How to Cover Venetian Plaster

Venetian plaster is a decorative paint treatment often applied to walls and ceilings. Unlike stucco or other rough plasters and textures, the finish is completely smooth. Once applied to a surface, the plaster is difficult to remove; however, covering the plaster takes just a few steps from sanding to painting. Disguise existing plaster by using sandpaper, paint and a little bit of hard work for a brand new look.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloths
• Plastic sheeting
• Screwdriver
• Plastic bag
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Mask
• Medium grit sanding blocks
• Drywall sanding pole
• Sandpaper
• Rags
• Vacuum cleaner
• Bonding primer
• Paint roller
• Roller frame
• Roller tray
• Latex paint

Instructions

1. Remove all furniture, curtains and decorative items from the room. Cover remaining items with drop cloths and large plastic sheets. Cover all flooring with drop cloths. Take off outlet covers and place screws and covers into a plastic bag to avoid losing any pieces.

2. Sand the surface with a medium grit sanding block. Wear protective gear such as a mask, goggles and latex gloves. Turn off the air conditioning or heating unit so the dust is not distributed throughout the house. Use a sanding pole, similar to what drywall installers use, for larger surfaces. Wipe down all walls after sanding to remove any dust from the Venetian plaster. Walls must be dust-free for optimal paint adhesion. Vacuum up any excess powder and dirt from the floor so it is not tracked throughout the home.

3. Paint the surface with a bonding primer such as Glidden's Gripper paint or Aqua Finishing Solutions' Aqua Bond. Use a roller to apply the paint directly over the Venetian plaster. Use a roller made for smooth surfaces. Paint in long strokes moving vertically. Avoid paint drips by applying light, even coats. Do not apply pressure to the roller when painting.

4. Use an angled brush to paint the perimeter of the walls that the roller could not reach. Lightly dip the angled tip of the brush into the primer. Glide the tip along the edge of the perimeter. Allow paint to dry four to six hours, or as indicated by the primer's manufacturer.

5. Paint over the primer in the chosen latex paint color. Use the same method as described above to apply the latex paint. Remember that darker colors may require several layers of paint.

6. Slowly remove all tape. Cut tape with a razor blade if the tape sticks to the paint and begins to pull it up.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use a gray primer if red or other dark colors will be top coating the primer. The gray primer reduces the number of layers needed for solid coverage. If the chosen bonding primer does not come in a dark gray, paint stores can often custom mix the paint.

• Paint and primer will cover 400 square feet of wall space per gallon.