Material for Venetian plaster. Venetian plaster - a modern classic in decoration

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 methods of working with a Venetian 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. Thanks to the effect of translucency, it is possible to 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 a finish: artistic and imitation. For each, there is a special working technique that 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 colorful, 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 technique, it is recommended to have one pure composition without dye and one with a medium saturation tinting. Please note that some areas of the coating will not blend at all, correlate 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, get 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 strips of different tones in the composition. Mixing plaster with color 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 out and uniform. Please note that when drying, the plaster loses 3-4 tones in brightness.

Surface preparation

Venetian plaster is applied only on a specially prepared surface. Plastered walls are reinforced with mesh under a layer of starting plaster. If we are talking about surfaces made of plasterboard, the joints are cut at 30 ° and two layers of sickle are applied.

The surface must be treated with a deeply penetrating primer until completely saturated. Next comes the coating with a special primer for the Venetian or painting the wall with water-dispersion paint, white or painted to match the future coating.

Foundation application

Venetian plaster is one of those materials that you need to feel. Before you start finishing the walls, practice a few 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 a solid base. Take a small amount of the composition on the 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 contours of the future drawing. Large strokes can be in the form of spots, even 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 consumption of plaster for the first layer is approximately 30-50% more than for subsequent ones. Keep this in mind 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 is already applied in a thin layer, the polymerization process immediately begins. 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 applied pattern is likely to remain unchanged.

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

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

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

The imitation technique involves the use of wide and long strokes, in each layer only one color or shade is used. It is necessary to apply 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 overlapping colors will appear on each other.

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

Matting coating

If the pattern is too contrasting or you need to give some haze to the coating, use white plaster for this, applied as thinly 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 thinly as possible.

Often, white plaster is used for matting with added dark color, but not completely mixed. 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 of texturing. It consists in highlighting the relief of the coating with small elevation differences. 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 technique 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, almost 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, which is rubbed with lint-free wipes. Finally, it is advisable to polish the wax layer with a fur wheel for a drill or angle grinder.

Venetian plaster is an excellent material for wall decoration. We will figure out how it is applied, what tools and materials will be 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 amazingly decorative. The surface plastered in this way appears translucent. Today you can order the application of Venetian plaster in professional construction companies. However, if you understand the technology, you may well do this work yourself.

What it is

Visually, this coating resembles marble tiles. A translucent layer that hides the characteristic veins 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 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 added to the mixture, which gave the plastered surfaces the color of natural marble. Other pigments have also been used.

The material acquired its name thanks to the city where its second birth took place. 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 composition of the coating is somewhat different from the historical technology. The composition of modern mixtures for creating Venetian plaster includes:

Marble powder, color pigments and slaked lime. These components have not changed over the years. Some mixtures still contain only these natural ingredients. However, their cost is quite high, and 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 dough more plastic and increase the durability of the coating.
Hevea tree sap or synthetic latex. These plasticizers make it easier to level the mix.
Crushed granite powder for texture.

Despite the introduction of additives that are 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 Venetian plaster technology are quite expensive. Therefore, it is not recommended to start work without mastering the technology properly. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the appearance of the resulting coating will be far from expectations, and you will have to clean everything off and start over.

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

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

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

Video tutorials can help:

Preparatory work

First of all, you need to carefully prepare the wall. The quality of the alignment of the wall largely depends on how well it will turn out to make the coating. The wall is usually leveled in two stages. First, coarse differences are leveled with mixtures for rough plaster. Then the smallest irregularities are removed with a 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 allowed to use putty for paint.

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

The primer must be applied 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. You can 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 coat is applied first. Its task is, like ordinary plaster, to create an absolutely smooth surface. Depending on the final result, the base coat will burn to be white or pigmented. If plastered in 2-3 layers, the base layer will become translucent, 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:

Strokes should be chaotic. Different shapes, directions, bends will repeat the natural texture of marble well.
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 rub it with a dry trowel to remove all irregularities. After that, you can put the next layer.

The final layer is applied in a special way: a little plaster dough is placed on the wall with a spatula, and then collected back, firmly pressing the surface of the spatula. 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 dry enough. 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 performing the finishing layer and ironing, carefully read the instructions for the mixture. Some manufacturers recommend doing this procedure in small areas, others allow you to finish large areas at once.

If ironing is done correctly, the pattern will appear, become brighter and more expressive. Now the wall takes on an almost finished look, it remains only to protect it from moisture.

Wax application

The wax layer that protects the plaster from moisture is a very important component. Beeswaxes provide a glossy, perfectly smooth surface. Synthetic waxes provide a more matte finish. Wax can only be applied to thoroughly dried plaster (at least a day).

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

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

Necessary materials and tools

For work, you need to prepare the right amount of dry mix, a container for diluting the plaster mass and a construction mixer. It will be necessary to knead the plaster in large quantities, it will be very difficult to do it by hand.

It is also worth stocking up a tool for smoothing: a narrow spatula, a set of Japanese spatulas of various widths, a Venetian trowel. To grind small irregularities, a skin is useful. For polishing, you will need a grinder or a drill with a nozzle, as well as rags for grinding 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 a base coat.
Application of the main layers.
Ironing.
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 for complete drying than to spend a lot of time and effort on repairs if insufficiently dried plaster falls off the wall.

Before applying plaster using Venetian technology, you should thoroughly practice. But if you properly master the technology, you can get surfaces of extraordinary beauty that are in no way inferior to marble.

The history of the origin of Venetian plaster (from Italian Stucco veneziano "- liquid marble) has its roots in ancient Rome. Marble was the most popular in Rome, leaving particles of shimmering dust after processing by the master. It was marble crumbs that the ancient Roman masters began to use to create frescoes and artistic patterns. In the future, marble was replaced by materials such as granite, quartz and limestone.

Having revived in Venice, the marble drawing came to life in the hands of many masters and artists, in particular Michelangelo and Raphael, and later became an adornment of majestic European churches, rich houses, as well as ancient palaces of Italian and French kings.

Today, among the variety of decorative coatings, Venetian plaster also occupies a special place. It allows you to realistically convey the texture, amazing shades and bewitching radiance of marble.

The consistency of Venetian plaster is closer to paint than to plaster. Nevertheless, it has a fairly large fraction of fillers - about 0.5 mm. Due to this, it is possible to create sufficiently thick layers that hide the defects of the base. It also increases the resistance to impacts, chips, scratches.

Do-it-yourself Venetian plaster is created using tools and materials such as:

masking tape;
trowel for Venetian plaster. It differs from a conventional trowel in that it has a trapezoidal working surface and rounded corners, which avoids stripes when applying a decorative mass;
bath;
decorative plaster;
fifteen- and thirty-centimeter alloy steel spatula;
roller;
deep penetration primer;
an electric drill with a mixer attachment that will help stir the solution;
machine with a nozzle for polishing wax;
dye to give the desired shade to Venetian plaster. As a rule, 2 paints of different shades are purchased, since at least two layers are applied to the surface;
wax for Venetian plaster.

Applying Venetian plaster (step by step instructions and video):

Step 1. Use painter's tape to cover the edge of the wall you don't plan to plaster. It is better to take a less sticky tape, because when the tape is peeled off, part of the wall may stretch behind it.

Step 2 Surface preparation. Venetian plaster is applied to a dry, perfectly flat, previously puttied surface. Subsequently, a classic primer is usually applied to the surface of the finishing putty, which performs the following functions:

elasticity;
strengthening and dedusting function;
reduces the subsequent consumption of paints and varnishes;
levels the absorbency of the surface;
crack resistance;
due to the fact that it prevents the premature departure of moisture from our solution, uniformity is ensured;
has adhesive properties.

The drying time of the soil varies from 4 to 6 hours.

Step 3 Venetian plaster, pre-tinted in the desired color by hand or with special equipment, is applied in at least two layers to create a marble effect. We will do in three layers: for the lower and upper layers we will take the paint of a darker shade, for the intermediate - white. You can do the opposite by placing a darker shade between lighter layers.

Do not immediately knead a large portion of the plaster solution. This will eliminate the risk of premature drying and, as a result, hardening.

To apply the first covering layer, we use a spatula, picking up a little Venetian plaster on it. Then we transfer the paint to the edge of the trowel, and from the upper left corner, pressing the trowel to the selected area at an angle of 30 °, apply the plaster mortar to the wall surface with multidirectional strokes. In this case, each subsequent stroke is located perpendicular to the previous one. It is best to work from a dry surface to a wet one - the area where the plaster has already been applied - otherwise the trowel streaks may remain. Therefore, try to make strokes starting from the edges of the wall or from its dry part.

Carefully monitor not only that the layer of Venetian plaster does not exceed 1-1.5 mm, but that it is as even as possible. As soon as the Venetian plaster begins to dry out (lighten in places), polish the surface with the angle of the spatula. The result of polishing the surface of the wall should be the fine veins characteristic of marble.

If gaps form during application, it's okay. That's how it's intended. Your goal is to create some streaks that will show up as you increase the number of layers.

A prerequisite is the use of a clean tool, since the slightest grain of sand will leave streaks. Therefore, after completing the application of the plaster, rinse the tool used well with water. Also, from time to time, wipe the spatula and trowel with a damp cloth. This will help to avoid the appearance of dried particles that leave marks on the decorative surface.

Although the indicated drying time for Venetian plaster is 6-12 hours, we recommended that the first layer be left to dry for 24 hours.

After the plaster has completely dried, remove flaws (roughness and small irregularities) with a spatula.

Step 4 The second layer and the third layer are applied according to the same principle. For the second layer, light paint will be used. We collect it on a spatula, transfer it to a trowel; and from the upper right corner, gradually moving to the lower left corner, we begin to apply white paint with the thinnest chaotic strokes.

I would like to note that it is best to continuously distribute the paint from one corner to another.

We polish the still wet surface with the angle of the spatula, randomly crossing the direction of the strokes until a pattern and gloss appear. Working on an area of 0.5 m 2, we continue the application, subsequently also breaking the surface into sections of 0.5 m 2.

Step 5 When you have finished applying the third layer, let the material dry. Finishing with Venetian plaster usually ends at the stage of glossing, or ironing. This stage involves giving the surface a gloss with a trowel. It is very important to wait for the material to dry completely, because if it does not dry out, a chip may form during the glossing process. We would advise you to wait until the final drying of the plaster, leaving it untouched for 40-46 hours.

When all layers are dry, you can proceed directly to the glossing process. To do this, take the trowel with your right hand, and with your left hand press the blade well (almost close) to the surface to create additional pressure. Be sure to hold the trowel at an acute angle, and with semicircular movements we press all the layers towards each other. In this case, pay special attention to the cleanliness of the surface. If debris remains on it, a scratch will immediately remain on the surface of your plaster, which will later be quite problematic to remove.

Step 6 In order to give the coating additional wear resistance, moisture resistance and color contrast in texture, after glossing, a waxing operation can be performed. To do this, a special wax for Venetian plaster is applied to the surface of the wall, and then rubbed with smooth circular motions using a polishing machine.

To give an additional decorative effect, you can tint the wax with a special decorative powder, the approximate consumption of which is 20 grams per half-liter jar of wax. To do this, dilute the powder with a small amount of water; Add the powder to the wax and mix thoroughly. If you want to get a more saturated gilded or pearlescent effect, you can increase the amount of powder, but not more than 50 grams per half-liter package.

Video tutorial: How to apply Venetian plaster with your own hands

Video: Textured method of applying Venetian plaster

Express lesson of applying Venetian plaster on the wall

For those who are wondering "how to make Venetian plaster", we recommend trying this technology on a small drywall sheet.
Be careful about the cleanliness of the tools you use.
Avoid getting particles of dust and debris on the material, which will later be noticeable on the finished wall.
If a bucket of decorative plaster has been in the room for a long time, shake the container with the solution thoroughly before applying.

Technique for applying Venetian plaster "sandy wind"

"Sand Wind" creates the effect of sand dunes, where golden sand grains, sprayed by a strong wind, bask in the sun's rays. This effect allows you to visually expand the space and raise the ceiling. Additional lighting enhances the effect.

To perform this technique, you will need decorative plaster, which includes fine-grained sand.

We present two options for performing the "sand wind": a directional pattern (diagonal, vertical or horizontal) and chaotic strokes.

For a directional pattern, brush strokes are made in the appropriate direction with certain indents, and then they are connected. When shading, a large concentration of the coloring mixture is formed in one place, and a smaller one in another. When dried, the pattern is more contrasting. Where there is more sand, it is darker, where there is less sand, respectively, lighter.

To create the best effect, before applying strokes, it is recommended to tint the substrate. If you use a pearl shade, then tinting is not necessary, since small errors are hidden due to the overflow effect.

The second effect is chaotic strokes. To do this, you will need two shades of Venetian plaster and, accordingly, two brushes, so as not to waste time washing off one of the paints. With chaotic movements, first one shade is applied, then another; they are connected with a brush, which was previously used to apply a lighter shade. If you apply it the other way around, a darker shade will “eat” a light tone. It should be noted that you need to shade the colors without waiting for the Venetian plaster to dry: apply a few strokes - connect them.

If more sand forms in some place, you can beat it with the edge of the brush and blend it again.

After complete drying, fix the treated surface with colorless wax.

Ways to help "revive" Venetian plaster

To create an original texture, you can use decorative rollers. To do this, use a trowel to apply a uniform layer. Depending on the pattern on the roller, we roll up and down or limit ourselves to one roll over the surface. So, as with the basic technique, the surface is waxed and polished. In addition, when using this technique in the interior, tinting can be added to the wax. It can be tinted either manually or by computer.
To emphasize the texture of natural stone, after applying the top coat, use a brush to highlight the veins. Using a color diluted with water, draw a thin, curved and broken line along the surface with a classic brush (“zero”). Let's use an airbrush. To make the picture dilapidated, after applying the main texture, all the veins must be carefully plastered. The surface is then waxed and polished.

Architecture is often referred to as poetry set in stone. If you follow this allegory, then, perhaps, Venetian plaster can become a romantic ballad of your design, the technology of its application has remained unchanged for 2000 years, and its extraordinary beauty still excites our imagination.

Due to the fact that this type of finishing work is in high demand, the application of Venetian plaster is often offered in the construction services market by craftsmen who are very superficially familiar with the technology of such work. At the same time, trade offers a lot of coatings that only imitate the famous Venetian.

Let's make a reservation right away that the classic Venetian plaster is made with a putty mass, which necessarily includes marble dust, which in some cases is replaced by quartz, granite or onyx. The second invariable component of the coating is slaked lime, thanks to which the Venetian plaster finish is extremely strong and durable. In addition to these components, to give color, various pigments and colorants are usually used, which help the finished surface withstand the negative effects of atmospheric oxygen and ultraviolet radiation.

Modern mixtures for Venetian plaster often contain a certain percentage of an acrylic binder. According to experts, Venetian putty masses based on acrylic dispersion are more plastic and are not subject 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 perform the layout of the mixture on their own, it is sold ready-made, in plastic buckets. Moreover, each manufacturer has original recipes that allow you to get various visual effects (velvety, haze, gloss). Often, you don’t have 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 gift and, after watching the application of Venetian plaster, feel the desire to try your hand at this kind of creativity, do not forget to prepare special plastering tools:

steel graters (which are necessary for leveling and mashing the solution) with a width of 20 and 25 cm;
spatulas of a special form. Their feature is rounded edges and a very smooth, literally polished surface without nicks and scratches. A spatula will also require two, for wide and true;
brushes of two shapes: a classic flat flute brush and a paint brush. The latter has a rectangular, oval or round shape, somewhat similar to a brush. Choose a maklovitsa should be with thick bristles.

You will also need a tape measure, level and a long metal ruler. Do not forget to stock up on a grinding grater, with a fine-grained sandpaper.

Preparatory work is the basis of the basics!

The technique of applying Venetian plaster involves very careful and scrupulous work on surface preparation. Only in this case, the Venetian will be able to delight you not only with her beauty, but also with the 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, as a true aristocrat among finishing plasters, will not tolerate such a dismissive attitude towards preparatory work. Although the basis for it can be brickwork, and concrete, and drywall, and even walls that were once covered with oil paint. But all this must first be thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt, of peeling pieces of plaster and paint residues.

Carefully repair cracks, chips and cracks. For drywall sheets, it is necessary to process all joints flush. After that, the patched areas are sanded. Are you already tired? Be patient, this is just the beginning! After our walls can already boast of the absence of visible defects, the first solid putty is performed. When the putty layer dries, the surface is sanded with sandpaper or pumice. Now the walls can be blown with compressed air or walked over with a dry rag to remove particles. After that, it is desirable to prime the surface, in this form it will be easier to give in to the second continuous puttying.

How, again? Yes, again solid puttying and again sanding, to correct all the roughness and scratches. And again primer. And with the poor condition of the walls, such a tedious procedure as continuous puttying, before applying Venetian plaster, sometimes has to be carried out three times. The finishing putty must be of high quality, and the last sanding is carried out with a “zero” sanding, followed by a thorough removal of dust with a dry cloth.

Preparatory work will take a lot of time

In addition to the laboriousness and painstaking preparatory work, they differ in a rather significant duration in time, because after applying each of the layers, you need to give it time to dry. In general, each layer dries for approximately one day. In the event that the temperature in the room is low, or the humidity is quite significant, more time may be required.

And finally, our walls are even and smooth. Now it remains to cover them a couple of times with a deep penetration primer for the last time. Its appearance should correspond to the putty material, they are usually sold as a set. After priming the wall, you need to wait again for it to dry completely. Well, now it's finally time for real creativity.

What color to choose?

Before starting work, we glue the upper parts of the walls with masking tape. When working with a Venetian, you will have to remove this tape immediately after finishing work, without waiting for the final drying of the material. Otherwise, when it is removed, very unaesthetic cracks and chips may form.

If your Venetian putty is not tinted, add the required amount of dye, while mixing thoroughly. When choosing a shade, it should be noted that most often the finished Venetian turns out in a closed space somewhat darker and brighter than on a small test piece of material or in the catalog of a building salon. For residential premises, it is better to abandon the use of too flashy tones, and limit yourself to more pastel shades. Colorators and plaster mass must be purchased from the same brand, otherwise they may not be compatible in their properties.

Venetian plaster. Application technology

You need to finish the wall in small sections, approximately 1 m 2 each, starting from the top. The first layer of mass is the base, it is applied continuously and sets the tone for the entire future color of the wall. When working, a trowel is used, on which the mass is applied with a spatula. If you carefully looked at the material, Venetian plaster application technology, the video in this article, you noticed that the movements of the trowel that applied the coating were short and rounded.

The general trajectory of movement when covering a wall is from left to right. And whether you apply the mass from top to bottom or from bottom to top - it does not matter, do what is more convenient for you. The material is applied in a thin layer, and, without waiting for it to dry, is distributed with a Venetian spatula, in multidirectional movements in an arc, avoiding sharp joints in straight lines. The spatula must be pressed against the wall tightly, maintaining an angle of inclination of 15-20 to the surface. It is these methods of applying Venetian plaster that will make it possible to obtain those veins that, in the final version, will make our wall look like a natural stone.

The first layer dries for at least 4-8 hours, depending on the brand of Venetian mass used. Most often, further work is continued the next day.

The second layer is applied with short ragged movements, and immediately rubbed with a spatula. 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 the 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 value depends on the method of applying the decorative layer. Experienced master decorators can work in a different manner, creating a different size of the picture.

After complete drying of the applied decorative layer, the surface is sanded with fine-grained sandpaper. To increase the visual effect of the depth of Venetian plaster and its famous inner glow, more intermediate layers are performed, the total number of which can reach up to nine.

Give the final shine

After applying the last layer, to make the Venetian plaster water resistant and increase gloss, the surface is polished with wax. This work is carried out no earlier than a week after the final application of the finishing layer. In addition to 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 streaks. Liquid wax is applied with a special pile glove, and then the wall is finally polished with a grinder with a special pile nozzle.

The history of Venetian plaster is centuries old. Wall covering with a similar composition adorned the walls of rich houses in ancient Rome. Many years later, Venetian plaster is still popular, today it is considered an expensive, high-quality and prestigious type of finish, which, oddly enough, can be done by hand.

Scope, pros and cons of Venetian plaster

Venetian plaster - a stylish, spectacular and expensive type of finish

Venetian plaster can often be found in residential buildings or in the premises of public buildings, where it is used to decorate interior walls, columns, cornices, fireplaces and other architectural details. In the decoration of facades, such material is almost never used, since it is expensive and does not have sufficient endurance.

However, Venetian plaster has good strength and easily tolerates high humidity. Thanks to these qualities, such a coating can be used to decorate walls in bathrooms, saunas, baths, etc. Halls, halls, living rooms and bedrooms are often decorated with a Venetian. This type of decoration is found in hotels, restaurants, bars, 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, consider them in more detail:

The decorative qualities of the finish can be put in the first place, because only Venetian plaster, after drying on the wall, can create the so-called “glow effect”. Other types of coatings cannot boast of this.
Environmental friendliness is another plus of the material. Venetian plaster is made from non-toxic components, the main of which is stone flour.
Among the advantages, moisture resistance can also be noted, thanks to which the Venetian is suitable for finishing bathrooms, pool rooms, saunas and baths.
The incombustibility of the material makes it safe in the event of a fire.
In the process of preparing the plaster mixture, various dyes can be added to it - this allows you to give the walls any shade you like.
High-quality Venetian plaster can last for many years without losing its decorative and operational qualities.

Having described the positive properties of the material, its disadvantages should also be identified:

Due to the 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. It is rather difficult to clad a wall with Venetian plaster with your own hands, and with the wrong application technology, the coating will not create the proper effect. To perform the finishing, you can invite specialists, 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.

The composition and characteristics of the coating

Venetian plaster creates not only an attractive, but also strong and durable coating on the wall.

As in ancient times, modern Venetian plaster is made from just three main components: stone flour, a binder and a 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 the production of modern coatings it is often replaced by 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 more and more hard, which is due to its durability.

An important distinguishing feature of the material is its transparency. It is thanks to this quality that the effect of the internal glow of the plaster is achieved. Under a layer of such a translucent coating, the smallest defects in the base are visible, so the wall is carefully leveled before applying the plaster.

Venetian plaster can be applied to walls made of concrete, wood, stone or brick. On any of these materials, such a coating falls without problems.

Types, difference between decorative plaster and Venetian

Venetian plaster imitates natural stone

Decorative plaster is a broad concept covering different types of finishing materials. Decorative compositions 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 the Venetian from other plasters include its component composition, appearance, application technique, performance characteristics.

Classical Venetian plaster is divided into several main types:

Veneto coating creates an imitation of polished marble on the wall. Such plaster is popular among other analogues due to its affordable cost and relative ease of application. Veneto plaster, covered with a layer of wax composition, is easy to maintain and can be easily cleaned with a wet sponge or cloth.
"Trevignano" is superimposed on the wall with numerous translucent layers. After hardening, the surface looks as if it is illuminated from the inside. Plaster "Trevignano" is created on a polymer basis and has a wide color spectrum. A similar coating is used in interiors made in the styles of "baroque", "vintage", "classic".
Marbello plaster allows you to create a matte velvety surface on the wall with glossy veins scattered over 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 modulations. The component composition of the material contains polymeric substances that give the coating water-repellent properties.
The Venetian coating "Encausto" is distinguished by a semi-matt surface, diluted with splashes of a contrasting shade. Visually, this coating resembles granite. To prolong the durability of the cladding and add decorativeness 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 different shades

When choosing Venetian plaster for decorative decoration of the room, pay attention to what kind of coating you want to see in the end. Such a 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 is 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 coating, 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 colors, and bright and rich colors are suitable for the hall or living room. When buying plaster, you can see ready-made examples in the photographs. It is advisable to check with the seller all the necessary information about the material: operating conditions, maintenance rules, subtleties of correcting irregularities, etc.

You can buy plaster after the area of \u200b\u200bthe room has been measured and the consumption of the finishing material has been calculated. Before purchasing, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with manufacturers who offer a similar product on the market, study reviews and information about companies.

Required tools, cost calculation

Before starting work, you need to prepare the necessary tools

It is not difficult to calculate the consumption of a plaster coating, 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 bumps, depressions, and roughness on unprepared walls. With Venetian plaster, the situation is simpler, because it is used in finishing and superimposed on carefully aligned walls.

To calculate the approximate consumption of Venetian plaster, you need to pay attention to such factors:

the area of the walls to be faced;
the number of layers that will be superimposed on the base in the process;
thickness of one layer - the recommended value is indicated on the packaging of the plaster mixture.

To work with Venetian plaster, in addition to the finishing composition itself, you may need the following materials and tools:

primer for preliminary preparation of walls;
wax to create a 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

Consider the steps of the manufacturing process and the nuances of coating, various techniques and features of working with the material.

How to make DIY Venetian Plaster

Having combined the dry ingredients with water and dye, they are mixed with a construction mixer

Before starting work, the dry mix for Venetian plaster must be diluted with water in the required proportion. Almost all such materials have instructions for preparing the solution on the package, and the necessary 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 components of the plaster should be mixed with a construction mixer. If you do not have such a tool, use a drill and a special nozzle for mixing solutions. The consistency of the finished substance should resemble thick sour cream. After preparation, the plaster must be left for 15 minutes, and then mixed again with a mixer. In the process of mixing the ingredients, a dye is also added to the mass.

Important: the amount of mortar 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 the mass is not enough, during subsequent preparation it will be difficult to guess with the amount of dye, and the layer of plaster on the wall will be painted unevenly.

Surface preparation with putty

Before applying Venetian plaster, the wall must be made even and smooth.

It is customary to apply Venetian plaster on 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. The preparation of the surface for the application of Venetian plaster can be described in the form of stages:

First, the working base is cleaned of dirt, paint, oil stains, construction dust. All cracks and potholes are covered with putty. If the recesses are significant, they are sealed with a cement-sand mortar.
The influx of the solution and other bulges are also cleaned and leveled. Coarse-grained sandpaper or a grinder with a diamond disc is suitable for such work.
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 covered with a deep penetration primer and left to dry for 6 hours. Then the surface is primed again. Sometimes the composition intended for re-priming is painted in the color of Venetian plaster.

Important: if the base coat on the wall is old and noticeably damaged, contains many defects or peels off in some places, it is recommended to completely remove it and re-plaster the wall.

Technology for applying Venetian plaster

How to apply with different techniques

Venetian plaster is applied in thin layers using a special trowel.

Venetian plaster is applied to the wall in different ways, and the final result will depend on the specifics of the finish. We describe several popular technologies for applying Venetian plaster to the wall:

To create a marble effect, the wall is first covered with the first thin layer of the plaster mixture, using a wide spatula in the work. After 10 minutes, the desired relief is formed on the wall with a special Venetian trowel. The plaster is left to dry for 2 hours, after which a second layer of mortar 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, after which the mixture is smeared on the wall. In the process of 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 with a grinder and opened with a layer of wax. After another 30-50 minutes, the wax coating is processed with a grinder equipped with a fur nozzle.
The classic method of applying Venetian plaster involves finishing the wall with several thin layers of mortar that differ 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, with the help of a trowel, a relief is formed on the surface. When the plaster dries, which will take about 2 hours, the scallops from the strokes are cut off the wall, and the surface is polished to a shine. After that, the wall is covered with a second layer of plaster and the whole sequence of actions is repeated again. After laying 3-5 layers, the dried plaster is sanded with a machine with a cloth nozzle, and then coated with wax.
To create the effect of a cork tree, the first layer of plaster is formed from compositions of various shades. The solution is stirred so that its color is not uniform. Then the mass is applied to the base with a sufficiently thick layer and dried with a building hair dryer. If in the process of work periodically move the hair dryer away from the wall and bring it closer, you can achieve the original texture. After drying with a building dryer, cracks form on the surface, which create a decorative effect. Then the Venetian plaster is left for 2 days to dry completely. The second layer of coating can be mother-of-pearl 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 covered 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, a fur roller is used, with the help of which the material is distributed over the wall in a thin layer. After 2-3 hours, when the plaster dries, the sharpest protruding parts are removed with a spatula. The second layer of the 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 again cleaned with a spatula. The third layer of finishing is made of plaster mixed with finishing varnish. The varnish is mixed into the solution using a construction mixer, the resulting mass is distributed over the working surface and allowed to dry for 6 hours. The final stage of work is polishing the wall with a Venetian trowel. After such a procedure, the finished conventional coating acquires a glossy metallic sheen.

For clarity of the above examples, see the video tutorials below.

In the process of work, you need to make uneven strokes in different directions.

In most cases, plaster mortar is worked with 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, rubbed into the 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: so that there are no scratches on the surface, every 10-15 minutes, working tools must be cleaned of the solution with a damp cloth.

Venetian plaster should be applied slowly, as carefully as possible. To achieve the effect of translucency, 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 is in contact with the floor, strokes are carried out in the direction from bottom to top. During work, try to make movements that are different from each other..

When waxing walls, give preference to artificial compositions, since natural beeswax does not tolerate moisture as well. Try to avoid the formation of wax deposits, otherwise over time such places will darken and ruin the look of the finish.

Care: how to wash and clean

Wax coating will protect the plaster from moisture

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. Within 2 months, Venetian plaster must be protected from moisture, dirt and water splashes. When this period has elapsed, it will be possible to wipe the coating with a damp cloth or sponge. To care for the finish, you can use mild detergent compositions 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 repair. Periodic care and renewal of the wax layer will ensure the preservation of the appearance of the finish.