Venetian plaster is an excellent material for wall decoration. Let's figure out how it is applied, what tools and materials will be needed to create it. Venetian plaster and what you need to know about the technology.
Venetian plaster is an excellent wall covering. It is durable and stunningly decorative. The surface plastered in this way appears translucent. Today you can order the application of Venetian plaster from professional construction companies. However, if you understand the technology, you can easily do this job yourself.
What it is
Visually, this coating resembles marble tiles. The translucent layer, which hides the veins characteristic of marble, looks amazing on the walls. The surface can be distinguished from natural marble only due to the absence of joints between the tiles. Venetian plaster is chosen for exterior wall decoration in residential buildings and public buildings. To learn how to decorate the facade of a house with plaster, read this article.
This type of coating was invented by the builders of Ancient Rome. They guessed that by mixing marble chips and slaked lime, you can get a finishing paste with unusual properties. When applied to the walls, it reproduced the texture of real marble. Clay was most often mixed into the mixture, which gave the plastered surfaces the color of natural marble. Other pigments were also used.
The material acquired its name thanks to the city where it was reborn. It was the architects of Venice who were able to unravel the composition of the coating used by the Romans and brought the lost technology back to life.
The modern coating composition is somewhat different from historical technology. The composition of modern mixtures for creating Venetian plaster includes:
- Marble powder, color pigments and slaked lime. These components have remained unchanged for many years. Some mixtures still contain only these natural ingredients. However, their cost is quite high, and their performance properties are not the most optimal.
- Acrylic paints can be added instead of natural pigments. They are cheaper and allow you to create unusual shades.
- Modern binders of a polymeric nature. They make the plaster dough more plastic and increase the durability of the coating.
- Hevea tree sap or synthetic latex. These plasticizers make it easier to level the mixture.
- Crushed granite powder to add texture.
Despite the introduction of additives not provided for by historical technology, modern mixtures can rightfully be considered Venetian plaster. After all, the main component of plaster dough is marble dust, just like many centuries ago.
Application technology
Mixtures for creating coatings using Venetian plaster technology are quite expensive. Therefore, it is not recommended to start working without thoroughly mastering the technology. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the appearance of the resulting coating will be far from expected, and you will have to clean everything off and start over.
The resulting pattern depends on how you work with the tool when smoothing the plaster dough. You can learn to predict what will happen in each case only after gaining considerable experience.
How to practice applying Venetian plaster? The optimal training tool would be sheets of cardboard with a side of 1 m. Such a sheet should be covered with a regular plaster mixture, thoroughly dried and sanded. On such squares you can hone your technique, and save the most successful examples and use them as a portfolio to demonstrate your skills to clients.
Another opportunity to improve your skills is to follow master classes conducted by Venetian plaster dealers. At such an event, participants are offered both material to work with and a stand for creating a training surface. But such training meetings are usually held in large cities.
Training videos can also help you get acquainted:
Preparatory work
First of all, you need to carefully prepare the wall. The quality of the wall alignment largely determines how successful the coating will be. The wall is usually leveled in two stages. First, rough differences are leveled using mixtures for rough plaster. Then the smallest irregularities are removed with finishing putty.
If the walls are leveled by the customer or a hired team, it is worth clarifying in advance that Venetian plaster will be applied to the wall. It is also possible to use putty under the paint.
The leveled wall must be dried as thoroughly as possible. You can start working no earlier than one day after finishing. But it’s better to take a break for two days. Insufficiently dried plaster can fall off the wall, ruining all finishing efforts. After drying, you need to carefully sand the smallest irregularities and remove all dust from the walls.
To increase the adhesion of Venetian plaster and increase the strength of the coating, the wall is impregnated with a primer. It is worth choosing primers according to gypsum plaster, since they contain quartz filler. Today there is a fairly large selection of such primers on sale. The difference between individual brands is almost unnoticeable, so you can use any.
The primer must be applied in at least 2 layers, thoroughly drying the wall each time.
Number of layers
This coating is applied in several layers (at least 2). Depending on the desired result, up to a dozen layers can be used. Each layer must be carefully leveled and smoothed. A new layer can be applied only after the previous layer has completely dried, so finishing the walls with Venetian plaster can take quite a long time.
The base coat is applied first. Its task is like that of ordinary plaster, in creating absolutely smooth surface. Depending on the final result, the base layer may be white or pigmented. If you plaster in 2-3 layers, the base layer will become visible and its color will matter. If there are more than five layers, the base layer will not be visible.
When applying the second and all other layers, it is important to follow two rules:
- The strokes should be chaotic. Different shapes, directions, and curves will perfectly replicate the natural texture of marble.
- Each new stroke should hide the place where the previous stroke first touched the wall.
After the layer has dried (usually about 10 hours), you need to rub it with a dry trowel to remove all the unevenness. After this, you can lay down the next layer.
The finishing layer is applied in a special way: a little plaster dough is placed on the wall with a spatula, and then put back together, pressing the surface of the spatula tightly. As a result last layer It turns out very thin, almost transparent.
Ironing
The grouting procedure for the last layer is carried out when the condition is not sufficiently dry. For work, take a clean Venetian trowel. It is very important that its surface is free of chips, shells, pieces of dried plaster and other defects. Ironing is carried out by moving the tool in a circle.
Before applying the finishing layer and ironing, carefully read the instructions for the mixture. Some manufacturers recommend doing this procedure in small areas, others allow large areas to be finished at once.
If the ironing is done correctly, the pattern will appear and become brighter and more expressive. Now the wall is almost finished, all that remains is to protect it from moisture.
Waxing
The wax layer that protects the plaster from moisture is a very important component. Beeswax provides a glossy, perfectly smooth surface. Synthetic waxes provide a more matte finish. Apply wax only to thoroughly dried plaster (at least 24 hours).
Apply the wax in a very thin layer, just like finishing layer plaster mass. If applied thickly, the wax layer may crack, ruining the entire job.
When the wax dries (20-50 minutes), it is sanded with a fluffy attachment on a grinder or drill. Then the coating must dry for at least 14 days.
Required materials and tools
To work you need to prepare required quantity dry mixture, a container for diluting plaster mass and a construction mixer. You will have to mix the plaster in large quantities; it will be very difficult to do it by hand.
It is also worth stocking up on tools for smoothing: a narrow spatula, a set of Japanese spatulas of various widths, a Venetian trowel. To sand out small irregularities, sandpaper is useful. For polishing you will need a grinder or a drill with an attachment, as well as a rag for sanding hard-to-reach places.
Applying Venetian plaster with your own hands. Step-by-step instruction
The procedure for applying Venetian plaster:
- Preparation of walls, materials and tools.
- Applying the base layer.
- Applying base layers.
- Ironing.
- Waxing and polishing.
Each layer must be thoroughly dried. Therefore, it is worth understanding that applying Venetian plaster is a rather lengthy process. But it’s better to wait for complete drying than to spend a lot of time and effort on repairs if the plaster, which is not dried enough, falls off the wall
Before applying the plaster Venetian technology, it’s worth practicing thoroughly. But if you master the technology properly, you can obtain surfaces of extraordinary beauty that are in no way inferior to marble.
The use of Venetian plaster in interior decoration premises allows you to create original design interior It has a number of advantages that distinguish it from other finishing materials. Venetian plaster does not crack, does not peel off, and does not change color. The appearance of the finished coating resembles natural marble. The composition can be used where ordinary plasters unsuitable. In this article we will take a detailed look at the composition, application and various technologies applying Venetian plaster with your own hands, and at the end awaits you step-by-step instruction from our reader
Tools for applying Venetian plaster
To apply the composition you will need plaster trowels and spatulas. They can be used for applying wax to the surface of plaster, as well as for sanding intermediate layers. Spatulas must be taken in different sizes. The base layer is applied using a large spatula, and the pattern is created with a small or medium spatula. You will also need suede mittens, which will subsequently be used to polish the finished surface. Depending on the scale of the work, an appropriate amount of plaster and color will be needed. The color scheme can be of any color.
Composition of Venetian plaster
Venetian plaster consists of the finest suspensions natural materials such as marble, gypsum and lime. Acrylic and slaked lime are used as a binder. It is impossible to say which option is better. A beginner in finishing is unlikely to be able to distinguish one material from another. As for the professionals: some say that only slaked lime allows you to get “the same” result, others insist that acrylic components give the mass better plasticity, which generally affects the improvement of the manufacturability of finishing.
In addition to standard components, the mixture may include tiny pearlescent particles. Their presence allows you to make the finished surface look like silk. For this reason, the combination “wet silk” is added to such Venetian plasters. From different points in the room, the same coating will look different. A little video on this topic.
The appearance of the finished wall depends on the application technique. Using a special spatula movement technique, finishers achieve the appearance interesting patterns, repeating the texture of natural stones. The surface may have a pearlescent tint, which is achieved by adding special impurities to the plaster.
Features of the most affordable plaster OPTIMIST ELITE
Considering the comparatively low cost, let us dwell on the properties of Venetian plaster Optimist. We will try to avoid advertising this material by briefly describing the characteristics indicated by the manufacturer itself. Products are sold in plastic buckets of 3.5, 7 or 15 kg. Optimal conditions use implies an air temperature in the workroom in the range from 5 to 35 degrees Celsius. Used for application standard set tools: steel trowel, a pair of spatulas, a polishing machine with a soft nozzle. Drying the layer standard thickness- about a day.
Estimated cost:
- 3.5 kg - 750 rub.
- 7 kg - 1350 rub.
- 15 kg - 2750 rub.
- at the first stage, a thin layer of plaster is applied to the surface, trying to create some kind of pattern at this stage. The layer is allowed to dry for about an hour;
- to get rid of small blemishes, the dried surface is lightly sanded with a large spatula - smoothed to level it;
- apply the second layer using the same method as the first;
- The last layer of decorative plaster is applied using a spatula, because the coating should be translucent and thin - to give it greater depth. The work is postponed for half an hour to allow the material to dry, after which the wall is smoothed with a spatula. For dry rooms the work is finished;
- if you plan to use Optimist plaster for the walls of a wet room (toilet, bathroom, kitchen), then the final stage The work will involve treating the surface with wax and subsequent polishing until glossy.
In the video below you can more clearly familiarize yourself with the methodology for using this material.
Application technology
The application technology is complex. If you have any questions, it is better to go to master classes, which are often held in company stores that sell decorative plaster.
First of all, you need to pay attention to a large spatula, the edges of which should be rounded, so that you can firmly press the plaster into the wall. The spatula should not have mechanical damage and defects. Before laying the plaster, the wall is coated with a special primer. The wall must be perfectly flat, otherwise the plaster simply will not stick. The first layer of plaster is carefully compacted and leveled, after which it must be allowed to dry. If, after drying, any unevenness remains on the surface of the plaster, they can be easily removed with a trowel.
Layer by layer
After 6-8 hours, the next layer of plaster is applied, on top of which the finishing layer is applied. The marble pattern, characteristic of Venetian plaster, is created by strokes with small spatulas. In this case, the color of the layer should be different from the previous one. Once the pattern is ready, it must be polished with a large spatula or trowel. Depending on the grinding technique used, finished surface may become glossy or matte. You need to work with the material quickly, as the composition dries quickly and becomes less plastic. When mixing plaster and color, you should pay attention to the quantity ready solution– due to the tight installation, your hands quickly begin to ache, and the solution itself quickly hardens.
Wax protection
A wax protective coating is applied over the last layer of Venetian plaster, giving it gloss and water-repellent properties. You should not apply too much wax, as it may darken after drying and ruin the appearance. Once the wax has hardened, it can be further polished with a suede mitten. After 20-25 days, the carbonization processes in the plaster will end, it will become more durable, after which it can be washed.
Externally, the finished wall will look as if it were made of natural marble. The wax coating gives an additional similarity effect. Venetian plaster can be used to decorate not only walls, but also various arches and doorways. At next renovation You don’t have to tear off the plaster – you can paint it over, and you can also glue wallpaper.
Illustrative examples of finishing (video)
As they say, it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. Therefore, we invite you to familiarize yourself with several interesting videos. The video below is an example of applying acrylic Venetian plaster.
And here you can get acquainted in detail with one of the author’s methods of applying Venetian. The material is long lasting, but the quantity valuable advice it's off the charts.
Another one interesting technique work. As a result, the surface is covered with decorative cracks. Read about antique plaster here.
A relatively simple method of applying the composition. In our opinion, it is more suitable for finishing a bathroom or toilet.
Do it yourself, or Extra motivation
Above we gave the estimated cost of material for finishing one “square” of wall. If you decide to experiment, then independent work It will only cost you your own time. In the worst case, it can also lead to nerves. But intending to pay to third party specialists, you need to be prepared to increase costs from 600 or more rubles per square meter. In Moscow and St. Petersburg it is more expensive, in the regions the appetites of finishers are more modest. But you still need to understand that professional master For his work alone he will charge from 1000 rubles. for every sq. m. finished with Venetian plaster. The cost will increase as your requests increase and the complexity of the work (wall height, quality and surface geometry). It won't work out cheap and beautiful.
This can be understood from the reviews
Those who dared independent finishing walls with Venetian plaster, they note the high labor intensity of the work. Therefore, you should not rush from one extreme to another - first try working in “test mode”: take a sheet of plywood or fiberboard with an area of at least 1 square meter. m. and are trying to transform it. With this approach, you can try several techniques and choose the optimal one.
About tinting
If you decide to tint the mixture yourself, then carefully calculate the required volume of material - when mixing again, you won’t be able to guess the color. How much plaster is needed? It is better to find out about this yourself by making test smears on square meter test surface. You should not trust the data written on the packaging - the consumption of the material is determined by the technique of its application.
As for tinting, there is one more nuance. Do not rush to pour large volumes of coloring composition, do it gradually, ensuring uniform mixing of the mixture and subsequently adjusting the color saturation. This approach will take more time, but the chances of getting “what you need” are higher.
A few more nuances
It is best to work together, in conveyor mode: one applies the composition to the wall, the second applies the stain the required form. This is faster and more efficient, especially when you consider that finishing with Venetian plaster is even a purely physically complex process. Not to mention the creative side.
Be prepared for the fact that the final result will appear only in the final stages of work. This is exactly the case when you shouldn’t particularly plan the appearance of the surface. When applying the mixture, it is recommended to periodically move away from the wall and inspect the entire canvas as a whole to understand where to move next.
Well, as for reviews about specific types of plaster, in 90% of cases they are of an advertising nature. Therefore, their informativeness has been questioned.
Update: personal experience
As part of our proposal, one of our readers sent a photo report on applying Venetian plaster. We look and admire
In order to decorate the walls with Venetian plaster, you will need:
- Venetian plaster and contrasting colors. You can choose the color tone to your liking; it will only be visible in places and will not become the main color. In our example, this is the color “apple green”.
- Water-based paint and color suitable for tinting it. In our example, this is a blue concentrate, when added we got the desired blue tint.
- Acrylic varnish for the final coating of walls, it will help add shine and make the walls resistant to dirt. In addition, this coating will be easy for you to wash and clean.
- Putty and primer for preparing walls for plastering.
- Auxiliary tools – spatulas, special structural roller, grout mesh, etc.
The first stage is preparing the walls. They are puttied in advance until smooth, then treated with a primer. The plaster must be tinted to the desired level color shade. When tinting, keep in mind that after drying the surface becomes a little lighter (like many mixtures), so the tone should be brighter. 
Let's start applying. First, take a little mixture onto the edge of the spatula, trying to evenly distribute the composition along the edge of the tool.
Applying plaster thin layer(approximately 3 mm) and distribute evenly over the surface. It should be applied from the bottom up: with this method, the plaster does not spread over the wall and does not drip onto the floor.
After application to the walls, the layer of plaster is leveled with a spatula in all directions. You should not cover areas larger than 1.5-2 square meters at one time.
When applying plaster, carefully walk around sockets and switches.
After applying the Venetian to a small area (1-2 sq.m.), without waiting for it to dry, you need to give the coating a texture, for which a special structural roller is used. You need to roll the roller with equal pressure to ensure an even texture.
First, carefully treat the edge of the wall - the surface from the corner or doorway. Try to roll the roller along the wall from bottom to top only once, then the texture will be large and interesting.
When the first part of the wall is processed, you can proceed to the next section. The peculiarity of a texture roller is that the more often you pass it over one area, the smaller the texture fragments on the surface are, so you should not overlap a new area with an already finished one. The small gap that sometimes forms between the sectors can be easily rolled up with a roller and turned into a homogeneous structure.
Gradually cover the entire surface of the walls and let it dry. The drying time depends on the temperature and humidity. In a room with average humidity and a temperature of 20 ° C, the plaster will dry completely in 15-20 hours.
The next stage is coating water-based paint. When choosing a color for the second layer, you can choose contrasting colors (as in this example) or choose adjacent tones of plaster and paint. To select a color, a color wheel can help you: it is believed that harmonious combinations are adjacent colors in a circle, or vice versa, opposite ones.
To obtain blue color white paint you need to add a little blue color and mix well until smooth.
Using a soft roller, paint all walls with a coat of water-based paint.
The surface of the walls should be painted in one layer, but the paint should be applied in a dense layer. To do this, moisten the roller generously with paint so that the coating thickness is sufficient.
The order of paint application can be any, i.e. You can paint the bottom of all the walls first, and then start painting at the top.
If you are determined to master the technique of decorating walls with Venetian plaster, this article will be very useful. In it we will talk about the basic techniques for working with Venetian and help you choose the right colors for the finishing material to create an original artistic composition.
What is special about working with a Venetian woman?
Venetian plaster imitates a polished cut of solid marble. Thanks to the translucent effect, you can achieve almost complete identity with natural marble: a glossy surface, translucent layers and veins of different shades.
There are two main directions in working with such finishing: artistic and imitation. For each, there is a special working technique, which allows, in the first case, to create a highly detailed drawing with a wide variety of shades and uneven gradients. The second type of application creates a picture that is much less variegated, but perfectly imitates a glossy surface and the translucency of veins and layers of different colors, just like in natural marble.
Selection of the color scheme of the composition
For artistic techniques, it is recommended to have one pure composition without dye and one with medium tinting. Please note that some areas of the coating will not be mixed at all; match the contrast of the selected color relative to white in accordance with the interior style.
The imitation technique uses more muted patterns; to create the main pattern, you will need two compositions with approximately the same color, one 3-4 tones darker than the other. If you want to add dark veins and inclusions to the marble cut, purchase a third composition with a much brighter and darker color.
You can tint the Venetian yourself by adjusting the level of mixing and the presence of stripes of different tones in the composition. Mixing plaster with color in a vibrating apparatus will result in absolute dissolution of the paint, in this case the range of shades will be less rich, and the pattern itself will be more washed out and uniform. Please note that when drying, the plaster loses 3-4 tones in brightness.
Surface preparation
Venetian plaster is applied only to a specially prepared surface. Plastered walls are reinforced with mesh under a layer of starting plaster. If we are talking about gypsum plasterboard surfaces, the joints are cut at 30° and two layers of serpyanka are applied.
The surface must be treated with a deeply penetrating primer until completely saturated. Next comes coating with a special primer for the Venetian or painting the wall with water-dispersion paint, white or painted to match the future coating.
Applying the base
Venetian plaster is one of those materials that need to be felt. Before you start finishing the walls, practice several times on pieces of drywall, get used to how the material behaves with different movements of the tool.
The Venetian is applied with a trapezoidal trowel and spatulas; the tool must have rounded corners. The first layer is applied with a thickness of 0.2-0.5 mm to create solid foundation. Place a small amount of the compound on the trowel and distribute it evenly. Place the tool flat against the wall and make several rubbing movements.
The color of the base should be uniform, but you will immediately notice that you are creating the contours of the future design. Large strokes can take the form of spots, smooth or rounded strokes, or chaotic strokes. In the future, adhere to the resulting contours and repeat them on a reduced or enlarged scale for the most harmonious combination of shapes. After applying the base coat, you need to wait 36-40 hours for complete drying.
Choose the color for the base that will prevail in the finished drawing. The consumption of plaster for the first layer is approximately 30-50% more than for subsequent ones. Please take this into account when purchasing material.
Techniques for applying a texture-forming layer
It is important to understand the ability of plaster to mix colors. In the liquid state this happens relatively easily, but if the coating has already been applied in a thin layer, the polymerization process begins instantly. The color can be completely covered only after applying 3-4 new layers. It turns out that mixing occurs only when the spatula moves; any applied pattern will most likely remain unchanged.
If you take two contrasting compositions on a spatula or trowel and smear them on the wall, you will first get a large and contrasting pattern. The longer you hold the tool, the more the border blurs and the colors blend.
If you pre-mix the compositions on a trowel with a wooden stick, the pattern will be smaller and more detailed. You can also add a single color in dots, stripes or zigzag patterns, either way the final look will be noticeably different.
The texture is applied in the thinnest possible layers, which creates a translucent effect. IN artistic technique Thin, short strokes are used. Take two compositions of different colors on a trowel, mix them in different ratios and apply the plaster with a 30 or 40 mm wide spatula.
The imitation technique involves the use of wide and long strokes; only one color or shade is used in each layer. You need to apply the plaster with the wide part of the trowel, stretching the composition as wide as possible. With each subsequent layer, areas of increased saturation and overlapping colors will appear.
The optimal result can be achieved by applying two layers with the artistic technique and 4-5 with the imitation technique. It is recommended to let each layer dry for a day, but if you work carefully, the drying period can be reduced to 6-8 hours.
Matting of the coating
If the pattern is too contrasting or you need to add some matte to the coating, use white plaster, applied in as thin a layer as possible. The angle of the spatula relative to the surface must be at least 45°. Each movement is firm and with effort, rub a small amount of the composition as finely as possible.
Often, for matting, white plaster is used with a dark color added, but not completely mixed. This technique enlivens the composition a little, and it does not look downright dull.
Glazing and metallization
In addition to color texturing, there is another way of texturing. It consists in highlighting the relief of the coating with small differences in height. After drying, the surface is rubbed with a metal spatula applied to the surface at an angle of 25-30°. Direct each movement towards yourself, do not put too much pressure on the instrument. This technique will create areas with different glossiness. It is useful to do this both upon completion of application and after each applied layer.
If you apply the spatula at a sharper angle, almost flush, the surface can be rubbed. This is done to give the thin edges of the strokes a darker outline. This method is great for adding extra texturing to each layer.
When the wall covering is ready, it can be protected from moisture with special wax, which is rubbed in with lint-free wipes. Finally, it is advisable to polish the wax layer with a fur wheel for a drill or angle grinder.
Architecture is often called poetry frozen in stone. If you follow such an allegory, then, probably, Venetian plaster can become the romantic ballad of your design; the technology of its application has remained unchanged for 2000 years, and its extraordinary beauty still excites our imagination.
Thanks to the fact that this view finishing works is highly in demand; in the construction services market, the application of Venetian plaster is often offered by craftsmen who are very superficially familiar with the technology of such work. At the same time, trade offers a lot of coverings that only imitate the famous Venetian.
Let's immediately make a reservation that classic Venetian plaster is performed with a putty mass, which necessarily includes marble dust, which in some cases is replaced by quartz, granite or onyx. The second constant component of the coating is slaked lime, making the Venetian plaster finish extremely strong and durable. In addition to these components, to add color, various pigments and colorants are usually used, which help the finished surface to resist the negative effects of atmospheric oxygen and ultraviolet radiation.
Modern Venetian plaster mixtures often contain some percentage of acrylic binder. According to experts, Venetian putties based on acrylic dispersion are more plastic and are not susceptible to the formation of microcracks on the surface. However, no one will argue that such a material is less environmentally friendly than water-based plaster.
Nowadays, finishing specialists do not need to compose the mixture themselves; it is sold ready-made, in plastic buckets. Moreover, each manufacturer has original recipes that allow you to obtain different visual effects(velvety, matte, glossy). Often, there is no need to add color to the mixture, although some manufacturers supply dyes separately so that the master can individually select the desired shade.
Required Tools
If you have some artistic talent and, after watching the video of applying Venetian plaster, feel the desire to try your hand at this type of creativity, do not forget to prepare special plastering tools:
- steel graters (which are necessary for leveling and rubbing the mortar) with a width of 20 and 25 cm;
- specially shaped spatulas. Their feature is rounded edges and a very smooth, literally polished surface without nicks or scratches. You will also need two spatulas, for wide and narrow ones;
- brushes of two forms: a classic flat flute brush and a paint brush. The latter has a rectangular, oval or round shape, somewhat similar to a brush. You should choose a brush with thick bristles.
You will also need a tape measure, a level and a long metal ruler. Don't forget to stock up on a sanding float with fine sandpaper.
Preparatory work is the basis!
The technique of applying Venetian plaster involves very careful and scrupulous work on preparing the surface. Only in this case will the Venetian be able to delight you not only with its beauty, but also with its main operational advantages - durability and practicality.
If some types of decorative plaster are not demanding on the base and even allow you to hide minor construction flaws - uneven walls, small chips and cracks. Alas, the Venetian, like a true aristocrat among finishing plasters, will not tolerate such a disdainful attitude towards the preparatory work. Although the basis for it can also be brickwork, and concrete, and drywall, and even walls that were once covered oil paint. But all this must first be thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt, flaking pieces of plaster and paint residues.
Carefully seal gaps, chips and cracks. U plasterboard sheets It is necessary to process all joints flush. After this, the sealed areas are sanded. Are you tired already? Be patient, this is just the beginning! After our walls can already boast of the absence of visible defects, the first continuous filling is performed. When the putty layer has dried, the surface is sanded with sandpaper or pumice. Now you can blow off the walls compressed air or walk over them with a dry cloth to remove particles. After this, it is advisable to prime the surface, in this form it will more easily lend itself to a second continuous putty.
How, again? Yes, again complete puttying and sanding again to correct all the roughness and scratches. And again the primer. And if the walls are in poor condition, such a tedious procedure as continuous puttying, sometimes has to be carried out three times before applying Venetian plaster. The finishing putty must be of high quality, and the final sanding is carried out with “zero” sandpaper, followed by careful removal of dust with a dry cloth.
Preparatory work will take a lot of time
In addition to labor-intensive and painstaking preparatory work differ in quite a significant length of time, because after applying each layer you need to give it time to dry. IN general case Each layer dries in approximately one day. If the room temperature is low or the air humidity is quite high, it may take longer.
Well, and finally, our walls are even and smooth. Now it remains in last time coat them a couple of times with primer deep penetration. Its type must correspond to the putty material; they are usually sold as a set. After priming the wall, you need to wait until it dries completely. Well, now the time has finally come for real creativity.
Which color should I choose?
Before starting work, we glue the upper parts of the walls with masking tape. When working with Venetian, you will have to remove this tape immediately after finishing the work, without waiting for the material to dry completely. Otherwise, when it is removed, very unaesthetic cracks and chips may form.
If your Venetian putty is not tinted, add required amount dye, with thorough mixing. When choosing a shade, you should take into account that most often the finished Venetian in a confined space turns out to be somewhat darker and brighter than on a small test piece of material or in a construction showroom catalog. For residential premises, it is better to avoid using too flashy tones, and limit yourself to more pastel shades. Colorators and plaster mass must be purchased from the same brand, since otherwise they may not be compatible in their properties.
Venetian plaster. Application technology
You need to finish the wall in small sections, approximately 1 m2, starting from the top. The first layer of mass is the base one; it is applied completely and sets the tone for the entire future color of the wall. When working, use a trowel, onto which the mixture is applied with a spatula. If you carefully looked at the material, Venetian plaster application technology, video in this article, you noticed that the movements of the trowel applying the coating are short and rounded.
The general trajectory of movement when covering a wall is from left to right. Whether you apply the mass from top to bottom or from bottom to top does not matter, do what is most convenient for you. The material is applied in a thin layer and, without waiting for it to dry, is distributed Venetian spatula, multidirectional movements in an arc, avoiding sharp joints along straight lines. The spatula must be pressed tightly against the wall, maintaining an inclination angle of 15-20 to the surface. It is precisely these methods of applying Venetian plaster that will allow us to obtain those veins that, in the final version, will make our wall look like natural stone.
The first layer dries for at least 4-8 hours, depending on the brand of Venetian mass used. Most often, further work continues the next day.
The second layer is applied with short, jerky movements, and immediately rubbed with a spatula. The movements are performed in pairs, crosswise, overlapping one another. By moving in one direction you apply the material, and by moving in the opposite direction you remove excess. This technique of applying Venetian plaster is called “butterfly”. As a result, the relief of the base layer disappears, and veins appear on the surface. Their size depends on the method of applying the decorative layer. Experienced master decorators can perform work in different manners, creating different sizes of patterns.
After the applied decorative layer has completely dried, the surface is sanded with fine-grained sandpaper. To increase the visual effect of the depth of Venetian plaster and its famous internal glow, a larger number of intermediate layers are performed, the total number of which can reach up to nine.
Adding the final shine
After applying the last layer, to make Venetian plaster waterproof and increase shine, the surface is polished with wax. This work is carried out no earlier than a week after the final application of the finishing layer. Besides the usual transparent composition for the Venetian, you can give preference to a coating with an additional decorative effect, and then your wall will be decorated with mother-of-pearl, gold or silver veins. Liquid wax is applied using a special lint glove, and then the wall is finally polished grinder with a special pile nozzle.
The history of Venetian plaster dates back centuries. Wall covering with a similar composition adorned the walls of rich houses back in Ancient Rome. After many years, Venetian plaster is still popular; today it is considered an expensive, high-quality and prestigious type of finishing, which, oddly enough, can be done with your own hands.
Scope of application, pros and cons of Venetian plaster
Venetian plaster is a stylish, spectacular and expensive type of finishing
Venetian plaster can often be found in residential buildings or in public buildings, where it is used to decorate interior walls, columns, cornices, fireplaces and other architectural details. This material is almost never used in the decoration of facades, since it is expensive and does not have sufficient endurance.
However, Venetian plaster has good strength and can easily withstand high air humidity. Thanks to these qualities, such a coating can be used to decorate walls in bathrooms, saunas, baths, etc. Venetian is often used to decorate halls, halls, living rooms and bedrooms. This type of finishing is found in hotels, restaurants, bars, and offices of reputable companies. Sometimes Venetian plaster is applied to the entire surface of the walls, and sometimes only individual fragments of the coating are used, combining it with other types of facing materials.
Venetian plaster has many different advantages, let’s look at them in more detail:
- The decorative qualities of the finishing can be put in first place, because only Venetian plaster, after drying on the wall, is capable of creating the so-called “glow effect”. Other types of coatings cannot boast of this.
- Environmental friendliness is another advantage of the material. Venetian plaster is made from non-toxic components, the main one being stone flour.
- Among the advantages can also be noted moisture resistance, thanks to which the Venetian is suitable for finishing bathrooms, swimming pools, saunas and baths.
- The non-flammability of the material makes it safe in case of fire.
- During preparation plaster mixture You can add various dyes to it - this allows you to give the walls any shade you like.
- High-quality Venetian plaster can last for many years without losing any of its decorative and performance qualities.
Having described the positive properties of the material, its disadvantages should also be identified:
- Because of high cost not everyone can afford such a plaster coating. But if we consider the material from the point of view of decorativeness and durability, spending on it can be considered justified.
- The complexity of execution is another disadvantage of finishing. Covering a wall with Venetian plaster with your own hands is quite difficult, and if the application technology is incorrect, the coating will not create the desired effect. You can invite specialists to carry out the finishing, but this will entail significant expenses.
- Before applying Venetian plaster, the wall must be leveled to almost perfect condition. This is a long and painstaking process, but it will allow you to achieve a good final finishing result.
Composition and characteristics of the coating
Venetian plaster creates not only an attractive, but also durable and long-lasting coating on the wall.
As in ancient times, modern Venetian plaster is made from just three main components: stone flour, binder and dye. The stone flour in this material can be marble, granite, quartz, onyx or some other. Lime was previously used as a binder, but in production modern coating it is often replaced with acrylic. As for dyes, they can be of natural or synthetic origin.
Venetian plaster, after hardening on the wall, forms a very dense and durable film that is resistant to moisture and mechanical stress. Over time, the coating becomes harder and harder, which determines its durability.
An important distinguishing feature of the material is its transparency. It is thanks to this quality that the effect of internal glow of the plaster is achieved. Under a layer of such a translucent coating, the smallest defects of the base are visible, so the wall is carefully leveled before applying the plaster.
Venetian plaster can be used to cover walls made of concrete, wood, stone or brick. This coating can be applied to any of these materials without any problems.
Types, difference between decorative plaster and Venetian plaster
Venetian plaster imitates natural stone coating
Decorative plaster is a broad concept that covers different types finishing materials. TO decorative compositions These include plasters based on acrylic, cement, liquid glass, silicone resins or stone flour. All these substances have different characteristics and differ in appearance. Venetian plaster is one of the varieties of decorative finishing compositions. The properties that distinguish Venetian plasters from other plasters include its component composition, appearance, application technique, and performance characteristics.
Classic Venetian plaster is divided into several main types:
- The “Veneto” coating creates an imitation of polished marble on the wall. This plaster is popular among other analogues due to its reasonable cost and relative ease of application. Veneto plaster, coated with a layer of wax, is easy to maintain and can be easily cleaned with a wet sponge or rag.
- Trevignano is applied to the wall in numerous translucent layers. After hardening, the surface looks as if it is illuminated from within. Trevignano plaster is created on a polymer basis and has a wide color spectrum. A similar coating is used in interiors made in the Baroque, Vintage, and Classic styles.
- Marbello plaster allows you to create a matte, velvety surface on the wall with glossy veins scattered across it. In the process of applying plaster, compositions of different colors are used, due to which, under the influence of lighting, the wall plays with unexpected shades and tints. The component composition of the material contains polymer substances that give the coating moisture-repellent properties.
- The Venetian Encausto coating is distinguished by a semi-matte surface, diluted with splashes of a contrasting shade. Visually, this coating resembles granite. To extend the durability of the cladding and add decorative value to it, after drying the plaster is opened with a wax-containing substance.
Please note: the wax coating must be renewed at least once a year, then the plaster will not absorb moisture and wear out as a result of mechanical stress.
Venetian plaster can be painted in various shades
Choosing Venetian plaster for decorative finishing premises, pay attention to what kind of coverage you want to see in the end. Such material can imitate different surfaces: for example, marble, jasper, malachite, onyx, pearls, quartz, etc. In addition to shades, Venetian plaster differs in its texture and can be matte or glossy.
This is interesting: with the help of Venetian plaster you can imitate not only a stone surface, but also the texture of fabric, leather, aged wood, etc. The material allows you to create interesting patterns on the wall.
When choosing a Venetian covering, consider the style of the interior and the purpose of the room in which it will be used. For example, it is better to decorate the walls in the bedroom with pastel tones, while a bright and rich color scheme is suitable for the hall or living room. When purchasing plaster, you can see ready-made examples on photos. It is advisable to check with the seller for all necessary information about the material: operating conditions, care rules, subtleties of correcting irregularities, etc.
You can buy plaster after the area of the room has been measured and the consumption has been calculated. finishing material. Before purchasing, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the manufacturers who offer similar products on the market, study reviews and information about the companies.
Necessary tools, consumption calculation
Before starting work, you need to prepare the necessary tools
The consumption of plaster coating is easy to calculate, since similar information is indicated on the product packaging. If we are talking about a simple leveling mixture, the information in the instructions may not coincide with reality, since there are irregularities, depressions, and roughness on unprepared walls. With Venetian plaster the situation is simpler, because it is used in finishing and applied to carefully leveled walls.
To calculate the approximate consumption of Venetian plaster, you need to pay attention to the following factors:
- the area of the walls to be covered;
- the number of layers that will be applied to the base during the work process;
- thickness of one layer - the recommended value is indicated on the packaging of the plaster mixture.
For working with Venetian plaster, except for the finishing composition, you may need the following materials and tools:
- primer for preliminary preparation walls;
- wax for creation protective coating on plaster;
- spatulas of different widths;
- trowel;
- suede leather;
- damp sponge or rag;
- construction mixer;
- containers for plaster, primer, water.
Preparing for wall decoration
Let's take a step-by-step look at the manufacturing process and the nuances of coating, various techniques and features of working with the material.
How to make Venetian plaster with your own hands
Having combined the dry ingredients with water and dye, they are mixed with a construction mixer
Before starting work, the dry mixture for Venetian plaster must be diluted with water in the required proportion. Almost all such materials have instructions for preparing the solution on the packaging, and the required proportions of the components are also indicated there.
Important: in order for the components of the solution to mix well with each other, the water temperature must be at least 10°C.
The plaster components should be mixed using a construction mixer. If you do not have such a tool, use a drill and a special attachment for stirring solutions. The consistency of the finished substance should resemble thick sour cream. After preparation, the plaster should be left for 15 minutes, and then mixed again with a mixer. During the process of mixing the ingredients, dye is also added to the mass.
Important: the amount of solution should be prepared in such a way that it is enough to apply 1 layer to the entire surface of the walls to be treated. If there is not enough mass, during subsequent preparation it will be difficult to guess the amount of dye, and the layer of plaster on the wall will be colored unevenly.
Surface preparation using putty
Before applying Venetian plaster, the wall must be made even and smooth.
Venetian plaster is usually applied to walls that are leveled to almost perfect condition, since even small cracks, depressions and protrusions will be visible under thin translucent layers. There should be no painted areas on the walls, otherwise over time the paint will peel off along with the plaster layer. Preparing the surface for applying Venetian plaster can be described in the following steps:
- First, the working base is cleaned of dirt, paint, oil stains, and construction dust. All cracks and potholes are covered with putty. If the recesses are significant, they are sealed using cement-sand mortar.
- Solution deposits and other bulges are also cleaned and leveled. For this type of work, coarse-grained sandpaper or a grinder with a diamond blade.
- If the wall is plastered with a mortar containing large inclusions, it should be additionally covered with fine-grained putty. After the material has dried, it must be polished with sandpaper.
- After leveling, the wall is coated with a deep penetration primer and left to dry for 6 hours. Then the surface is primed a second time. Sometimes the re-priming compound is painted to match the color of Venetian plaster.
Important: if base coat on the wall is old and noticeably damaged, contains many defects or is peeling off in some places, it is recommended to completely remove it and re-plaster the wall.
Venetian plaster application technology
How to apply using different techniques
Venetian plaster is applied in thin layers using a special trowel.
Venetian plaster applied to the wall different ways, and the final result will depend on the specifics of the finishing. Let's describe a few popular technologies applying Venetian plaster to the wall:
- For creating marble effect The wall is first covered with the first thin layer of plaster mixture, using a wide spatula. After 10 minutes, the desired relief is formed on the wall using a special Venetian trowel. The plaster is left to dry for 2 hours, after which a second layer of solution is applied to the surface. For the second layer, solutions are prepared that differ in shade. Then a mass of different tones is laid out on one spatula, mixed until streaks form, and then the mixture is smeared on the wall. During work, movements are performed in different directions . After 5 minutes, the second layer of plaster is leveled with a trowel. The coating is left to dry for a day, then polished grinder and open with a layer of wax. After another 30-50 minutes, the wax coating is treated with a grinding machine equipped with a fur attachment.
- The classic method of applying Venetian plaster involves finishing the wall with several thin layers of mortar, differing in color. The plaster composition is prepared in advance in several containers and with a small margin. In each container, the solution is tinted in different shades. The first layer of plaster is applied with a wide spatula and left for 10 minutes. Then, using a trowel, a relief is formed on the surface. When the plaster dries, which will take about 2 hours, the ridges from the strokes are cut off the wall, and the surface is polished to a shine. After this, the wall is covered with a second layer of plaster and the entire sequence of actions is repeated again. After laying 3-5 layers, the dried plaster is sanded with a machine with a fabric attachment, and then covered with wax.
- To create the effect of balsa wood, the first layer of plaster is formed from compositions of different shades. The solution is mixed so that its color is heterogeneous. Then the mass is applied to the base in a fairly thick layer and dried with a hair dryer. If during operation you periodically move the hair dryer away from the wall and bring it closer, you can achieve original texture. After drying with a hair dryer, cracks form on the surface, which create a decorative effect. Then the Venetian plaster is left for 2 days so that it is completely dry. The second layer of coating can be pearlescent enamel or plaster of a different shade, which is applied to the surface in a thin layer. After drying, the wall is sanded and waxed.
- There is another way to work with Venetian plaster - textured. To begin with, the wall is coated with a deep penetration primer, allowed to dry, and then a layer of covering primer is applied. It is dried for 2 hours, and only after that they begin to apply Venetian plaster to the wall. For work, use a fur roller, with which the material is distributed over the wall in a thin layer. After 2-3 hours, when the plaster has dried, the sharpest protruding parts are removed with a spatula. The second layer of solution is applied with a trowel. As a result of this process, peculiar islands of material are formed on the surface. After 6 hours, the wall is cleaned again with a spatula. The third layer of finishing is made of plaster mixed with finishing varnish. The varnish is added to the solution using a construction mixer, the resulting mass is distributed over the work surface and allowed to dry for 6 hours. The final stage of work is polishing the wall with a Venetian trowel. After this procedure, the finished conventional coating acquires a glossy metallic sheen.
For clarity of the examples presented, watch the video tutorials below.
During the work you need to make uneven strokes in different directions.
In most cases with plaster mortar work using a special trowel, the edges of which must be rounded. The mass is laid out in the middle of the trowel, then the tool is placed against the wall with one edge, forming an angle of 15-30º. The plaster must be applied and rubbed into work surface with strong pressure. When decorating walls with Venetian plaster, each new movement of the trowel should be perpendicular to the previous one.
Please note: to avoid leaving scratches on the surface, every 10-15 minutes the working tools must be cleaned of the solution with a damp cloth.
Venetian plaster should be applied without haste, as carefully as possible. To achieve a translucent effect, the thickness of the layers should not exceed 0.05 mm.
The process of applying the plaster composition most often begins from the upper left corner of the wall. Where the wall comes into contact with the floor, strokes are carried out in the direction from bottom to top. While working, try to make movements that are different from each other..
When decorating walls with wax, give preference to artificial compounds, since natural beeswax does not tolerate humidity so well. Try to avoid the formation of wax deposits, otherwise over time such places will darken and spoil the appearance of the finish.
Care: how to wash and clean
The wax coating will protect the plaster from moisture
For the first 2 months after applying the plaster to the wall, it cannot be washed, since the coating will finally harden only after the specified time. For 2 months, Venetian plaster must be protected from moisture, dirt and water splashes. When this period has expired, you can wipe the coating with a damp cloth or sponge. To care for the finish, you can use mild detergents that do not contain solid particles or caustic chemical components.
Properly applied Venetian plaster will last for many decades, during which it will not lose its decorative effect and will not require repairs. Periodic care and renewal of the wax layer will ensure safety appearance finishing.