Upscale Finish at an Affordable Price

Integrally colored finishes used to be found only in hotels, museums, upscale restaurants or luxury homes, but the warm texture and color has become so popular that more interior designers and architects are specifying such finishes in mid-range homes. Until now, the costs of such finishes have been prohibitive because of the specialized techniques and extensive prep time required.

Chicago-based USG Corp has introduced the Decorative Interior Finish System (DIFS), which offers the upscale look of semi-smooth and textured pigmented finishes for interior drywalls and ceilings. The system is more affordable and easier to apply than traditional methods such as Venetian-style plaster and marmorino products, colored-texture plasters, high-end wall coverings and specialty paint finishing and marbelizing.

"This system is an answer for builders, architects, designers and contractors who want the rich, solid look of integrally colored natural finishes at an affordable price," says Ed Jakacki, product line manager for USG Corp. "It is designed for use by professional applicators with basic trowel skills."

The finish is mineral-based and saves time and labor by using traditional materials in an easier and more economical application process. The system is applied to finished drywall, gypsum plaster basecoats or other existing wall surfaces, provided they are physically sound and properly prepared.

Unlike paint finishes and many colored-plaster products, the surface of DIFS is harder and more durable. The system has a sealer, which provides the easy-to-maintain surface. Offered in 12 basic color formulas, it can also be custom-colored.