Lime plaster is a breathable mineral wall finish with a natural pH of 12–13 — high enough that mold simply does not take hold. In a climate that lives at 80% humidity, that single property changes everything: walls stay healthy without biocides, paints or constant repainting. PLASTER LAB supplies and applies PRATTA Exclusive lime systems — limewash, marmorino and polished finishes — across Bali, Jakarta and Indonesia.
What lime plaster is
Lime plaster is made from slaked lime and mineral aggregates, applied by hand in thin coats. It is vapour-open: the wall absorbs moisture when the air is saturated and releases it again as conditions change, instead of trapping it behind a paint film. That is why lime has survived millennia in hot, humid regions — and why it is the first finish we recommend for damp-prone tropical walls. The look is soft, chalky and alive; light moves across a lime wall in a way flat paint never reproduces.
Where it works: interiors, bathrooms, facades
In living spaces and bedrooms, limewash and marmorino give a calm, natural matte that suits tropical architecture. In bathrooms, the same lime family extends to tadelakt, the burnished waterproof technique. On facades and exteriors, breathable lime renders cope with rain-season moisture far better than sealed acrylic systems — Bingin Cottage in Uluwatu (180 m² of natural exterior finishes) is a working example. For the building science behind it, read our guide to lime plaster for Bali and Jakarta villas.
Price per m²
Lime finishes are quoted per square metre and the rate depends on the finish (limewash, marmorino or polished), the substrate and the volume. Send your areas on WhatsApp and we reply with a written quote and physical samples — request a quote.
Process and timeline
We survey the substrate and moisture levels first, then sample the finish on site before any commitment. Application runs in thin hand-applied coats with curing time between them; lime rewards patience, and we schedule it honestly in the quote. Handover includes a technologist's final inspection, warranty documentation and care instructions.
Mold-free guarantee
Lime's high pH is the core of our official, documented mold-free guarantee — the only one of its kind in Indonesia. The chemistry resists mold naturally; the guarantee puts it in writing.
FAQ
Why doesn't mold grow on lime plaster?
Fresh lime surfaces have a pH of 12–13, which is naturally hostile to mold spores, and the material stays vapour-open so moisture never sits trapped behind a film. Both mechanisms work without any added biocides.
Can lime plaster go over existing painted walls?
It depends on the condition of the existing coating. At the site survey we test adhesion and moisture; sometimes the old film must be removed so the wall can breathe again. We confirm the build-up before quoting.
Limewash, marmorino, tadelakt — what's the difference?
All are lime-based. Limewash is a thin, matte, cloudy coating; marmorino is a smooth lime-and-marble-powder finish with a gentle sheen; tadelakt is burnished and soap-sealed to be water-resistant for showers and basins.
Do you supply the material or also apply it?
Both. We supply PRATTA Exclusive materials and apply them with our own certified crews — one contractor responsible for the whole result, covered by the written guarantee.