How to Apply Venetian Plaster

Paint is great, but if you’re looking for a wall treatment with a little extra texture and patina, Venetian plaster might be just right for you. This faux finish is a great way to evoke a little old world luxury in your home, and it’s surprisingly easy to apply yourself. Just follow these simple steps—and bring a hint of Rome into your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Primer
• Venetian plaster (prepared in the color of your choice)
• Steel trowel
• Bucket of water
• 600-grit sandpaper
• Damp cloth

1. Prepare and prime the wall. If you’ll be using a darker colored plaster, you might want to tint the primer a similar color to help eliminate white marks.

2. Apply plaster in thin layers with the trowel held at a 90-degree angle. Use overlapping long and short curved strokes. Work in small areas at a time, applying the plaster as thinly and smoothly as possible. It is OK to leave some of the wall exposed during the first coat; you’ll go back over any spots during the second coat. Rinse off the trowel with water regularly as you work so that the dried plaster doesn’t leave clumps or marks on your wall.

3. Once the entire wall is covered, allow the plaster to dry for up to 4 hours, then sand.

4. Begin the second layer as in Step 3, this time covering any exposed wallspace from the first coat.
 You may repeat with a third coat if desired, but remember to let the plaster dry and to sand in between coats,

5. Once the last coat of plaster is dry, burnish the wall by scraping with a clean trowel held flat against the wall. Wipe off with a damp cloth.

6. Follow up by sanding with 600-grit sandpaper to add further polish.

7. Wipe the wall with a damp cloth to remove dust.

[missforty]

on 11/10/2008 Thanks!