ᐅ Red lime plaster advantages? Which paint to use and how often to repaint?

Hello everyone,

We are currently in pricing discussions with three general contractors. All three brought up the topic of red lime plaster. I find it hard to follow, as their statements were completely different:

1: "Yes, red lime plaster is great, but so is the Mercedes. It costs about 15,000 euros more."
2: "I would definitely use red lime plaster. It’s definitely worth the additional cost of 5,000 euros."
3: "Red lime plaster is a great option. If you do the painting work yourself and we can agree on a compromise regarding the color, we can replace the red lime plaster one-to-one with cement plaster including painting."

Could the experts here please briefly assess the situation?

Also, I’m wondering which silicate paint should be used. Prices start at around 40 euros for a basic hardware store paint, go up to 80 euros for well-known brands, and over 200 euros for the Knauf option. Is the simplest solution to discuss this with the general contractor or the painter and let them handle the sourcing?

Edit: I realized afterwards that this topic might fit better in the "Masonry / Painting / Plastering / Electrical" subforum and have reposted it there.

Overview of Properties




[TH]Type of Plaster[/TH]
[TH]Application Area[/TH]
[TH]Suitable for:[/TH]
[TH]Advantages[/TH]
[TH]Disadvantages[/TH]

Gypsum Plaster	Interior	Walls and Ceilings	Moisture-regulating, good indoor climate, cost-effective, fire resistant	Not water-repellent
Gypsum-Lime Plaster	Interior	Walls and Ceilings	Climate-regulating, good indoor climate	Not suitable for wet rooms
Lime Plaster	Interior	Walls and Ceilings	Highly vapor-permeable, excellent indoor climate, mold-resistant	Expensive
Lime-Cement Plaster	Interior, Exterior, Plinth Areas	Walls and Ceilings	High mechanical durability, water-repellent, vapor-permeable	None
Clay Plaster	Interior	Walls and Ceilings	Surface suitable for many coatings, thermal insulation, allergy-friendly	Expensive, water-soluble

Here is an overview. Conclusion: The inexpensive gypsum plaster is not that bad.

Of course, you can choose the "Mercedes" model for every trade, although this brand no longer necessarily guarantees quality.

This question applies to every building material: masonry units, heating pipes, insulation, paint, flooring, kitchen, tiles, technical installations, etc.

In my opinion, considering ecological reasons only makes sense if you consistently follow such a concept throughout the entire building. Otherwise, you end up with ecological or similar quality standards only in certain spots and not elsewhere in the house.

I would also choose a standard interior plaster but then apply a high-quality paint on top—meaning a well-covering, low-emission, and, above all, easy-to-apply paint.

As I said, I can’t comment on this specific product because a standard would be sufficient for me; however, I think you will face this same question again and again in every area. For me, that would be too expensive.

My entire interior plastering cost less than what number 1 charges as an additional fee (!).
Just to put that into perspective.

A surcharge of 15,000 is definitely a significant amount...
We had 3 floors done with lime interior plaster (KIP Schwenk) plus fine plaster for about 15,000 (2.5 years ago).
From my research back then: all industrial lime plasters still contain white cement, including red lime or KIP. Pure lime plaster is only possible if you mix it yourself. This information is more relevant for historic preservation rather than new construction.
=> In other words, industrial lime plaster is somewhere between pure lime plaster and lime-cement plaster.
We are very satisfied with the KIP, but we probably would have been just as happy with lime-cement plaster 🙂

guckuck2 schrieb:

My entire interior plastering cost less than the extra charge (!) quoted by number 1.
Just to put that into perspective.

We were immediately out with offer 1 as well. Offer 3, where "you don’t have to pay extra for the red lime plaster, but you take on the paint and painting work," is currently our favorite for other reasons. Then it’s a no-brainer, right?