Using the term “faux finish” in Google will produce more than four million results. When we in the wall and ceiling industry think faux, it conjures up a host of new terms, words and meanings. We could go as far to say it is a whole new vocabulary, unique to our industry—maybe a “fauxcabulary”? This is testament to the growing popularity and desire by owners for more upscale finishes.
Plaster is certainly not new, neither is polished plaster or faux finishes. Plaster has been traced back to several thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Few products in construction can proclaim such a long and rich history. Today, the new term faux finish is popular among the public and disdained by some plaster traditionalists. Some faux finishes can be linked to a variety of paint-based products. Others require skilled craftsman to emulate the look of the “old-style” products and should not be applied by ambitious do-it-yourselfers. When applied right, a lot of these faux finishes certainly have their place in construction that recall the real polished or Venetian plasters made from natural limes.