Venetian plaster: features and subtleties of DIY application. Technology of Venetian plaster application Venetian plaster from defi application

You can give a room originality and a unique interior not only with the help of objects. To change the appearance of the room, it is suitablevenetian plaster, which today will become the object of our research. We will dive into the history of its creation, find out the features, decide on the application technology and find out what tools will be needed in the work.

If the wall we are looking at resembles a marble surface with no seams, it can be argued that it is finished with Venetian plaster. The material in question was invented in ancient Rome. Our ancestors mixed slaked lime with marble dust, resulting in an elastic composition. Applied to the wall, it looked like natural marble. To enhance the effect, various natural dyes were added to the mixture.

The most popular material was common clay. Its use made the finish look like natural marble. To make the Venetian marbled plaster finish lasting, it is waxed and polished.

During the Renaissance in Venice, Venetian plaster was used in place of marble slabs. It was applied to walls, columns and ceilings. The material reacted poorly to fluctuations in t0 and humidity, was easy to process and affordable.

Nowadays, this type of decoration has not lost its relevance. The components mentioned above are also used today for the preparation of the mixture. Modern technologies make it possible to introduce other binders into its composition in order to give the decorative plaster a light or rich color.

Features of Venetian plaster

The peculiarities of the "Venetian" include its constituent components and the unusualness of the resulting pattern, which you can read about below. A frequently encountered and considered classic can be called a material with a marbled texture - marble Venetian plaster.

Although, often it can be a silver, gold or mother of pearl finish.

Types of Venetian plaster:

1. "Veneto" is a classic that does not lose its relevance. It imitates polished marble. Plaster is popular for its appearance and relatively low price.
2. Trevignano is distinguished by the fact that the finished surface has a radiant effect from the inside. This material has many colors and different shades.
3. "Ensausto" outwardly in its structure resembles granite. It is distinguished by a semi-matte color.

The composition of the Venetian plaster intended for internal work is waste of processed marble, malachite, granite, quartz. The substance of the working mixture is particles of material of different sizes. The smaller they are, the smoother the resulting surface will be.

To work with Venetian plaster, you need to prepare:

1. A primer, which must contain a quartz filler. This is for preparatory work.
2. Water.
3. Plaster mix.
4. Different colors to give specific shades.
5. Fine grain for grouting and sanding.
6. Wax, in the form of a paste, or liquid wax to protect marble Venetian plaster and bring the work surface to a gloss.
7. You will need a spatula and roller for priming.
8. You will need a trowel to distribute the mixture.
9. Rubber spatula for working with wax.

And also, a rag for cleaning the working tool and containers for mixtures and water.

Venetian plaster: application technology

Having bought the necessary materials and prepared a working tool, you cannot plaster the walls without preparing them. This stage is the most important, on which the final result of your work depends in the future. Preparing walls for Venetian plastering involves thorough cleaning of old coatings, dust and dirt. Wall irregularities are revealed. If there are cracks, they must be removed using a sand-cement mortar. Then the working surface is degreased and impregnated with a deep penetration primer in order to increase the adhesion of the coating and prevent the development of fungi.

Note!

How Venetian Plaster is applied: a step-by-step process

In the retail network, the plaster is offered in buckets and has a pasty consistency.

The base color is considered to be white, to which various dyes are added. You can create a color scheme directly in the store or do it yourself at home. You will need a drill with a nozzle as a tool. The mixing process may take 5 to 10 minutes. It is important to do the work carefully, pay special attention to the sides of the bucket, where the components may not be mixed. It's easy to check: take a block and draw it along the walls. The procedure should be performed several times. The complete color scheme can take from 10 to 20 minutes. Now you can start painting.

Advice!

It is possible that after drying, the color will change slightly. It's easy to check: apply a test smear and let it dry. Then you can add the dye.

Important!

When the composition is ready, it is impossible to repeat it exactly - there will be differences. Therefore, it makes no sense to save. It is better to prepare the mixture with a stock.

How to apply layers correctly

Methods for applying Venetian plaster involve the use of two or more layers.

It is important to imagine what you want to end up with. The layers are applied in different ways. But each must be leveled and polished. Do not forget to let the previous one dry before installing the next layer. And only after laying the last layer, you can start processing with beeswax. Synthetic wax can be used.

• beeswax gives gloss;
• synthetics - matte.

Wax is not only gloss, but also moisture protection. Therefore, Venetian plaster can be applied to the walls in the bathroom. At the same time, one nuance should be taken into account: synthetic wax is used for the bathroom.

The rules for laying the first layer correspond to the requirements for applying conventional plaster. The main thing is to get a smooth surface. The process involves the use of a working tool - a trowel, on which a small amount of composition is taken and rubbed against the wall.

Second and subsequent layers

The second and subsequent layers should be applied with random strokes. A flexible, thin metal spatula is used. It is not necessary to keep the application evenly. It is from chaotic movements that shapes and lines appear on the wall, like on marble. The drying process for each layer takes from one to ten hours. It all depends on layer thickness, product composition, humidity and temperature. Details and recommendations for drying should be found on the packaging. When the surface is dry, it is rubbed with a trowel. In the process, the differences are smoothed out.

Then the next layer is applied to the finished surface according to the previously described technology, which is based on randomness of movements. Wait for drying again and smooth it with a dry trowel. Depth and brightness largely depends on the number of layers.

Finishing stage

The final coat should be applied with a thin metal trowel. The layer should be nearly transparent. A small amount of the mixture is taken and applied to the surface, pressing the spatula firmly. Then the drying process is already familiar to us, which will take 20-50 minutes.

Iron process

It is important not to overdry the last layer. It should be slightly damp. We start ironing, processing small sections of the wall (half m2). We applied the mixture and rub it, performing circular movements with a trowel on which there should be no chips and cracks. You will see for yourself how the pattern and characteristic shine will appear. Gradually, the Venetian will acquire depth and layering like marble.

Working with wax

This process is best done after the Venetian plaster is dry. This may take 12 to 24 hours. Apply the wax in a thin layer with a wide spatula.

Beeswax polishing

When the wax is dry, which is 30-50 minutes, we begin to polish the work surface. We use a grinder or a drill with a short soft pile attachment. To prevent the wax from rubbing off, but gradually entering the plaster, it is necessary to set the working tool at 3 thousand revolutions per minute.

The process is similar to working with a natural product. Synthetics are used if you want to get a matte shade with protection. The synthetic product dries from 10 to 14 days, and only after this time can it be wiped, washed, and so on.

Basic rules for working with Venetian plaster

What do you need to apply Venetian plaster? It's simple, you need to follow a number of rules. First of all, you need to work slowly, carefully processing each section. Remember that the minimum number of layers to apply is three.

The more layers are laid, the more impressive the work will look at the final stage. For example, the best designs made using this technique have 8 layers!

At the final stage, be sure to wax the surface. This will give shine, protect the work for a long time.

Photos of the best options for Venetian plaster in the interior

Samples of examples of Venetian plaster have been prepared especially for you. See and choose. Maybe some combination will interest you.

We used 8 layers in the work

You can create any pattern using dyes

Venetian plaster looks equally good on any surface

About the pros and cons

The indisputable advantages of the "Venetian" include:

1. Water-resistant qualities of plaster after waxing.
2. Lack of toxicity and complete safety for people, including children.
3. In all respects, it meets the requirements of fire safety characteristics.
4. In leaving, Venetian plaster is not whimsical.
5. The operational period is from 5 to 10 years.

There are few cons, but they are:

1. High price.
2. Long preparatory part.
3. Labor intensity technology.

Finally

You can do the work yourself. But, given the complexity and high cost of the process, it is recommended to contact a specialist.

With a clear example, it will be easier for you to understand the technology of applying Venetian plaster and then do the work yourself. Good luck!

The use of Venetian plaster in the interior decoration of the premises allows you to create an original interior design. It has a number of advantages that distinguish it from other finishing materials. Venetian plaster does not crack, does not peel off, does not change its color. The appearance of the finished coating resembles natural marble. The composition can be used where conventional plasters are not suitable. In this article, we will consider in detail the composition, application and various technologies for applying Venetian plaster with our own hands, and at the end you will find step-by-step instructions from our reader.

Venetian plastering tools

To apply the composition, you will need plastering trowels and spatulas. They can be used for waxing plaster surfaces as well as sanding intermediate layers. Spatulas must be taken in different sizes. The base coat is applied using a large trowel and the pattern is created with a small or medium trowel. You will also need suede mittens, which will subsequently be used to polish the finished surface. Depending on the scale of work, you will need an appropriate amount of plaster and color scheme. The color scheme can be of any color.

Composition of Venetian plaster

Venetian plaster consists of the finest suspensions of natural materials such as marble, gypsum and lime. Acrylic and hydrated lime are used as a binder. It is impossible to say which option is better. A beginner in decoration is unlikely to be able to distinguish one material from another. As for professionals: some say that only slaked lime allows you to get "the same" result, the second say that acrylic components give the mass better plasticity, which in general affects the increase in the manufacturability of the finish.

In addition to standard components, the mixture may contain the smallest pearlescent particles. Their presence allows you to make the finished surface look like silk. For this reason, the combination of "wet silk" is added to such Venetian plasters. The same floor will look different from different points in the room. A few videos on this topic.

The appearance of the finished wall depends on the application technique. Using a special technique of trowel movement, the finishers achieve the appearance of interesting patterns that repeat the texture of natural stones. The surface can have a pearlescent hue, which is achieved by introducing special impurities into the plaster.

Features of the most affordable OPTIMIST ELITE plaster

Considering the comparatively low cost, let us dwell on the properties of the Optimist Venetian plaster. 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 of use mean the air temperature in the working room in the range of 5 to 35 degrees Celsius. A standard set of tools is used for application: a steel trowel, a pair of spatulas, a polishing machine with a soft tip. Drying of a layer of standard thickness - about a day.

Estimated cost:
- 3.5 kg - 750 rubles.
- 7 kg - 1350 rubles.
- 15 kg - 2750 rubles.

• at the first stage, a thin layer of plaster is applied to the surface, trying to create some kind of drawing already at this stage. The layer is allowed to dry for about an hour;
• to get rid of minor blemishes, lightly grind the dried surface with a large spatula - smooth it in order to level it;
• the second layer is applied in the same manner as the first;
• the last layer of decorative plaster is applied with a spatula, because the coating should be translucent and thin to give it greater depth. The work is postponed for half an hour to dry the material, after which the wall is smoothed with a spatula. For dry rooms the work is over;
• if it is planned to use Optimist plaster for the walls of a wet room (toilet, bathroom, kitchen), then the final stage of work will be the surface treatment with wax and subsequent polishing until gloss is obtained

In the video below, you can more clearly familiarize yourself with the method of using this material.

Application technology

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 must be free of mechanical damage and defects. Before you start laying the plaster, the wall is covered with a special primer. The wall must be perfectly flat, otherwise the plaster simply won't hold. The first layer of plaster is carefully tamped and leveled, after which it must be allowed to dry. If, after drying, irregularities remain 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 a finishing layer is applied. The marble pattern, typical of Venetian plaster, is created by brushing 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 sanding technique used, the finished surface may become glossy or matte. You need to work with the material quickly, since the composition dries quickly and becomes less plastic. While stirring the plaster and color, attention should be paid to the amount of the finished solution - due to the tight styling, hands begin to hurt quickly, and the solution itself quickly hardens.

Wax protection

On top of the last layer of Venetian plaster, a wax protective coating is applied, which makes it glossy and water-repellent. Do not use too much wax, as it can darken and ruin the look after drying. Once the wax hardens, you can additionally polish it with a suede mitten. After 20-25 days, the carbonization processes will end in the plaster, it will become more durable, after which it can be washed.

Externally, the finished wall will look as if it was made of natural marble. An additional effect of similarity is given by a wax coating. You can decorate with Venetian plaster not only walls, but also various arches, as well as doorways. At the next repair, you will not have to peel off the plaster - it can be painted over and wallpaper can be glued.

Illustrative examples of finishing (video)

As they say, it is better to see once than hear a hundred times. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with several interesting videos. The video below is an example of applying acrylic Venetian plaster.

And here you can familiarize yourself in detail with one of the author's techniques for applying the Venetian. The material is lengthy, but the amount of valuable advice in it is off the charts.

Another interesting technique of work. As a result, the surface is covered with decorative cracks. Read about semi-antique plaster here.

A relatively simple way to apply the composition. In our opinion, it is more suitable for finishing a bathroom or toilet.

Do it yourself, or additional motivation

Above we have given the approximate cost of the material for finishing one "square" of the wall. If you decide to experiment, then independent work will cost you only your own time. In the worst case - also nerves. But intending to pay third-party specialists, you need to be prepared for an increase in costs from 600 rubles or more 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 a professional master will take from 1000 rubles only for his work. for each sq. m. finishing with Venetian plaster. The cost will increase as your requests increase and the complexity of the work (wall height, surface quality and geometry). Cheap and beautiful will not work.

This can be understood from the reviews.

Those who dared to independently decorate the walls with Venetian plaster note the great laboriousness of the work. Therefore, you should not rush from one extreme to another - try first to work in the "test mode": we take a sheet of plywood or fiberboard with an area of \u200b\u200bat least 1 square meter. m. and trying to transform it. With this approach, you can try several techniques and choose the best one.

About tinting

If you decide to tint the mixture yourself, then carefully calculate the required volume of material - when you mix again, you will not be able to guess the color. How much plaster do you need? It is better to find out about this yourself by making test strokes on a square meter of the test surface. You should not trust the data written on the packaging - the material consumption is determined by the technique of its application.

As for tinting, there is one more nuance. Do not rush to fill in large volumes of the coloring composition, do it gradually, achieving 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 gives the stain the desired shape. This is faster and more efficient, especially when you consider that finishing with Venetian plaster is even a purely physically difficult process. Not to mention the creative side.

Be prepared for the final result to appear only at the final stages of work. This is the case when it is not necessary to plan especially 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 in order to understand where to move on.

Well, as for reviews about specific types of plaster, in 90% of cases they are of an advertising nature. Therefore, their information content was questioned.

Update: personal experience

One of our readers, as part of our proposal, sent a photo report on the application of Venetian plaster. We watch and admire

In order to decorate the walls with Venetian plaster, you will need:

1. Venetian plaster and contrasting colors. You can choose the tone of the color scheme to your liking, it will only show through in places and will not become the main color. In our example, this is the color "green apple".
2. Water-based paint and color suitable for tinting. In our example, this is a blue concentrate, when added, we got the desired blue tint.
3. Acrylic varnish for the final wall covering, it will help to add shine and make the walls resistant to dirt. In addition, such a coating will be easy for you to wash and clean.
4. Putty and primer for preparing walls for plastering.
5. Auxiliary tools - spatulas, special structured roller, grout mesh, etc.

The first step is preparing the walls. They are putty in advance until smooth, then treated with a primer. The plaster should be tinted to the desired color shade. When tinting, keep in mind that after drying, the surface becomes slightly lighter (like many mixtures), so the tone should be brighter.

Let's start applying. First, we take a little of the mixture on the edge of the spatula, trying to evenly distribute the mixture along the edge of the tool.

Apply the plaster in a thin layer (about 3 mm) and distribute it evenly over the surface. It should be applied from the bottom up: with this method, the plaster does not spread along the wall and does not drip onto the floor.

After application to the walls, the plaster layer is leveled with a spatula in all directions. Do not cover areas larger than 1.5-2 square meters at a time.

When applying plaster, carefully walk around outlets and switches.

After applying the Venetian on a small area (1-2 sq.m.), it is necessary, without waiting for drying, to give the coating a texture, for which a special structural roller is used. You need to roll the roller with the same pressure so that the texture is uniform.

First, carefully finish the edge of the wall - the surface from the corner or doorway. Try to run 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 has been processed, you can proceed to the next section. The peculiarity of the texture roller is that the more often you pass it one section at a time, the finer the texture fragments on the surface are, therefore, you should not cover the new section with an overlap with the 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.

Cover the entire wall surface gradually and let dry. Drying time depends on 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 with water-based paint. When choosing a color for the second layer, you can focus on contrasting colors (as in this example) or choose adjacent tones of plaster and paint. The color wheel can help you to select a color: it is believed that harmonious combinations are neighboring colors in the circle, or vice versa, opposite ones.

To obtain a blue color, add a little blue color to the white paint and mix well until smooth.

Use a soft roller to paint all walls with a coat of water-based paint.

It is necessary to paint the surface of the walls in one layer, but the paint should be applied in a dense layer. To do this, liberally soak the roller in the paint so that the coating is thick enough.

The order of application of the paint can be any order, i.e. you can first paint the bottom of all the walls, and then start painting at a height.

If you are determined to master the technique of decorating walls with Venetian plaster, this article will be very helpful. In it we will tell you about the basic techniques of working with a Venetian woman and help you choose the right colors for the finishing material to create an original artistic composition.

What is the peculiarity of working with a Venetian

Venetian plaster imitates a polished cut of a marble massif. Due to the effect of translucency, it is possible to achieve almost complete identity with natural marble: glossy surface, translucent layers and veins of different shades.

There are two main directions in working with such a finish: artistic and imitation. For each, there is a special technique of work, 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 it perfectly imitates a glossy surface and translucence 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 formulation without dye and one with a tint of medium saturation. Please note that some areas of the coating will be completely without mixing, correlate the contrast of the selected color with respect to white in accordance with the interior style.

The imitation technique uses more subdued patterns, to create the main picture you will need two compositions with approximately the same color, one 3-4 tones darker than the other. If you want to add dark streaks and blotches to the marble cut, get a third composition with a much brighter and darker color.

You can tint the Venetian by yourself, adjusting the level of mixing and the presence of stripes of different tones in the composition. Mixing plaster with a color scheme in a vibrating apparatus will give an absolute dissolution of the paint, in this case the range of shades will be less rich, and the pattern itself will be more washed off and even. Note that when dried, the plaster loses 3-4 tones in brightness.

Surface preparation

Venetian plaster is applied only on a specially prepared surface. The plastered walls are reinforced with a mesh under a layer of starting plaster. When it comes to surfaces made of gypsum plasterboard, 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. This is followed by coating with a special primer for Venetian or painting the wall with water-dispersion paint, white or painted to match the future coating.

Foundation application

Venetian plaster from the category of those materials that you need to feel. Before you start decorating the walls, practice several times on drywall pieces, get used to how the material behaves with different movements of the tool.

The Venetian is applied with a trapezoid trowel and spatulas, the tool should have rounded corners. The first layer is applied with a thickness of 0.2-0.5 mm to create a solid foundation. Put a small amount of the composition on the trowel and evenly distribute it. Place the tool flat against the wall and make a few rubbing movements.

The color of the base should be uniform, but you will immediately notice that you are creating the outlines of the future drawing. Large strokes can be in the form of spots, smooth or rounded strokes, or chaotic strokes. In the future, adhere to the formed contours and repeat them on a reduced or enlarged scale for the most harmonious combination of form. 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 plaster consumption for the first layer is about 30-50% more than for the next ones. Consider this when buying material.

Techniques for applying a texture-forming layer

It is important to understand the color mixing ability of the plaster. In the liquid state, this happens relatively easily, but if the coating is already applied in a thin layer, the polymerization process immediately begins. You can completely overlap the color only after applying 3-4 new layers. It turns out that mixing occurs only when the spatula moves; any pattern applied is likely to remain unchanged.

If you take two contrasting compositions on a spatula or trowel and smear them along the wall, you will first get a large and contrasting pattern. The longer you drag the tool, the more the border is washed out and the colors are mixed.

If the compositions on the trowel are pre-mixed with a wooden stick, the picture will turn out to be smaller and more detailed. You can also add a separate color dotted, stripes or zigzag, in any case, the final appearance will be noticeably different.

Drawing the invoice is carried out as thin as possible, so the effect of translucency appears. In artistic technique, thin, short strokes are used. Take two compositions of different colors on the trowel, mix them in a different ratio and apply the plaster with a spatula with a width of 30 or 40 mm.

The imitation technique involves the use of wide and long strokes, in each layer only one color or shade is applied. Apply the plaster with a wide part of the trowel, stretching the composition as wide as possible. With the application of each subsequent layer, areas of increased saturation and overlaying of colors will appear.

The optimal result can be achieved by applying two layers with art and 4-5 with imitation technique. It is recommended to let each layer dry for 24 hours, but if you work carefully, the drying period can be shortened to 6-8 hours.

Matting the coating

If the pattern is too contrasting or you need to add some matte finish, use a white plaster applied as thin 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 thin as possible.

Often white plaster is used for matting with an added dark color, but not fully stirred. This technique enlivens the composition a little, and it does not look frankly dull.

Gloss and metallization

In addition to color texturing, there is another way to texture. It consists in highlighting the relief of the coating with small differences in heights. After drying, the surface is rubbed with a metal spatula applied to the surface at an angle of 25-30 °. Direct each movement towards you, do not press hard on the tool. This will create areas with different glossiness. It is useful to do this both at the end of the application and after each applied layer.

If you apply the spatula at a sharper angle, practically close, the surface can be rubbed. This is done to give the thin edges of the strokes a darker outline. This method is great for additional texturing of each layer.

When the wall covering is ready, it can be protected from moisture with a special wax that is rubbed with lint-free napkins. In conclusion, it is desirable to polish the wax layer with a fur circle for a drill or angle grinder.

Italy is far away, but sometimes I really want to feel like a rich doge in a small personal palace. There are many modern materials for wall decoration. All of them differ in quality and their specific features, such as Venetian plaster. Let's look at what application techniques exist, since a decorative coating can be performed in different ways, and consider the most common and simple ones that will still give the desired effect.

Preparatory stage

Even if you have looked for a container with a mixture in the store for a long time, and, having decided to change the design of the premises, rushed to the store and made a purchase, this does not mean at all that when you come home, you can immediately start finishing. The most important part of the job is getting ready for it. The surface of the wall should be thoroughly cleaned of any old coatings, including plaster, if it is not securely held and has cracked areas. After that, inspect the walls for bumps.

Strongly noticeable protrusions are best leveled with the grinder's abrasive disc, since that is only appropriate for conventional finishes. If cracks are found in the walls, we embroider them with a diamond disk and cover them with cement-sand mortar, minor cracking can be covered with putty, which, in general, is suitable for surface preparation. The main thing is that after applying each layer, it is necessary to use a primer, applying it with a mowl.

If the base is in order and quite even, small roughness will be easy to hide directly with decorative plaster. The only thing that should be done in the presence of a sound base is to thoroughly clean it of foreign particles, such as dust and other contaminants, degrease it and soak it with a deep penetration primer. The last action is necessary to increase the adhesion of the coating. When putty, primer and other preparatory compounds are dry, you can attend to the problem of how to apply Venetian plaster.

Photo gallery: finishing options

Application methods

Even in the Renaissance, noble Italians ordered the decoration of the walls in the mansions not with wooden carved panels, as was fashionable earlier, in knightly times, but with the finest stucco layer. The mixtures were made up of finely ground marble and plaster mixed with lime. Other binders were added to them, according to recipes that were stored by ancient masters and, unfortunately, were mostly lost. But today this unique material and the methods of applying its solution have been restored, while modern mixtures are used as binders.

As for working with this finishing material, the methods of working with it are strikingly different from covering the walls with conventional leveling compounds. A decorative mixture is applied in the thinnest layer and therefore is completely unsuitable for smoothing out serious irregularities... Moreover, in most cases, each layer, except for the first, is in its own way finishing, that is, it can be final, with the exception of single-layer options. Compositions are also available that require the application of 4-6 layers of coating to obtain the desired effect.

The main method of covering the walls is with strokes, like those that artists leave on canvases, but somewhat larger, and made not with a brush, but with a smooth steel trowel. But this technique is only relevant in cases where you are working with compositions for multilayer finishes. First, a section of the wall is covered with scattered strokes, then new ones are applied on top of them, overlapping the previous ones, and so on, until you decide that there are enough layers, and you can proceed to polishing and applying wax for more gloss.

Video: the sequence of actions when applying Venetian plaster

Single-layer decorative compositions are easily applied with a roller, and you can use both ordinary foam rubber and textured or curly nozzles. In most cases, the consistency of “Venetian” and liquid wallpaper, which also refers to finishing materials, looks like thick sour cream and is easily caught by both a spatula (and then a trowel) and a roller. The latter can also be used to structure two-layer plasters, having previously applied a starter coat.

Photo gallery: examples of interior decoration

How to Apply Venetian Plaster: Step by Step

As a rule, the result of the work is always different from the desired result, for better or worse, and beginners who want to get the effect of stone when decorating walls with decorative plaster are sometimes disappointed. The thing is that the smallest errors are superimposed on each other in the process of working no worse than smears of the mixture, and it is impossible to fix the flaws when you start work, if you do not redo everything from scratch. We will try to follow all the steps to eliminate possible mistakes.

1. Do not be surprised that too much emphasis is placed on this stage. The most important thing is that the base to be processed is perfectly flat, since decorative finishing materials not only do not hide defects on the wall, but also emphasize them. Therefore, we carefully putty the recesses, remove the protrusions with a grinder or emery paper, clean the surface and cover it with at least a double layer of primer (after the first treatment, you must wait until it dries).
2. After the soil is completely dry, we begin to apply strokes of the mixture on a clean plastered or putty surface with scattered strokes. It is not at all necessary to maintain the same distance between the "blots" of the Venetian composition, it is enough to cover the wall more or less evenly. We make movements arched or twisting in any direction, trying to press the trowel more tightly to the base, giving the strokes a high density. Then we wait at least 8 hours until the coating is completely dry.
3. We continue finishing in the same technique, that is, we apply the mixture with smooth rounded movements, only with shorter ones, this time placing portions in the intervals between the strokes made earlier. It is better to change the trowel to a spatula and act in a crosswise manner, that is, apply the mixture with a passage in one direction, and remove the excess in the opposite direction. This method is called butterfly. Stacking new portions with an overlap, taking into account individual fragments of the lower layer, we get the illusion of veins. A good solution would be to separate a small part of the solution and add pigments to it to change the color by one tone. Occasionally using a different tinting, you will be much closer to imitating a stone.
4. It is better to immediately choose the direction from left to right, it is not necessary to focus on the window when layering strokes, on the contrary, the play of light and shade from the resulting folds will give more resemblance to a stone.
5. When the applied mixture hardens after 4-6 hours, create a gloss effect by polishing the surface with zero sandpaper. Some areas can be left rough, which will create the appearance of moiré, that is, a subtle overflow with stains.
6. We take a sponge. We dip it in a special wax composition for decorative plaster and rub it into the surface with soft circular movements. After drying, you can wash the walls with soap dissolved in water. The use of products containing solvents is by no means recommended. Once there was a profession polisher, whose duties included figure skating on parquet floors with brushes on their feet, regularly dipped in wax. You won’t take a special ride on the wall, but the result is as brilliant, the walls begin to reflect the environment, like a mirror. It is dull and blurry, but reflective, and when light falls on them, the effect of transparency occurs when you bring your palm to the wall and find it difficult to determine when contact will occur.

Venetian plaster is an excellent material for wall decoration. Let's figure out how it is applied, what tools and materials are needed to create Venetian plaster, and what you need to know about the technology.

Venetian plaster is an excellent wall covering. It is durable and stunningly decorative. A surface plastered in this way seems 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 work 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. In order to find out how to decorate the facade of a house with plaster as read in 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 walls, it reproduced the texture of real marble. Clay was most often mixed with 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 its rebirth took place. It was the architects of Venice who were able to guess the composition of the coating used by the Romans and brought the lost technology back to life.

The modern composition of the coating is somewhat different from historical technology. The composition of modern mixes for creating Venetian plaster includes:

• Marble powder, color pigments and slaked lime. These components are unchanged for many years. Some blends still contain only these natural ingredients. However, their cost is quite high, and the 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 polymeric nature. They make the plaster more plastic and increase the durability of the coating.
• Hevea tree sap or synthetic latex. These plasticizers make it easier to level the mix.
• Ground granite powder to give texture.

Despite the addition of additives not provided for by historical technology, modern mixtures can rightfully be considered Venetian plaster. After all, the main component of the plaster test is marble dust, like many centuries ago.

Application technology

Mixtures for creating coatings using the Venetian plaster technology are quite expensive. Therefore, it is not recommended to start work without mastering the technology as it should. Otherwise, there is a great risk that the appearance of the resulting coating will be far from expectations, and you will have to clean everything up and start over.

The resulting pattern depends on how to work with the tool when smoothing the plaster dough. Learning to predict what will turn out in each case can only be gained by gaining considerable experience.

How to train in Venetian plaster application? The best training tool will be sheets of cardboard with a side of 1 m. Such a sheet needs to be covered with an ordinary plaster mixture, thoroughly dried and sanded with a sandpaper. On such squares you can hone the technique, and save the most successful samples and use them as a portfolio to demonstrate your skills to customers.

Another opportunity to improve your skills is to follow the master classes held by dealers of Venetian plaster. At such an event, participants are offered both material for work and a stand for creating training coverage. But such training meetings are usually held in large cities.

Training videos can also help in familiarization:

Preparatory work

First of all, you need to carefully prepare the wall. The quality of the wall leveling largely depends on how well the coating will turn out. The wall is usually leveled in two stages. First, rough drops are leveled with mixtures for rough plaster. Then the smallest irregularities are removed with a fine putty.

If the walls are aligned by a customer or a hired team, it is worth clarifying in advance that it will be Venetian plaster that will be applied to the wall. It is also allowed to use paint putty.

The leveled wall must be dried as thoroughly as possible. You can start work no earlier than a day after finishing. But it's better to take a break for two days. Insufficiently dried plaster may fall off the wall, nullifying all the finishing efforts. After drying, it is necessary to carefully grind 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 for gypsum plaster, since they include quartz filler. Today, there is a fairly large selection of such primers on sale. The difference between the individual brands is almost imperceptible, so you can use any.

The primer must be applied in at least 2 layers, each time thoroughly drying the wall.

Number of layers

Such a 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. It is possible to apply a new layer only after the previous layer has completely dried, so finishing the walls with Venetian plaster can take quite a long time.

The base layer is applied first. Its task is, as with ordinary plaster, to create an absolutely smooth surface. Depending on the final result, the base layer will burn white or pigmented. If plastered in 2-3 layers, the base layer will begin to shine through, 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 observe two rules:

• The strokes should be chaotic. Different shapes, directions, bends will well repeat the natural texture of marble.
• Each new stroke should hide the place of the first touch of the wall at the previous stroke.

After the layer has dried (usually about 10 hours), you need to wipe it with a dry trowel to remove all irregularities. After that, you can put the next layer.

The finishing layer is applied in a special way: a little plaster dough is placed on the wall with a trowel, and then put back together, firmly pressing the surface of the trowel. As a result, the last layer is very thin, almost transparent.

Ironing

The procedure for grouting the last layer is performed when the condition is not sufficiently dry. For work, a clean Venetian trowel is taken. It is very important that there are no chips, shells, pieces of dried plaster mass and other defects on its surface. Ironing is carried out by moving the tool in a circle.

Before finishing and ironing, carefully read the instructions for the mixture. Some manufacturers recommend doing this procedure in small areas, while others allow you to finish large areas at once.

If the ironing is done correctly, the drawing will appear, become more vivid and expressive. Now the wall takes on an almost finished look, it remains only 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 flat surface. Synthetic waxes provide a more matte finish. Wax can only be applied to thoroughly dried plaster (at least a day).

Wax is applied in a very thin layer, like the finishing layer of the plaster mass. If applied thickly, the wax layer can crack, ruining the entire work.

When the wax dries (20-50 minutes), grind it with a fluffy attachment on a grinder or drill. Then the coating must dry for at least 14 days.

Required materials and tools

For work, you need to prepare the required amount of dry mix, a container for diluting the 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 a smoothing tool: a narrow spatula, a set of Japanese spatulas of various widths, a Venetian trowel. To sand small irregularities, a skin is useful. For polishing, you will need a grinder or drill with a nozzle, as well as a rag for grinding hard-to-reach spots.

DIY Venetian plastering. Step-by-step instruction

The procedure for applying Venetian plaster:

1. Preparation of walls, materials and tools.
2. Base coat application.
3. Application of basic layers.
4. Ironing.
5. Waxing and polishing.

Each layer must be thoroughly dried. Therefore, it should be understood that the application of Venetian plaster is a rather lengthy process. But it is better to wait until it dries completely than to spend a lot of time and effort on repairs if the insufficiently dried plaster falls off the wall

Before applying Venetian plastering technology, it is worthwhile to practice thoroughly. But if technology is to be mastered properly, it is possible to obtain surfaces of extraordinary beauty that are in no way inferior to marble.