powder, 25 kg bag, mixed with water |
| Textures | Excel (scratch), Granule, Filled Granule, Sahara | Granule, Decor (scratch), Sahara, Coarse, Smooth |
| Colours | 50 standard | 16 standard |
| Example coverage, 1 mm granule | 2.5 to 3.0 kg/m² | 3 to 4 kg/m² |
| Drying / curing | 3 to 4 hours | Air cure 72 hours |
| Primer | Tex Primer, tinted close to the topcoat | Surface clean and sound; defects repaired with Terramix or Styrobond DP |
| Topcoat | Optional | Usually Terracoat Stain |
| Shelf life | 12 months | 6 months |
Terracoat: pre-mixed acrylic
Terracoat uses acrylic binders, which Terraco says give elasticity, long life and resistance to colour fading and pollution. Its flexible film helps hide minor substrate defects and small cracks, and Terraco says it is designed for desert heat and large day-to-night temperature swings. It goes on concrete, render, gypsum drywall, plywood, chipboard, primed steel and EIFS basecoat, inside and out. Our Terracoat guide explains each texture.
Terol: mineral render
Terol is mainly used as the finish on Terraco EIFS, and is also suitable for concrete, cement render, lightweight concrete, fair-faced brick or block, and interiors. Terraco describes it as weather and pollution resistant, with a life of more than 10 years when correctly applied. It is usually topcoated with Terracoat Stain. Two application points from the data sheet: do not wet the trowel, as this can cause discolouration, and allow 72 hours of air curing.
Mineral finishes are also the ones Terraco pairs with its mineral wool system; see EIFS Alpha vs Perma vs Polar.
Terol Crystal and Terol Granite Glitter
| Terol Crystal | Terol Granite Glitter | |
|---|---|---|
| Effect | Exposed light-reflective glass | Granite-effect glitter |
| Grain | 2 mm | 3 mm, applied 3 to 4 mm |
| Colours | 16 standard | 16 standard |
| Consumption | 4 to 5 kg/m² | 4 to 8 kg/m² |
| Finishing | Acid wash with 5% hydrochloric acid after 24 hours, then 72 hours air cure | Cure overnight, wet, then dilute hydrochloric acid to expose the aggregate |
Both Terol Crystal and Terol Granite Glitter are finished with an acid wash, so the applicator must follow acid-handling safety precautions and rinse off excess acid.
Which one to choose
- Terracoat for the widest colour choice, a ready-to-use product, faster drying, and substrates such as gypsum drywall, plywood or primed steel.
- Terol for a mineral cement-and-lime finish, on EIFS or masonry, especially with the mineral wool EIFS Perma.
- Terol Crystal or Granite Glitter for a sparkling glass or granite-effect facade.
How much for a 200 m² facade
| Finish | Coverage | Material | 25 kg packs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terracoat Granule 1 mm | 2.5 to 3.0 kg/m² | 500 to 600 kg | 20 to 24 pails |
| Terol Granule 1 mm | 3 to 4 kg/m² | 600 to 800 kg | 24 to 32 bags |
| Terol Crystal | 4 to 5 kg/m² | 800 to 1,000 kg | 32 to 40 bags |
Our own calculations from Terraco’s coverage figures. Add primer (see our Terraco primer guide), waste and an allowance for rough walls. Terol has a 6-month shelf life, so order close to when it will be applied.
Preparing the wall
Either finish needs a clean, sound surface free of salts, oil and grease. Cracks and defects are repaired first: Terraco names Handycoat Exterior under Terracoat, and Terramix or Styrobond DP under Terol. For damaged concrete, see repairing concrete with Terramix and Terraroc FC.
Frequently asked questions
Can Terracoat be used indoors?
Yes. Terraco lists it for exterior facades and as a decorative interior wall and ceiling finish. Terol’s data sheet also lists interiors.
Can I recolour an existing textured facade?
Terraco makes Terracoat Stain, a low-profile pigmented topcoat for textured finishes. Ask us with photos of the existing wall.
Buying Terraco facade finishes in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised Terraco distributor and supplies Terracoat, Terol, Terol Crystal and Terol Granite Glitter direct from the manufacturer. Message us on WhatsApp with the finish, texture, colour and area. You can also browse every Terraco product we supply.
Sources
- Terraco UAE: Terracoat technical data sheet (PDF)
- Terraco UAE: Terol technical data sheet (PDF)
- Terraco UAE: Terol Crystal technical data sheet (PDF, version 12.2011)
- Terraco UAE: Terol Granite Glitter technical data sheet (PDF, 2017)
Retrieved 31 October and 1 November 2026. Check the latest Terraco data sheet before specifying. Quantities are our own calculations. The main image is illustrative.
