Venetian plaster provides an elegant stucco wall finish.
Venetian plaster is an elegant finishing wall stucco technique. Used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, this plaster wall technique became known as Venetian plaster after being used extensively in 17th century Venice. Plaster artisans combined aged slaked lime, ground marble dust and pigment to create a wall finish that mimicked natural stone and polished marble. Today, Venetian plaster is available pre-mixed and tinted, and is easy to apply over prepared and painted drywall.
Instructions
1. Remove furniture from the area and cover the floor with a drop cloth.
2. Examine the existing wall paint. It must be either a flat or a satin paint. If the wall has a semi-gloss or gloss paint, dull the paint surface with 220-grit sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block. Sand the wall lightly to remove the gloss. Wipe down the wall with a dampened rag to remove sanding dust.
3. Sand the corners of the steel spatula or trowel with 100-grit sandpaper to round the corners slightly. This prevents gouges or lines in the applied plaster.
4. Put on rubber gloves and open the bucket of Venetian plaster. Stir the plaster with a stir stick until the plaster is uniform in color and consistency.
5. Use the steel spatula or trowel to pick up a load of plaster. Starting at a corner of the wall, apply the plaster to a 3-foot-by-3-foot area. Apply the plaster in a random, overlapping pattern, keeping the plaster coat thin and smooth. Do not completely cover the wall with plaster, but allow small areas of the wall to show through.
6. Wipe the steel spatula or trowel with a rag to remove any dried plaster. Continue applying the plaster to the wall, working in sections, until the first plaster coat is complete. Continue to wipe the steel spatula or trowel periodically to keep small bits of dried plaster out of the fresh plaster.
7. Allow the plaster to dry completely. Depending on the brand of plaster used, the temperature and the humidity, this can take one to four hours.
8. Apply a second coat of plaster to a 3-foot-by-3-foot area. Use the steel spatula or trowel to pick up a small amount of fresh plaster and, holding the spatula or trowel at an 80-degree angle, skim the wet plaster over the dried plaster. Fill in any gaps or low spots, using overlapping strokes, and cover any exposed wall areas.
9. Continue applying the second coat of plaster until the wall has a smooth, even coat of plaster. Allow the plaster to dry completely.
10. Apply a third or fourth coat of plaster, if desired, for a thicker wall surface. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying another coat.
11. Sand the wall using 400-grit sandpaper. You can hold the sandpaper with your hand or wrap it around a sanding block. Sand the wall until it is smooth and all bumps and uneven spots are smooth.
12. Use 600-grit sandpaper to polish the wall. You can hold the sandpaper with your hand or wrap it around a sanding block. Sand the wall using circular motions. The more you sand, the more depth and polish the wall will develop.
13. Burnish the Venetian plaster to bring out its unique character. Hold the steel spatula or trowel as flat as possible against the wall surface and rub the metal against the wall in a circular pattern.
14. Apply a protective topcoat to the Venetian plaster, if desired. Use a product designed for Venetian plaster, and follow the product's application instructions.
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