What is Venetian Plaster?

Our commercial plastering Sydney wide team agree that traditional plastering methods haven’t gone anywhere, and finishes like Venetian plaster are still the gold standard for beautiful wall finishes. Sometimes called polished plaster, Venetian plaster is available in a wide array of colours and finishes and can be made to look like natural stone, concrete or polished marble. When you’re looking for a stand out wall finish, Venetian plaster provides stunning variation and earthy tones that can complement any interior aesthetic.

How is Venetian Plaster Made?

Venetian plaster dates back thousands of years and is one of the world’s oldest interior wall finishes. A mixture mostly of lime and stone dust, the plaster mix can be used to create walls that look like slabs of natural stone, polished marble or even a modern concrete-look finish. The exact mixture and application of Venetian plaster vary, so it’s possible for plasterers to create the colour and surface finish you’re looking for. Modern plasters can also be tinted to replicate almost any shade of stone or marble, so your imagination is the only limit.

Working With Venetian Plaster

While Venetian plaster can provide a beautiful stone-look finish to any wall in your home, it’s a finish that’s often better left to experienced professionals. Working with lime plaster can sometimes prove tricky, and it takes preparation and practice to produce the best results. Getting the best result also means choosing the right mix. Polished plaster is available in a wide variety of colours, styles and material compositions, but you should always work with quality products. Cheaper products are often little more than thick paints, while quality plasters contain additives that make them simpler to work with.

The final finish of your Venetian plaster can be matched to your design aesthetic. As the name suggests, polished plaster can be finished to a smooth, mirror-like finish that reflects light and creates depth. Or, if you’d rather, Venetian plaster can also leave behind a more rustic and uneven surface that looks like natural stone and adds fantastic texture to your project.

How to Apply Venetian Plaster

If you’re feeling handy and are ready to tackle a project on your own, it’s possible to apply a Venetian plaster look by yourself. These days you can buy plaster products that have been designed for amateur use. Remember though that you still get what you pay for. Good products contain things like acrylic polymers and real marble dust that make them easy to apply and beautiful once finished.

For a DIY Venetian plaster finish, you’ll need to collect a few tools, including a steel trowel, mixing buckets, drop cloths and a range of sandpaper grits for final burnishing. Once you’ve assembled your tools, you can begin the process of applying plaster:

  1. Practice makes perfect. When applying Venetian plaster, you’re smearing a thin coat of plaster all over the wall. Getting this right takes practice. It’s a good idea to buy a piece of drywall to practice on.
  2. Prepare your walls. Fill and sand any cracks or holes, clean the wall with warm water and mild soap, and then apply a matte primer.
  3. First plaster coat. Beginning in a corner, apply a thin layer of plaster while holding your trowel at a 15 to 30-degree angle to the wall. Try to vary your stroke length and angle to create some of the variations that make Venetian plaster such a beautiful material. 
  4. Second plaster coat. After allowing your first coat to dry, you can begin applying the second coat of plaster, this time holding your trowel at a 60 to 90-degree angle. Cover the surface fully, making sure to fill any gaps in the first coat and remove high spots.
  5. Burnishing. Venetian plaster gets its signature look from the burnishing process. Using 400-600 grit sandpaper, go over the surface in circular motions, cleaning with a damp cloth in between. Finally, you can use the flat side of a clean trowel for final burnishing.

When you’re buying your Venetian plaster mix, just be sure to look for one that’s designed for DIY applications. Professional products are much more difficult to work with – often having short drying times and runnier consistencies – and are still best left to experienced plasterers when used for Plaster Wall Repair Sydney wide.

Looking for Plastering Solutions? Speak to Sydney Metro Plastering Today!

Your home is your castle, and quality interior wall finishes are one of the best ways to inject your personality into a space. When done by a professional Plasterer Sydney team, plasterwork such as Ceiling Repairs Sydney wide is a cost-effective way of upgrading your home and improving its appearance. If you’re building new, renovating or just looking to update, the team at Sydney Metro Plastering are ready to help plan your next project! Get in touch with us today for more information on our services or to book an appointment.

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