How to apply Venetian plaster with your own hands

Recommendation points

• What is the peculiarity of working with a Venetian
• Selection of the color scheme of the composition
• Surface preparation
• Base application
• Techniques for applying a texture-forming layer
• Matting the coating
• Gloss and metallization

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 of 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 muted patterns; to create the main pattern, two compositions with approximately the same color are required, one 3-4 shades darker than the other. If you want to add dark veins 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. Please note that when dry, the plaster loses 3-4 tones in brightness.

Surface preparation

Venetian plaster is applied only to a specially prepared surface. The plastered walls are reinforced with a mesh under a layer of starting plaster. If we are talking about 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.

Base application

Venetian plaster is one of the materials that needs to be felt. Before you start decorating 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 coat is applied 0.2–0.5 mm thick to create a solid base. Take a small amount of the compound on a trowel and distribute it evenly. 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 resulting contours and repeat them in a reduced or enlarged scale for the most harmonious combination of shape. 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 is relatively easy, but if the coating is already applied in a thin layer, the polymerization process begins instantly. You can completely cover 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 blend..

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

The application of the texture is performed in the thinnest possible layers, so the effect of translucency appears. In artistic technique, thin, short strokes are used. Take two compositions of different colors on a trowel, mix them in different proportions and apply the plaster with a 30 or 40 mm wide trowel.

The imitation technique involves the use of wide and long strokes, in each layer only one color or shade is applied. It is necessary to apply the plaster with the 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 allow each layer to 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 trowel 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 with an added dark color scheme is used for matting, but not completely stirred. This technique revives the composition a bit, 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 instrument. This will create areas with different glossiness. This is useful 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 in with lint-free wipes. In conclusion, it is advisable to polish a layer of wax with a fur wheel for a drill or angle grinder.