Venetian plaster: application technology, video. How to apply Venetian plaster: a theory you can’t do without Venetian plaster single-layer application technique

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The desire of the modern homeowner to create coziness and comfort with the help of interior decoration is completely justified. Decoration technologies are updated every year, and the latest finishing materials enter the market.

For example, walls associated with the chambers of ancient Venetian mansions will not leave anyone indifferent. Venetian plaster imitating marble will help with this.

Decorative plaster contains slaked lime with the addition of granite or marble dust. Color is imparted by pigments of various colors.

Depending on the binding material, decorative plaster comes in several types:

Acrylic. The binder is acrylic resin. Available as a ready-to-use liquid mixture. Disadvantages include low vapor permeability and intolerance to ultraviolet radiation (over time, cracks may form in the coating).
Mineral. Inexpensive composition, cement is used as a binding element. Available in the form of a dry mixture, it is diluted with water before use. The coating is resistant to sunlight.
Silicate. Binder – silicate glue, liquid glass. The coating is not subject to rotting or the formation of fungi. Available in the form of a liquid ready-mix.
Silicone. Synthetic resins are used as a binder. Also available as a ready-to-use mixture. The silicone plaster coating is waterproof and is recommended for finishing rooms with high humidity.

Do you want to create an interior in your home in the spirit of a European province? Do-it-yourself decorative Venetian plaster will make the space around you the way you want it to be. Venetian plaster has a centuries-old history that stretches back to the time of Caesar. After applying this material, the room becomes like a home located in the very heart of Italy. The composition and application technology of the Venetian were invented in Ancient Rome. In the 16th century, Andrea Polladaio, a famous Italian architect, revived the technology of applying plaster through errors and trials. Venetian villas still have rooms with similar decoration.

History of Venetian plaster

The name “Venetian plaster” sounds in Italian “stucco veneziano” and means “liquid marble”. After processing the marble, waste remained - marble dust, which was used to create artificial marble. This is how a transparent substance appeared. Classical Venetian plaster has been known since the Renaissance. The amazing beauty and durability of the facades and interior decoration of buildings standing on the water for centuries were partly achieved thanks to this material.

The oldest Venetian plaster, created in Venice, contained water, vegetable dyes and marble dust. Now there are no products that contain purely mineral components. They all have a certain percentage of acrylic or lime binder. It is almost impossible to distinguish them by appearance. There is an opinion that synthetic plasters are more technologically advanced and form a more elastic coating after application.

Historically, it has been accepted that Venetian is a purely interior material. Due to its composition, natural Venetian plaster cannot be used on facades. But at the same time, there are material manufacturers who produce Venetian plasters that can be used for facades. Naturally, this material is not completely natural, but with acrylic components, but this is precisely what makes it possible for exterior use.

Venetian plaster - the realities of modern times

Currently on the domestic market building materials many of the most various coatings, which are grouped under the general name - Venetian plaster. Professionals call Venetian plaster only coatings that are as close as possible to the original in composition and application technique.

The coating is traditionally made in one color, but multi-color coatings can also be created. The concept of “Venetian plaster” implies, along with the use of high-quality material, a special technology for applying plaster - manually “pressing” many thin layers onto each other. This technology includes smoothing, ironing and polishing each layer with a special spatula. The process of creating a coating is extremely labor-intensive. For example, smoothing each layer is carried out with such efforts by a Venetian plaster master that the wall and the spatula heat up.

The finished coating reaches a thickness of 3-5 millimeters and at the same time has high vapor permeability - it “breathes”, creating climatic comfort in the room. Venetian plaster has a minimal shine, which can be enhanced by sanding with wax, which also gives the plaster additional moisture resistance. “Venetian” is a fairly hard coating that becomes even harder over time.

A wall that is finished with Venetian plaster seems to glow from the inside - luminous reflections can be seen on the matte base of the coating, which are often called the “phenomenon of depth of light.” This effect is achieved as a result of applying several translucent layers. The glow effect is noticeable due to the play of reflected sunlight, which penetrates the thickness of the coating and is reflected at different depths depending on the angle of incidence. Therefore, Venetian plaster is extremely similar to polished marble.

Composition of Venetian plaster

Venetian plaster is known as a transparent coating, which contains marble dust, which allows you to create the effect of the purest and most transparent marble when applied to the surface. In addition to dust, the Venetian coating contains slaked lime and water emulsion. This exquisite coating will become a unique decoration for walls, columns and cornices.

Marble dust in some cases can be replaced with granite, quartz, onyx, lime or malachite dust. Slaked lime is the binding agent. In addition, there are varieties of Venetian coatings on sale that contain acrylic resins or other polymer binders.

Another component of Venetian plaster is organic or inorganic pigments. The finished surface, thanks to these pigments, perfectly resists negative impact ultraviolet rays, which significantly increases the useful life of the coating.

The fundamental and final component of the decorative coating is wax, which is the final layer of the Venetian coating. The use of wax solves two important problems. Wax provides protection against moisture and dirt. Due to its ability to penetrate into layers, wax gives richness and shine to the coating.

Classification of Venetian plaster

In appearance, Venetian decorative plaster can be smooth, embossed or artistic. Relief Venetian plaster contains solid marble granules up to 2 millimeters in size. It seemed that such a Venetian coating could not be smooth, but the second layer glosses, connecting with the first. And small roughnesses create the effect of antiquity. The wall, finished with Venetian plaster, actually seems a little aged in appearance.

Smooth Venetian plaster typically consists of a binder and fine marble dust. The binder is most often a dispersion of lime with an acrylate copolymer, which makes the Venetian coating predictable in color and application. Lime-based binders are less common, and it is difficult to work with such plaster, because the colors are only light, it is difficult to choose a tone, since after drying it becomes very light (up to 5 tones), and darker areas may remain on the walls (staining effect) .

Artistic Venetian plaster has 4 or more colors. In this Venetian plaster, the material does not play a big role, because there are many decorative materials that are not Venetian plaster, but also glossy. The main thing is the skill of the artist, who actually paints using tinted plaster instead of paint. Typically, this technique is used to imitate stone surfaces with large colored patches of veins, textures and cracks. The price of Venetian plaster is comparable to painting, and sometimes even exceeds it.

Application of Venetian plaster

The technology for applying Venetian plaster has developed over many years. Applying Venetian paint is a creative process, but does not require any special artistic skills. Although at the same time you will not achieve a good result without certain experience work.

Preparatory work

The consumption of Venetian plaster ranges from 600 grams per square meter to 1.5-2 kilograms per square meter. Venetian plaster can be made matte, semi-matte or glossy. This depends on the level of polish of the plaster applied and the desired effect. Modern manufacturers offer separate materials for matte and separately for glossy Venetian plaster. The difference between them is only in the proportions of natural materials.

To avoid cracks, plaster is usually applied to a prepared base. The surface, first of all, must be perfectly flat and dry. Then it is primed with a special substance deep penetration, which ensures the best adhesion of the plaster to the base and is a guarantee of long service life of the Venetian coating.

The primer also acts as an antiseptic, preventing the spread of fungus on the surface. If the surface is not perfectly prepared and there are irregularities, then this is not a problem. Venetian plaster is a thick-layer decorative material that can cover all unevenness, but its consumption increases significantly. Therefore, it is always better to prepare a wall with cheap putty rather than correct all errors with expensive Venetian plaster.

Creating Layers

The essence of applying Venetian plaster lies in creating several layers on the surface using a metal spatula. The spatula must be made of special steel that does not scorch the material during the application process. The substance is applied to the surface sporadically and evenly, with chaotic movements. To achieve an optimal effect, usually apply 2 - 4 layers of Venetian plaster.

The first layer is the base layer, which needs to cover the entire surface. After applying the material, it is recommended to smooth the surface, but not polish it. The first layer of Venetian plaster is necessary to create the “pattern”, and serves as the basis for future work.

The second layer serves to create an “image” of Venetian plaster, which is visible due to the transparency of the substance. The more chaotic and more active movement spatula, the more saturated the pattern will be, which is created by stretching the material over the surface. It is important to tilt the spatula when applying plaster. The angle should be close to 20 degrees relative to the surface. The second layer of material should be polished with little effort.

The third layer is usually the final layer responsible for the decorative effect. Using a spatula, a small amount of material is applied to the surface and thoroughly polished. After spreading the material, you need to polish the applied material with a spatula. Some decorators, in order to correct errors in the work, apply a fourth layer of Venetian and only after that polish it completely.

Polishing plaster

After the finishing layer has dried, it is recommended to walk over it sandpaper. Such light scratching leads to mixing of the lower and upper layers Venetian plaster, which adds depth to the coating. After sanding, you should wipe the wall with a soft cloth to remove dust. After this procedure, the long-awaited shine will appear on the wall. After this, polish the plaster again using a clean and dry wide spatula.

Polishing and working with Venetian plaster should be done using vertical and horizontal movements. Try not to press too hard on the spatula so as not to damage the decorative plaster. After the plaster has dried and polished, you can wax the wall. Sometimes you will have to wait several weeks until all layers are completely dry.

Coating plaster with wax

Wax is a natural substance that protects plaster from minor damage and moisture. In addition, wax provides an opportunity to give the walls a finished look and additional shine. Waxing is not necessary, but for wet rooms this procedure is desirable.

Waxing can be done using a rag or spatula. Wax should be applied to the instrument and rubbed into the plaster. Do not apply too much wax to the spatula. The substance should cover the wall with an even thin layer, without excesses in the form dark spots or drips.

Only natural Venetian plaster is repairable. This means that minor damage or small defects can be repaired locally. There is no need to redo the wall from corner to corner, but you just need to process the selected area. It is very rational and convenient.

When rays of light fall on a wall decorated with Venetian plaster, it seems to glow, striking with its “depth.” Such material creates a unique atmosphere in the room that cannot be conveyed in photographs. In this case, it is better to watch a video about the technology of applying Venetian plaster, because this technique has come to us since the times of Ancient Rome, going back thousands of years.

A wonderful decoration any interior can use Venetian plaster for interior wall decoration. Walls or surface areas with such a coating look great, especially in classic interiors. You don't even need a lot of money for this, because... The main thing is to properly prepare the base, use the right tools and follow the technology exactly.

Composition and history of appearance

How did Venetian decorative plaster appear?

The beginning of the use of coatings with mixtures based on natural binding materials is lost in millennia. Theophrastus, who lived in the 2nd-4th centuries. BC. describes the mineral gypsos, remarkable for its stickiness and warmth released during mixing. It was crushed and moistened, and then stones were connected with it. The word "gypsos" was used for gypsum and for lime. In the 1st century BC. Vitruvius describes the production of a six-layer finishing coating that strengthens the wall - marbled plaster, which was as strong as natural material. The ancient technique differed from the techniques for creating stucco (stucco - the highest grade of plaster) of the Venetian of our time.

In archaic Greece VII-VI centuries. BC. marble stucco or stucco/stucco was used to decorate temple walls. The finish imitated white marble and consisted of gypsum, crushed marble and lime. The Greeks spread this technique during the Hellenization era. Stuccos with a shiny, glossy white surface appeared among the Etruscans on the Italian Peninsula before the formation of the Roman Empire. The Venetians of ancient Rome had a thickness of 1.6 mm inside buildings, and up to 76 mm outside. Their main advantage was specularity, high strength, and resistance to weather changes. Often their surface was decorated with fresco paintings. Later, the baton was taken up by the Venetians, who were the fashion trendsetters of their time.

Since then, the composition of the Venetian has changed little; the components of the solution are:

marble dust,
fine-grained stone chips,
lime dough,
water.

In addition to classical components, the composition may include natural or artificial dyes, marble chips can be replaced with chips of other types, and the solution can be mixed with latex emulsion. There is also one consisting exclusively of calibrated marble.

😀 They say that such coatings were invented by “armless” plasterers to hide the shortcomings of their work.

Venetian plaster decorating a wall always looks luxurious, a little magical. Therefore, from century to century it decorates the homes of wealthy people. Venetian plaster in the interior is always a unique design for any room, because it is unique. Various ones give designers a free hand. Nowadays it can be seen in the apartments of people of all incomes, because the composition can be prepared with your own hands, and knowing what it consists of, how to apply it correctly, and having practiced, you can make this coating yourself, improving the wall.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's look at the main pros and cons. The initial advantages are high strength, longevity and beauty.

In addition to them, the decorative Venetian has the following advantages:

unique decorative effect: the surface is given the appearance of natural polished marble or other semi-precious stones, valuable mahogany, metals, silk (this material best imitates),
environmental friendliness,
possibility of application on various substrates (the main thing is that they are leveled),
easy to restore,
resistance to various influences (temperature changes, high humidity, which can be withstood by the stucco allow it to be used for facades),
crack resistance,
fire safety,
quick drying,
provides a healthy microclimate (the walls under the coating breathe),
If desired, you can easily repaint it in a different color.

The multi-layering and structure of the coating when the light falls at an angle creates a fascinating effect of internal glow, natural gems. Glossy Venetian marbled plaster does not tire the eyes, but serves as a rest for them.

The disadvantages are:

high cost of work and finished compositions,
labor-intensive (physical strength is required for careful, painstaking work),
the need to master the application technique,
emphasizes unevenness and other defects in the base.

Preparing the wall plane

Finishing does not require haste, but diligence - careful work with each layer, and especially carefully.

The base should be:

impeccably leveled - align according to the beacons and do not forget about putty,
reinforced with reinforcing mesh if necessary (if the base is weak),
degreased - for this you can use a soap solution,
free from stains
primed (often an acrylic primer is used for work),
processed with sandpaper and then remove the resulting dust - remove the dust using a clean broom or vacuum cleaner,
dried (at least 6 hours).

When installing the mesh, do not forget that the glue is applied before and after installing the mesh, and not just on top of it.

It is advisable to prime the wall twice before finishing to ensure good adhesion of the finish to the wall.

The tool and its features

Metal tools - trowels and spatulas, must be made of stainless steel and have rounded edges, and the working surfaces must be polished. To do this, the corners on new spatulas are cut with metal scissors, the edges are processed with a needle file and fine sandpaper, or special ones are purchased. tool.

The trowel and spatula for work (in any of the techniques) should not have any nicks. The spatula must be sharpened. When working, the surface of the spatula/trowel is regularly cleaned with a damp cloth so that when the mixture dries out, the remaining mixture does not interfere with the quality application of the solution to the wall.

Buy now quality tool from famous manufacturers. This way you will save yourself from a lot of troubles

The necessary tools for working in the Venetian technique:

narrow (60 mm), wide (200 mm) spatulas,
2 Venetian trowels,
construction mixer,
containers,
roller,
masking tape,
skins No. 220, No. 120,
ruler,
flute brushes, maklovitsa,
clean rags
sponge,
thin brush to apply cracks.

Secrets of application technology

Applying Venetian plaster with your own hands is both artisanal and creative work. Each stage of work is special, as the technique of applying Venetian plaster dictates to us. There are several different ways: to achieve the effect of marble, balsa wood, textured surface, classic Venetian, and others. In most techniques, all layers except the base layer are, in their own way, finishing layers. Read more about how to apply Venetian plaster correctly.

A very detailed and understandable video on marble imitation

Coloring the mixture

The mixtures themselves for the Venetian have White color. Therefore, to obtain the desired tone or shade, the desired color (natural or synthetic) is added to them before application to the wall. It is necessary to take into account that the solution, as it dries, brightens: without wax, by two tones, by one tone. It is best to purchase the desired color and ready-made mixture from one manufacturer before work.

In order not to make a mistake with the color, professionals use fans of colors, selecting the desired shade in daylight at the site of future work.

The colors for this type of finish can be very varied. It depends on the design. Most often, natural stones are imitated. In this case, the main colors are gray, brown, yellow or emerald. Wood or silk paint has its own palette. It must be remembered that natural colors are always muted. Therefore, to bring the color of the mixture closer to natural, the brightness of the color is muted by adding a drop of black tint. The color is checked by applying a smear of paste to a sheet of white paper.

Applying the base layer

The base layer is applied the same way for all Venetian techniques. The mixture is applied to the edge of the trowel with a spatula. The trowel is pressed against the wall at a slight angle (the edge of the trowel is raised by the thickness of a finger). The mixture is transferred to the wall with arcuate movements of the trowel in thin strokes, overlapping adjacent strokes by 5-10 mm.

A single rule for all layers: the mixture is applied in the direction from dry to wet. This way, no traces of the initial contact of the trowel with the wall are left on the surface.

When applying a coating with the effect of natural marble, it is better to treat the walls diagonally, starting from one upper corner of the wall, ending with the opposite bottom corner. The resulting work platforms are in the form of wide diagonal stripes with winding edges. If you make some thickenings on the edges of the grips at the junction, after finishing they create the desired effect of the inclined folding of natural marble.

They work by filling sections of walls with an area of about 1 m2 with solution. In the corners, the direction of movement of the trowel is from their top to the center. At the basic stage, the future pattern is formed with the solution. Therefore, strokes of the composition are applied more or less chaotically. You can use the “put and remove” technique, when the mixture is applied with the first movement, and its excess is removed with the second (in the transverse direction).

The plastered wall is dried for about 6-8 hours (or left overnight).

Subsequent layers

The technique of applying them may vary, depending on the desired finishing effect.

Classic Venetian plaster is made in three layers using a mixture of the same color (different shades are possible). The finishing effect is created due to the layer-by-layer transmission of the texture. The shorter and more chaotic the strokes with a spatula, the richer the finishing pattern.

Similarly, a coating is made from mixtures of different colors. Moreover, colors can be applied one for each layer, or two or three in each.

A different technique for applying Venetian plaster is used for craquelure. The peculiarity of the base layer is that it is made thicker (up to 2 mm). Where there are cracks, it is dried with a hairdryer. The depth and width of the cracks depends on the temperature, coating thickness and drying time. The second coating is applied with a mixture of a different color (needed to fill cracks), the third - as in the classical technology.

Venetian wood plaster combines two techniques: craquelure and color mixing. Regular boards imitates another.

Cork finishing step by step:

solutions of several colors are placed on the surface of the trowel with a small spatula,
lightly mix them with a spatula right there on the trowel,
transferred in a thick layer from the trowel to the wall, creating a spotted pattern,
immediately dry with a hairdryer until cracks form,
a day later, the resulting texture is covered with a second layer of Venetian of the desired color for contrast, pearlescent “metallic” or other water-dispersed compositions,
processed with a grinding machine, changing the wheels to increasingly fine-grained ones.

Finishing layer and rendering of marble veins

Imitation marble or Venetian under malachite is performed in the following way. Using a small spatula, apply small portions of mortar of different colors next to each other on the edge of the trowel. When they are transferred to the wall with smooth, sinuous long strokes, beautiful stains are obtained, similar to the shimmering colors of natural marble or malachite. Decorative plaster of young marble with veins is also obtained. Between two masses of solution of different colors close to natural, a drop of black is placed on a trowel. The trowel is moved along the surface of the wall slowly, with a slight rocking.

Applying the pattern of cracks is done with a thin brush using black water-soluble coloring. Lines are drawn randomly in the desired directions. While the paint has not yet dried, use a small piece of a clean, damp sponge to carefully shade the crack line on one of its sides, leaving a narrow black stripe in places. If you don’t like the line, you can correct it by “removing” it with a damp, clean sponge.

Polishing and ironing

Each layer (except the first) is ironed with a spatula, this gives it a mirror shine. Having processed approximately 1-1.5 m2 of the wall surface, they go back and use a trowel or spatula, almost flat, pressing with force, to drag it along the wall several times. With each movement of the tool, a glass sheen appears and intensifies on the surface of the wall. The trowel/trowel should be wiped with a damp cloth. Masters advise ironing each layer. The marbled Venetian only benefits from this.

The final layer of finishing is polished with horizontal and vertical movements. Polishing the top layer is done with a suede cloth in a circular motion and resembles rubbing.

Advice for beginners! Before realizing your desires on the walls of the room, practice on pieces of drywall, fiberboard or plywood.

Waxing

To protect the surface of the coating, it is coated with wax. Wax protects the surface of the coating from moisture and dust. Venetian waxing is done using a spatula or sponge. Cover the wall evenly, without forming thickenings of the wax layer, so that the color of the surface does not fade. After application, the surface of the wall is rubbed until shiny.

Can this finish be washed? Can. It is wiped with a damp cloth. If the walls are heavily soiled, wash them with mild soap solutions. Do not use solvents or abrasives.

Consumption and restoration

The manufacturer lists the consumption per 1 m2 in the catalog or on the packaging. You can use a calculator to calculate the required amount of composition. The consumption of Venetian plaster depends on the type of application technology used, the level of skill, and the composition of the solution.

The consumption per m2 layer by layer looks like this:

1st – 500-600g/m2 (maximum quantity),

2nd – 220-250 g/m2,

3rd – 80-100 g/m2 (minimum quantity).

Stucco Veneziano is a repairable coating. There is no need to redo the entire wall, and minor defects or minor damage can be restored. In case of chips, scratches, large areas of contamination, or peeling, Venetian plaster is repaired. In this case, it is not necessary to remove the entire coating; it is enough to restore the suitability of the desired area.

Restoration of marble finish step by step:

When there are cracks, tap the area to determine whether there is peeling of the coating from the base. Anything that comes off the wall is removed.
The vacated area is cleaned with a brush to remove any remnants of the previous finishing composition and dust.
The base is primed with a brush the right primer or a composition of PVA and water 1:5.
Plaster mortar or gypsum putty (if the base is made of plasterboard) is applied to the base of the area to be repaired. The surface of the putty/mortar is rubbed to the desired smoothness.
Select a decorative solution of the same brand or use a white acrylic composition. Select a color and paint the composition to match the color of the wall finish.
Apply the solution with a soft spatula (if the repair area is large, try to repeat the pattern of strokes).
Remove excess solution that has fallen on undamaged surfaces with a damp cloth.
After drying, apply wax or glaze. Polished to a shine.

Venetian made from putty – is it possible?

Ready-made mixtures are expensive. To reduce the cost of work, craftsmen came up with a Venetian coating made from ordinary putty. The main thing for an analogue is the presence of a smooth texture and the desired consistency. How to make Venetian plaster with your own hands? The recipe is simple - mix regular gypsum putty with acrylic varnish. To make Venezian stucco from putty with your own hands, take:

acrylic varnish for interior work with a water base,
gypsum or polymer dry mixture with microcalcite or marble flour as a filler (putty with white cement can be used),
color.

Varnish is poured into a clean vessel and water is added - 10-15% of its volume. After stirring, add 2.5 kg of dry putty. Everything is mixed with a mixer, tinted, mixed again. Venetian putty plaster is painted with colors for water-dispersed paints. Ultimately, Venetian putty, with its qualities, can be no worse than store-bought putty and can be used not only in the apartment, but also for outdoor work. You can slow down the hardening time by adding a plasticizer - diluted PVA glue in an amount of 1% of the volume of the mixture.

And yet, the purchased mixture will look much better, because... It will not be possible to completely replicate the plant technology at home.

You can do without putty. For example, a simple composition of Venetian in the following proportions: 1 part white cement, 1.5 parts lime, 2 parts marble flour, 10 parts marble sand.

Stucco Veneziano, which began as an imitation of natural marble, became an object of imitation itself. They release wallpaper on on a different basis, imitating your favorite finish. Wallpaper that can be painted with Venetian wallpaper is cheaper and has its pros and cons. The work of wallpapering and the technique of such decoration is simpler and easier. However, they cannot fully replace the Venetian, and therefore it will appear again and again among the leaders of interior tops.

Venetian plaster is developing and enriching, the application technology of which, with the advent of new finishing compositions, is finding more and more new ways of development. Finishing compositions and new techniques are being invented. Appeared on the market new material for finishing – super glossy decorative Pietra Lucida. The manufacturers themselves refer to this killer of the classic Italian technique of imitation marble not as a Venetian, but as a polishing compound. The work is more drawing, the technique of imitation is also simple. Using colors of natural tones, a mirror-smooth texture is obtained, similar to polished natural stone.

The use of Venetian plaster in interior decoration premises allows you to create 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, and does not change color. Appearance finished coating resembles natural marble. The composition can be used where conventional plasters are not suitable. In this article we will look in detail at the composition, application and various technologies for applying Venetian plaster with our own hands, and at the end you will find step-by-step instruction from our reader

Tools for applying Venetian plaster

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

Composition of Venetian plaster

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

In addition to standard components, the mixture may include tiny pearlescent particles. Their presence allows you to make the finished surface look like silk. For this reason, the combination “wet silk” is added to such Venetian plasters. The same coating will look different from different points in the room. A little video on this topic.

The appearance of the finished wall depends on the application technique. Using a special spatula movement technique, finishers achieve the appearance of interesting patterns that repeat the texture natural stones. The surface may have a pearlescent tint, which is achieved by adding special impurities to the plaster.

Features of the most affordable plaster OPTIMIST ELITE

Considering the comparatively low cost, let us dwell on the properties of Venetian plaster Optimist. We will try to avoid advertising this material by briefly describing the characteristics indicated by the manufacturer itself. Products are sold in plastic buckets of 3.5, 7 or 15 kg. Optimal conditions use implies an air temperature in the working room in the range from 5 to 35 degrees Celsius. For application, a standard set of tools is used: a steel trowel, a pair of spatulas, and a polishing machine with a soft nozzle. Drying the layer standard thickness- about a day.

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

at the first stage, a thin layer of plaster is applied to the surface, trying to create some kind of pattern at this stage. The layer is allowed to dry for about an hour;
to get rid of small blemishes, the dried surface is lightly sanded with a large spatula - smoothed to level it;
apply the second layer using the same method as the first;
The last layer of decorative plaster is applied using a spatula, because the coating should be translucent and thin - to give it greater depth. The work is postponed for half an hour to allow the material to dry, after which the wall is smoothed with a spatula. For dry rooms the work is finished;
if you plan to use Optimist plaster for walls wet room(toilet, bathroom, kitchen), then the final stage of work will be treating the surface with wax and subsequent polishing until glossy.

In the video below you can more clearly familiarize yourself with the methodology for using this material.

Application technology

The application technology is complex. If you have any questions, it is better to go to master classes, which are often held in branded stores, selling decorative plaster.

First of all, you need to pay attention to a large spatula, the edges of which should be rounded, so that you can firmly press the plaster into the wall. The spatula should not have mechanical damage and defects. Before laying the plaster, the wall is coated with a special primer. The wall must be perfectly flat, otherwise the plaster simply will not stick. The first layer of plaster is carefully compacted and leveled, after which it must be allowed to dry. If, after drying, any unevenness remains on the surface of the plaster, they can be easily removed with a trowel.

Layer by layer

After 6-8 hours, the next layer of plaster is applied, on top of which the finishing layer is applied. The marble pattern, characteristic of Venetian plaster, is created by strokes with small spatulas. In this case, the color of the layer should be different from the previous one. Once the pattern is ready, it must be polished with a large spatula or trowel. Depending on the grinding technique used, finished surface may become glossy or matte. You need to work with the material quickly, as the composition dries quickly and becomes less plastic. When stirring the plaster and color, you should pay attention to the amount of the finished solution - due to the tight installation, your hands quickly begin to hurt, and the solution itself quickly hardens.

Wax protection

Wax is applied on top of the last layer of Venetian plaster. protective covering, giving gloss and water-repellent properties. You should not apply too much wax, as after drying it can darken and ruin appearance. Once the wax has hardened, it can be further polished with a suede mitten. After 20-25 days, the carbonization processes in the plaster will end, it will become more durable, after which it can be washed.

Externally, the finished wall will look as if it were made of natural marble. The wax coating gives an additional similarity effect. You can decorate not only walls with Venetian plaster, but also various arches, as well as doorways. During the next renovation, you won’t have to tear off the plaster – you can paint it over, and you can also glue wallpaper.

Illustrative examples of finishing (video)

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

And here you can get acquainted in detail with one of the author’s methods of applying Venetian. The material is lengthy, but the amount of valuable advice in it is off the charts.

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

A relatively simple method of applying the composition. In our opinion, it is more suitable for finishing a bathroom or toilet.

Do it yourself, or Extra motivation

Above we gave the approximate cost of material for finishing one “square” of wall. If you decide to experiment, doing it yourself will only cost you your own time. In the worst case, it can also lead to nerves. But if you intend to pay third-party specialists, you need to be prepared to increase costs from 600 or more rubles per square meter. In Moscow and St. Petersburg it is more expensive, in the regions the appetites of finishers are more modest. But you still need to understand that a professional master will charge from 1000 rubles just for his work. for every sq. m. finished with Venetian plaster. The cost will increase as your requests increase and the complexity of the work (wall height, quality and surface geometry). It won't work out cheap and beautiful.

This can be understood from the reviews

Those who dared self-finishing walls with Venetian plaster, they note the high labor intensity of the work. Therefore, you should not rush from one extreme to another - first try working in “test mode”: take a sheet of plywood or fiberboard with an area of at least 1 square meter. m. and are trying to transform it. With this approach, you can try several techniques and choose the optimal one.

About tinting

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

As for tinting, there is one more nuance. Do not rush to pour large volumes of coloring composition, do it gradually, ensuring uniform mixing of the mixture and subsequently adjusting the color saturation. This approach will take more time, but the chances of getting “what you need” are higher.

A few more nuances

It is best to work together, in conveyor mode: one applies the composition to the wall, the second applies the stain the required form. This is faster and more efficient, especially when you consider that finishing with Venetian plaster is even a purely physically complex process. Not to mention the creative side.

Be prepared for the fact that the final result will appear only in the final stages of work. This is exactly the case when you shouldn’t particularly plan the appearance of the surface. When applying the mixture, it is recommended to periodically move away from the wall and inspect the entire canvas as a whole to understand where to move next.

Well, as for reviews about specific types of plaster, in 90% of cases they are of an advertising nature. Therefore, their informativeness has been questioned.

Update: personal experience

As part of our proposal, one of our readers sent a photo report on applying Venetian plaster. We look and admire

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

Venetian plaster and contrasting colors. You can choose the color tone to your liking; it will only be visible in places and will not become the main color. In our example, this is the color “apple green”.
Water-based paint and color suitable for tinting it. In our example, this is a blue concentrate, when added we got the desired blue tint.
Acrylic varnish for the final coating of walls, it will help add shine and make the walls resistant to dirt. In addition, this coating will be easy for you to wash and clean.
Putty and primer for preparing walls for plastering.
Auxiliary tools – spatulas, special structural cushion, grout mesh, etc.

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

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

Apply the plaster in a thin layer (approximately 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 over the wall and does not drip onto the floor.

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

When applying plaster, carefully walk around sockets and switches.

After applying the Venetian to a small area (1-2 sq.m.), without waiting for it to dry, you need to give the coating a texture, for which a special structural roller is used. You need to roll the roller with equal pressure to ensure an even texture.

First, carefully treat the edge of the wall - the surface from the corner or doorway. Try to roll the roller along the wall from bottom to top only once, then the texture will be large and interesting.

When the first part of the wall is processed, you can proceed to the next section. The peculiarity of a texture roller is that the more often you pass it over one area, the smaller the texture fragments on the surface are, so you should not overlap a new area with an already finished one. The small gap that sometimes forms between the sectors can be easily rolled up with a roller and turned into a homogeneous structure.

Gradually cover the entire surface of the walls and let it dry. The drying time depends on the temperature and humidity. In a room with average humidity and a temperature of 20 ° C, the plaster will dry completely in 15-20 hours.

The next stage is coating water-based paint. When choosing a color for the second layer, you can choose contrasting colors (as in this example) or choose adjacent tones of plaster and paint. It can help you to select a color color circle: It is believed that harmonious combinations are adjacent colors in a circle, or vice versa, opposite.

For getting blue color Add a little blue color to the white paint and mix well until smooth.

Using a soft roller, paint all walls with a coat of water-based paint.

The surface of the walls should be painted in one layer, but the paint should be applied in a dense layer. To do this, moisten the roller generously with paint so that the coating thickness is sufficient.

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

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. 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 can easily do this job yourself.

What it is

Visually, this coating resembles marble tiles. The translucent layer, which hides the veins characteristic of marble, looks amazing on the walls. The surface can be distinguished from natural marble only due to the absence of joints between the tiles. Venetian plaster is chosen for exterior finishing walls in residential buildings and public buildings. To learn how to decorate the facade of a house with plaster, read this article.

This type of coating was invented by the builders of Ancient Rome. They realized that by mixing marble chips and slaked lime, they could obtain a finishing paste with unusual properties. When applied to the walls, it reproduced the texture of real marble. Clay was most often mixed into the mixture, which gave the plastered surfaces the color of natural marble. Other pigments were also used.

The material acquired its name thanks to the city where it was reborn. It was the architects of Venice who were able to unravel the composition of the coating used by the Romans and brought the lost technology back to life.

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

Marble powder, color pigments and slaked lime. These components have remained unchanged for many years. Some mixtures still contain only these natural ingredients. However, their cost is quite high, and operational properties not the most optimal.
Acrylic paints can be added instead of natural pigments. They are cheaper and allow you to create unusual shades.
Modern binders of a polymeric nature. They make the plaster dough more plastic and increase the durability of the coating.
Hevea tree sap or synthetic latex. These plasticizers make it easier to level the mixture.
Crushed granite powder to add texture.

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

Application technology

Mixtures for creating coatings using Venetian plaster technology are quite expensive. Therefore, it is not recommended to start working without thoroughly mastering the technology. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the appearance of the resulting coating will be far from expected, and you will have to clean everything off and start over.

The resulting pattern depends on how you work with the tool when smoothing the plaster dough. You can learn to predict what will happen in each case only after gaining considerable experience.

How to practice applying Venetian plaster? The optimal training tool would be sheets of cardboard with a side of 1 m. Such a sheet should be covered with ordinary plaster mixture, dry thoroughly and sand with sandpaper. On such squares you can hone your technique, and save the most successful examples and use them as a portfolio to demonstrate your skills to clients.

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

Training videos can also help you get acquainted:

Preparatory work

First of all, you need to carefully prepare the wall. The quality of the wall alignment largely determines how successful the coating will be. The wall is usually leveled in two stages. First, rough differences are leveled using mixtures for rough plaster. Then the smallest irregularities are removed with finishing putty.

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

The leveled wall must be dried as thoroughly as possible. You can start work no earlier than one day after finishing. But it’s better to take a break for two days. Insufficiently dried plaster can fall off the wall, ruining all finishing efforts. After drying, you need to carefully sand the smallest irregularities and remove all dust from the walls.

To increase the adhesion of Venetian plaster and increase the strength of the coating, the wall is impregnated with a primer. It is worth choosing primers according to gypsum plaster, since they contain quartz filler. Today there are enough on sale big choice such primers. The difference between individual brands is almost unnoticeable, so you can use any.

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

Number of layers

This coating is applied in several layers (at least 2). Depending on the desired result, up to a dozen layers can be used. Each layer must be carefully leveled and smoothed. A new layer can be applied only after the previous layer has completely dried, so finishing the walls with Venetian plaster can take quite a long time.

The base coat is applied first. His task is like ordinary plaster, in creating a completely smooth surface. Depending on the final result, the base layer may be white or pigmented. If you plaster in 2-3 layers, the base layer will become visible and its color will matter. If there are more than five layers, the base layer will not be visible.

When applying the second and all other layers, it is important to follow two rules:

The strokes should be chaotic. Different shape, directions, bends will well replicate the natural texture of marble.
Each new stroke should hide the place where the previous stroke first touched the wall.

After the layer has dried (usually about 10 hours), you need to rub it with a dry trowel to remove all the unevenness. After this, you can lay down the next layer.

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

Ironing

The grouting procedure for the last layer is carried out when the condition is not sufficiently dry. For work, take a clean Venetian trowel. It is very important that its surface is free of chips, shells, pieces of dried plaster and other defects. Ironing is carried out by moving the tool in a circle.

Before applying the finishing layer and ironing, carefully read the instructions for the mixture. Some manufacturers recommend doing this procedure in small areas, others allow large areas to be finished at once.

If the ironing is done correctly, the design will appear and become brighter and more expressive. Now the wall is almost finished, all that remains is to protect it from moisture.

Waxing

The wax layer that protects the plaster from moisture is a very important component. Beeswax provide a glossy, perfectly smooth surface. Synthetic waxes provide a more matte finish. Apply wax only to thoroughly dried plaster (at least 24 hours).

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

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

Required materials and tools

To work, you need to prepare the required amount of dry mixture, 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 on tools for smoothing: a narrow spatula, a set of Japanese spatulas of various widths, a Venetian trowel. To sand out small irregularities, sandpaper is useful. For polishing you will need a grinder or a drill with an attachment, as well as a rag for sanding hard-to-reach places.

Applying Venetian plaster with your own hands. Step-by-step instruction

The procedure for applying Venetian plaster:

Preparation of walls, materials and tools.
Applying the base layer.
Applying base layers.
Ironing.
Waxing and polishing.

Each layer must be thoroughly dried. Therefore, it is worth understanding that applying Venetian plaster is a rather lengthy process. But it’s better to wait for complete drying than to spend a lot of time and effort on repairs if the plaster, which is not dried enough, falls off the wall

Before applying the plaster Venetian technology, it’s worth practicing thoroughly. But if you master the technology properly, you can obtain surfaces of extraordinary beauty that are in no way inferior to marble.

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