venetian plaster paint and home decorations

#Venetian plaster paint and home decorations how to

In fact, Limestone, which is the base for lime mortars, lime putty and lime paint, is as old as the earth itself. The origins of Venetian Plaster trace right back as far as the 1 st century AD, to Mesopotamia. This also acts as protection for the plaster.

It is used as the final layer, spread on thinly and then polished to develop a lovely sheen. Then finally a layer of Beeswax, a traditional final treatment of Venetian plaster. Burnishing the top layer with a trowel imparts the reflective opalescent sheen that makes this surface design so desirable and sought-after. This process happens in repeat up to seven times before the finish is complete. Each layer is trowelled on over the last using various methods.

#Venetian plaster paint and home decorations how to

Find out how to use it and see some beautiful examples of it’s use in interior design.The art of using Venetian Plaster as a decorative finish is an involved process, which takes time, an eye for detail and precise ratios of materials. Read on to discover more about the origins of Venetian plaster. Layers of this fine smooth plaster are applied over each other to create an illusion of texture and depth. Venetian plaster can contain up to 40% marble dust giving it a high level of sheen. The plaster is made from a slaked lime base with added pigment to create rich colour. So, by all means, try it yourself but bear in mind that this isn’t a cheap material so if you get it wrong it will cost a bit to replace all the materials.What is Venetian Plaster ? Put simply the origins of Venetian Plaster lie in the ancient technique of polished plastering from this historic region. The real world is so different to the perfect, level, dry classroom. Now, personally I think all trades need experience, not just a condensed course, so my view as a tradesman is ideally you need to learn on a job or site as well. If you search for a course online, there are plenty to choose from, like Décor Effects Ltd based in Bury, which has been designed for beginners with no previous experience. Specialist skill of course comes with a price tag to match so if you’re a competent DIYer, want to save on costs and are keen to learn then, like any trade, you can go on a course to learn how to do it. There are many reputable companies who specialise in applying Venetian plaster in homes so it’s worth doing your research. You also have to use a smaller trowel than one you’d use to apply traditional multi finish plaster so it takes a lot longer! Does a Specialist Need to Apply Venetian Plaster? There is also a specialist primer you have to use and then a wax to finish. This is mainly down to the fact that it is lime-based plaster.

Applying it per metre can be up to £150/m. Depending on the colour of the plaster used, the type and the quantity, it can be anything from £5 to £20 a metre. Compared to traditional multi finish plastering and then painting or spraying, it is a lot more money. The one downside of Venetian plaster is the cost. (Image credit: Paul Testa) How Much Does Venetian Plaster Cost? It’s also calming and feels less busy than a tiled surface.' (Example in picture below.) Years ago it was a lot harder to repair and you often had to replaster the whole wall, but now you can repair a small mark or blemish by fixing the problem in situ or wiping down.Īrchitect Paul Testa chose to use Venetian plaster on his bathroom walls: 'We used venetian plaster to create a smooth homogeneous finish that wouldn’t have joints that could discolour over time. It’s almost as flexible as paint in terms of upkeep and application. There are no joins with plaster so you get a smooth finish.Īnother benefit of Venetian plaster is how durable and low maintenance it is. choosing to have the wall/ceiling finish look and feel earthy with pitted, slightly rougher details, for a more natural look. by using it on surfaces inside and out to create a seamless connection, and 2.

There is also a growing focus on biophilic design (bringing the outside in) and with Venetian plaster you can achieve this in two ways: 1.