Terraco makes two polished plaster finishes for interior feature walls: Terravertine and Antique Stucco. Both are troweled on in thin layers and finished by hand, but they are different materials. Short answer: Terravertine is a natural lime plaster for a smooth burnished or textured travertine-style wall, built as a two-part system over several days. Antique Stucco is an acrylic Venetian stucco for a translucent, high-gloss marble look, with each layer drying in 30 to 60 minutes. This guide compares them using Terraco’s UAE technical data sheets.
Terravertine vs Antique Stucco side by side
| Terravertine | Antique Stucco | |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | Lime-based, natural | Acrylic |
| Look | Smooth burnished sheen, textured travertine effect, or both in panels | Translucent, high-gloss marble effect (Venetian or contemporary) |
| System | Basecoat (levelling, up to 5 mm per layer) plus two Finishcoats | Single product, built up in thin layers |
| Coverage | Finishcoat 1.5 to 2 kg/m²; Basecoat 1.5 kg/m² per mm | 0.5 to 1.2 kg/m², depending on effect |
| Drying | Basecoat cures 72 hours; Finishcoat dries 48 hours before waxing | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Primer | Terrabond A diluted 1:5, plus Tex Primer Aggregated | One coat of Penetrating Primer |
| Fire | Non-combustible | Non-combustible; flame spread Class 0 (ASTM E84) |
| Packs | Basecoat 25 kg bags; Finishcoat 15 kg bags or pails | 6 kg and 15 kg pails |
| Data sheet | Version 02.2020 | Version 05.2019 |
Terravertine: lime polished plaster
Terravertine is a lime-based plaster that Terraco describes as highly resistant to staining and scratching. It is tinted with alkali-resistant natural colourants, and Terraco publishes a colour catalogue for it. The data sheet gives these Finishcoat test results:
- Wet scrub resistance above 15,000 cycles
- Flexural strength above 1.5 N/mm² and compressive strength above 2.0 N/mm²
- VOC below 1.0 g/l and formaldehyde below 1.0 ppm
Terraco also states that it complies with Al Sa’fat, Dubai’s green building requirements, which is worth checking against your project’s own Al Sa’fat submittal list.
The Basecoat matters when the wall is not flat. It levels in layers of up to 5 mm before the decorative coats go on.
Antique Stucco: acrylic Venetian stucco
Antique Stucco gives the deeper, glossier marble look. Terraco lists hotel lobbies, restaurants, galleries and feature walls in homes as typical uses. It is tinted with Terraco’s one-shot colourant paste, and the data sheet says the colour can be varied between coats for a stronger effect. It comes in two styles:
- Venetian: a first coat with a wide trowel, then thin layers with a fine blade spatula, polished with a white steel blade while drying.
- Contemporary: applied by spatula in a patchwork pattern and polished with a buffing cloth while drying.
Because it has no levelling basecoat of its own, the wall needs to be smooth first. Terraco specifies repairs with Handycoat Exterior, one coat of Penetrating Primer, then a Handycoat skim.
Which one to choose
- Choose Terravertine for a natural lime finish, a smooth burnished or textured stone look, published scrub and VOC figures, or a wall that needs levelling first.
- Choose Antique Stucco for a high-gloss, translucent marble effect, faster layer drying, and lower material use per m².
Both are hand-applied decorative finishes, so the result depends heavily on the applicator. Ask to see a sample board in your colour before committing a whole wall.
How much material you need
For a 20 m² feature wall, working from Terraco’s coverage figures:
| Product | Coverage | Material for 20 m² | Packs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terravertine Finishcoat | 1.5 to 2 kg/m² | 30 to 40 kg | 2 to 3 × 15 kg |
| Terravertine Basecoat, 2 mm (only if levelling) | 1.5 kg/m² per mm | 60 kg | 3 × 25 kg |
| Antique Stucco | 0.5 to 1.2 kg/m² | 10 to 24 kg | 1 to 2 × 15 kg |
These quantities are our own calculations. Heavier effects use more material, so allow extra and order the same batch for the whole wall.
Applying Terravertine step by step
- Prepare. On gypsum drywall, tape joints with glass-fibre scrim and fill with Handycoat Exterior.
- Prime with Terrabond A diluted 1:5, plus Tex Primer Aggregated.
- Level with Basecoat in layers up to 5 mm, then cure for 72 hours.
- First Finishcoat with a white steel fine-edged trowel. Finish each surface in one go to avoid dry joints.
- Second Finishcoat, worked smooth or textured. Let it dry for 48 hours, then wax if required.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use either one outside?
Both data sheets present them as interior finishes. For facades, look at Terraco’s exterior renders such as Terol or Terracoat.
Can I apply them on gypsum board?
Terravertine’s data sheet covers gypsum drywall, with joints taped with glass-fibre scrim and filled first. For Antique Stucco, the surface must be primed and skimmed smooth, as above. For board joints, see our guide to taping gypsum boards.
Buying Terraco polished plaster in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised Terraco distributor and supplies Terravertine and Antique Stucco direct from the manufacturer, tinted to your colour. Message us on WhatsApp with the product, colour and wall area. You can also browse every Terraco product we supply.
Sources
- Terraco UAE: Terravertine technical data sheet (PDF, version 02.2020)
- Terraco UAE: Antique Stucco technical data sheet (PDF, version 05.2019)
- Terraco UAE: Terravertine colour catalogue (PDF)
Retrieved 1 November 2026. Check the latest Terraco data sheet before specifying. Quantities are our own calculations. The main image is illustrative.
