How to Make a Venetian Plaster

There are many ways to create a faux finish on your interior walls. Almost all require intricate, detailed techniques and a lot of practice to get them to look authentic. Venetian plaster is different. It looks like real marble after it's finished, but you don't have to "paint" the marble look and details. Venetian plaster is real plaster that you apply with a trowel in a thin layer, then burnish to a smooth shine after it dries a little. It looks like real marble and makes the walls of your home look like an Italian villa.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tinted plaster (available at home improvement stores)
• Steel trowel
• Fine grade finish sandpaper
• Protective top coat for Venetian plaster

1. Prepare the walls. Wash them, if necessary. If the walls have a gloss finish, sand them lightly with fine sand paper so that the plaster stays put when it is applied.

2. Apply a first coat of plaster. Hold the trowel at a 20 to 30-degree angle and sweep it widely in a circular motion. Apply a small amount of plaster to one spot. Then sweep and spread it around. Use a light touch with this coat. Apply as thin a coat as you can. It's OK to miss a few small spots as this adds to the rustic look. Occasionally rinse off your trowel in a bucket of water so bits of dried plaster don't ruin the finish.

3. Allow it to dry for about four hours. The plaster will lighten when it is dry.

4. Apply a second coat of plaster. Hold the trowel at a 90-degree angle this time and use smaller movements of the trowel. Fill in any missed spots. Press harder with the trowel when applying this coat. The harder you press, the smoother the finish will be.

5. Allow the second coat to dry for one hour. If you let it dry longer, it will be more difficult to polish.

6. Burnish it with a trowel. This will produce a glossy surface. Press down hard on trowel and rub in small to medium-sized circles. The harder you rub, the more glossy the surface will become.

7. Wipe the walls with a damp cloth. This will remove any dust or particles before you apply the protective top coat.

8. Apply a protective top coat. Use a trowel and apply a thin coat. Press down on the trowel for a smooth finish. The protective coat will give the plaster a satin finish. If you want a glossy finish, burnish this coat as you did in Step 6.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't let the second plaster coat dry any longer than one hour or it will be difficult to get a good shine when you polish it.