Venetian plaster process. Do-it-yourself Venetian plaster - detailed manufacturing technology

Many people are surprised by the Venetian plaster glowing from the inside, which has the effect of translucency: only professionals know how to apply a coating of amazing beauty. But even beginners in the painting business can master simple techniques for working with Venetian mixtures. The main thing is to follow the correct procedure. Before starting work, it is worth making test samples on pieces of plywood or drywall to get a feel for how the delicate Venetian behaves.

All methods of applying Venetian plaster require the obligatory alignment of the walls. Alignment is carried out in 2 stages: the wall is prepared for puttying with the starting compositions, the finishing putty mixture is brought to perfect smoothness. If leveling is carried out by hired workers, you should order putty for painting or clarify that the decoration will be done with Venetian plaster.

After leveling, the wall is dried for 24-48 hours. The final polishing of the surface is done with a fine-grained emery cloth. Dust must be carefully removed.

Impregnate the wall with a primer for lime and gypsum plasters (with quartz filler). The choice of primers is quite large, and their characteristics practically do not differ from each other. It is advisable to apply 2 coats of primer to ensure good adhesion of the decorative coating to the wall.

Applying Venetian plaster will require little:

trowel;
metal spatula;
dry rag;
emery cloth with very fine grain;
finished or dry Venetian plaster;
color;
polishing wax.

The material for Venetian plaster consists of a lime binder and a filler (marble dust) and is laid in a very thin layer.

Instrument preparation

If the spatulas and trowel are new, then you need to carefully inspect all their edges, corners and work surface. There should not be the slightest defect on the instrument. Professional craftsmen use old, well-served trowels to apply the Venetian: they have sharpened rounded corners and a very smooth surface.

New tools can be prepared specially:

carefully cut off the corners of the spatula and trowel with metal scissors;
process the sections first with a file, and then with a fine sandpaper;
sand the edges and planes of the tool with sandpaper.

Since Venetian plaster must be applied in a very thin layer (1-2 mm), the possibility of the appearance of the smallest scratches must be avoided. For this, such a thorough preparation of the working tool is needed.

Classic is the easiest way

Before applying Venetian plaster, you need to mix the finished composition (in the form of a paste) until smooth or combine the dry mixture with water. The proportions of the components are indicated on the packaging of the Venetian, and the ratio of water and mixture must be very strictly observed. It is very important to pour the dry ingredients into the liquid, and not vice versa. During the filling of the dry mixture, the mass must be mixed, bringing it to uniformity. Leave the mass to infuse for 5-7 minutes and mix again.

The classic scheme for decorating walls with Venetian plaster consists of 3 stages:

applying the base layer;
laying 2-3 decorative layers that form a pattern;
sanding and waxing.

To get a color coating, you need to add color to the plaster. This can be done directly in the store where the mixture is purchased. You can also tint it yourself, given that the plaster will be lighter when it dries. In order not to make a mistake in choosing a shade, you can apply a smear of the colored mixture on a white surface and dry it.

The rules for applying the base layer are not particularly complicated. It is very convenient to take the mixture with a spatula, laying it on the edge of the trowel. After that, the tool must be pressed against the wall surface at a slight angle: the front edge must be raised by about the thickness of a finger. Rub the mass into the surface with a free arcuate motion. Cover the entire wall gradually, in small squares.

It is very important to apply strokes so that they overlap the neighboring ones by 0.5-1 cm. The plastered wall must be dried for 6-8 hours (you can leave it overnight). Apply the following layer on the prepared surface:

Dial plaster paste on the trowel. Spread it over the base layer with short and long strokes. At this stage, uniform application should not be achieved: chaotic strokes create an unusual texture of the finished plaster. Smooth out irregularities with a trowel.
Dry the wall for 2-3 hours.
Treat the surface with sandpaper, removing all small irregularities.

In conclusion, the coating is glazed. Apply a strip of mortar on a wide spatula, press the tool against the wall, holding it at a very large angle to the wall surface (75-80º). Make an extensive stroke in one continuous movement, pressing the spatula firmly against the wall.

On the applied stroke, you need to draw the spatula again, smoothing it and making the paste layer very thin. Glazing is desirable to produce separate squares (about 1 m²). Having processed 1 square, you need to move on to the next. Having finished applying the solution, return to the previous one and polish it with a clean spatula to a light gloss. Apply the solution on the 3rd square, polish the 2nd area and cover the new part of the wall with paste.

It is convenient to arrange the squares when glazing with a ladder, starting from the upper corner of the wall and gradually moving to the side and down. The boundaries of individual sections need to be joined with a slight overlap, combining them together. Having finished finishing, polish the wall again with a spatula and dry it.

A high-quality plastered surface will not need sanding. In the presence of the smallest irregularities, it is worth wiping it a little with very fine sandpaper, smoothing it to perfect condition. Dust must be removed very carefully so that the wax lays evenly. That is why the craftsmen prefer to polish the wall well, avoiding the use of an abrasive: the smallest dust particles constantly settle on the wall and complicate the work.

Wax application

For wall waxing, special compositions based on natural wax are used. You can buy them in the same construction departments where the mixture for Venetian plaster was purchased. The composition is applied in a thin layer:

gain mass on a wide spatula, perform a smear, stretching the wax over the surface with a long straight movement with a slight pressure;
run over the same place again, removing the excess.

When applying wax, try to leave a very thin layer without streaks at the edges of the stroke. All flaws reduce the quality of the coating, as they become very noticeable after polishing. Processing is most conveniently done in small sections, which the master will have time to finish in 20-30 minutes. When applying wax, you need to use a glazing scheme: starting from the top corner, with a ladder, processing a section of the wall and returning to the previous one.

The wax has time to dry while the wall is being finished. Having finished the work, you need to immediately proceed to the final stage - polishing. To add shine, use a soft dry cloth. With a rag, you need to perform circular movements, achieving the appearance of gloss.

Venetian with craquelure effect

Another very easy-to-perform method is to imitate an old, cracked wall from time to time. Thanks to various additives in the polishing layer (wax or varnish), the decorative effect of such a coating is very high. This technology of applying Venetian plaster requires less time than the classic version.

In addition to the standard set of tools for Venetian plaster, in this case it is advisable to purchase a building hair dryer. This will significantly speed up the drying process of the coating. For finishing, you can use glitters, metallic powder (under gold or silver), phosphor (TAT33 noxton, for example) or leave wax or varnish colorless.

The effect of cracking lies in the method of applying a layer of plaster:

Apply a white or tinted Venetian mixture to the prepared wall in a rather thick layer (about 2 mm), without trying to even out the surface. Strokes should be performed with arcuate or straight movements in different directions, chaotically. You need to trim small sections of the wall (about 1 m² each).
Randomly draw a trowel over wet plaster, forming lines along which the coating will crack. To do this, you need to press the tool against the wall with the entire plane and with light pressure move it in the desired direction. Make a few more of these movements. Stripes appear on the coating, slightly rising above the surface.
Turn on the hair dryer to the maximum. From a very close distance (1-1.5 cm), heat the plaster, drying it. As it dries, a pattern of cracks appears on the surface.
With fine sandpaper, slightly clean the surface, showing the pattern and leveling the surface. Remove dust carefully.
Add color, glitters or luminous phosphor powder to varnish or wax. Apply wax in the usual way, as in the classic version. It is easier to varnish the wall with a roller, rolling each section well so that the composition penetrates into the cracks.

After drying, the wall is completely ready for use. Lacquering gives the plaster greater resistance to wet cleaning. But such a coating is devoid of the mysterious volumetric effect inherent in wax.

Marble plaster

The technique of applying Venetian plaster imitating the surface of marble is not particularly complicated, but rather time consuming. With this method, the master actually draws a pattern inherent in the stone. The creative process implies the presence of artistic skill and a sense of color.

The pattern of marble slabs consists of smooth transitions of shades of the same color with occasional splashes of black. Almost parallel layers are visible on the polished plane, formed during the sedimentation of calcareous crystals. You can create a similar pattern using colors and conventional working tools: a spatula and a trowel.

The technology for applying marbled Venetian plaster includes laying the base layer. It can be left white or tinted in one of the shades. Strokes should be long and located along the future layering of the pattern. After slightly drying the surface (5-7 minutes), you can additionally draw uneven long lines with a trowel.

Color the Venetian in 2-3 shades of color. Separately, make some black paste. Apply different plasters to the trowel without mixing it. Add a few drops of black. Observing the previously chosen direction of layering, stretch the paste over the surface with long uneven strokes. At the borders of strokes and areas, you should try to overlap, continuing the drawing. Finishing the next square, dry it for 15-20 minutes and polish with a spatula to a gloss.

Decorative Venetian plaster, the application technology of which is quite simple, is becoming increasingly popular. You can make it with your own hands, it is important to follow the rules that are the same for all methods: apply with separate strokes. Overlapping each other, they create color transitions that can be emphasized by applying wax or varnish.

Despite its antiquity, the decoration of residential and public buildings with plaster is still very popular. This is due to the practical advantages of such a wall design, and an unusually attractive appearance. Do you want to make your home more beautiful without resorting to third-party craftsmen? Then do-it-yourself Venetian plaster is one of the most preferred options for you.

Venetian plaster itself has been around for a couple of thousand years and predates its current name. Even in ancient Rome, builders noticed that quarry waste in the form of dust and small fragments can be used to prepare a finishing mixture, which, with a certain application technique, is in no way inferior to normal marble in appearance.

Subsequently, the recipe for such plaster became very popular in Venice during the Renaissance, and from there it bears its current name, which in the original sounds like stucco veneziano. Now let's figure out what kind of finishing material it is and what it consists of.

The main component of Venetian plaster is very fine stone chips. Moreover, it can be not only marble, but also onyx, malachite, granite, quartz and other minerals. Between themselves, this stone crumb is connected with the help of slaked lime. However, lime has recently been replaced with a synthetic component - acrylic. Such Venetian plaster in its appearance is in no way inferior to the “classic” composition, but at the same time it is much more convenient to work with it. Complement the mixture with various dyes, also called colors. They give the Venetian plaster a certain shade, necessary for the owner of the finished premises.

Important! If desired, and if there is time, Venetian plaster can not only be applied, but also prepared independently. To do this, you will need stone chips, which can be obtained from a workshop that works with marble and granite. Hydrated lime can be found in a building supermarket, and colors can be found in stores selling paints and plasters. But remember that factory formulations already have a seasoned recipe and certain properties.

Venetian plaster - pros and cons

Separately, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of Venetian plaster as a material for interior decoration. Of the advantages, the following can be distinguished.

A texture that imitates many types of natural stone (depending on the technique used by the master plasterer).

The effect of "inner glow", due to the high light reflectivity of the material and the use of a wax coating.
Long service life of at least 25 years (with the right technology for applying plaster).
The absence of seams and joints on the decoration of walls and other surfaces.
Color retention for a long time due to the wax coating.
Water resistance - Venetian plaster can be safely used in bathrooms or baths.

As for the disadvantages of Venetian plaster, these include the high cost of the material, the complexity of the finish and the high requirements for the base coat - it must be perfectly even and well puttied, without bumps and defects. Without the last factor, you may run into a problem when all the imperfections of the wall will be visible after finishing.

A wall finished with plaster, depending on the type of material, may have a different texture, color, look modest and discreet or, on the contrary, very expensive. - This is one of the types of decorative surface finishes. It is used for various purposes, including for finishing facades.

Tools for working with Venetian plaster

Before proceeding with the description of the techniques for applying Venetian plaster with our own hands, let's get acquainted with the list of tools needed for this work.

Table. Do-it-yourself Venetian plaster - a list of tools.

Instrument name	What is used for
	Applying textured plaster layers and drawing veins on the material
	Essential tool for applying Venetian plaster and wax
	Transferring the plaster mixture from the container to a wider spatula, mixing and tinting the material
	Grinding and cleaning of layers of plaster, removal of excessively protruding elements
	Storage and mixing of white and colored plaster
	Manual polishing of hard-to-reach or small areas treated with Venetian plaster
	Machine polishing of a large area treated with Venetian plaster
	Mixing large volumes of Venetian plaster

Construction mixer price

construction mixer

Video - Venetian plaster from A to Z

Do-it-yourself Venetian plaster

From the description of Venetian plaster, its features, advantages and disadvantages, let's move on to the consideration of the main application techniques. But before that, learn how to prepare walls for finishing work and how to get a composition of a certain color on your own.

Important! As mentioned above, finishing walls and other surfaces with Venetian plaster is a complex process that requires some experience and skills. Therefore, before starting construction work, take a small amount of the composition and practice on white and smooth MDF panels. At the same time, it is advisable to try several different plastering techniques and experiment with several colors.

Surface preparation for Venetian plaster

All work related to plastering begins with the preparation of the walls. If there is any old finish on the walls (paint, wallpaper or anything else) - remove it completely and as carefully as possible. The walls are also cleaned of involuntary traces of repair in the form of stains and building dust.

After removing the previous finish, proceed to fix large wall defects. Cover cracks and potholes with cement mixture, remove protrusions with a grinder, rub rough places with sandpaper. As a result, you should get a relatively flat surface without any special flaws, suitable for further finishing work.

Next, apply a primer, starting and finishing putty to the surface in sequence. After sanding with the last sandpaper, you should get a perfectly smooth wall, devoid of any flaws. Remember that all surface imperfections after finishing Venetian plaster will be very noticeable.

Finish preparing the wall for Venetian plaster by applying two (or in some cases three) coats of primer. At the same time, its color should be either neutral white or close in shade to the future finish.

Venetian plaster tinting

Before starting to apply the finish, the owner of the premises or the master who does the work for him must choose the color of the future Venetian plaster and “cook” it using a base white mixture and several different dyes. This process is called tinting, and from the step-by-step instructions given in this subsection, you can familiarize yourself with how it happens.

Step 1. Choose the right shade of Venetian plaster. In this case, use a tinting fan. It contains not only the primary colors, but also their shades, the total number of which can reach several tens or even hundreds.

Tinting fan

Step 2 Prepare tinting tools - a blank sheet of thick paper, on which you can see if the prepared Venetian plaster matches the selected shade, a small container for mixing the composition, a narrow spatula and a set of dyes.

Step 3 Prepare a small amount of neutral white Venetian plaster. Choose the right dyes. In this case, the master will achieve a dark red hue with an offset to brown. For this, basic red, red-brown, brown and black dyes are used. The latter is necessary to reduce the brightness of Venetian plaster and make it more similar to natural marble.

Step 4 Select a container of base dye (in this case, red), shake it up, and add a generous amount to the white plaster.

Step 5 Stir the plaster and dye with a narrow spatula until the composition acquires a uniform color.

Step 6 With a narrow spatula, apply a small strip of plaster mixed with the base color onto a white sheet of paper. Compare it with the desired shade on the color fan and determine which dyes and how much to add. In total, several such checks will be made during the tinting process, with the help of which you can gradually achieve the color that was originally intended.

Step 7 Add a second color to the plaster, which will shift its shade to the pre-selected one. In this case, we are talking about red-brown color. As before, stir the plaster until smooth, apply a small strip of the mixture to the paper and match the color with the selected shade on the fan.

Important! When giving the plaster a color, keep in mind that after drying it will be lighter than at the moment, by one, and sometimes two tones.

Step 8 Add literally a few drops of black color to the plaster to make it more in line with natural stone and slightly reduce the brightness, which for this finish will be unnecessary.

Step 9 Apply a stripe of plaster to the paper and match with your chosen shade. Adjust the mixture with dyes until it reaches the desired appearance. After that, the tinting can be considered complete - then you will prepare Venetian plaster according to the same principle, but on a large scale, for application to the wall.

The price of powder paints

Powder paints

Applying classic Venetian plaster

Let's start by looking at the basic technique for applying Venetian plaster. It is called classic and requires a mixture of only one shade. In this case, Venetian plaster of milk chocolate color will be applied.

Step 1. With the help of tinting, prepare a certain amount of plaster of a certain shade and select the place where it will be applied. Keep in mind that the "Venetian" dries quickly, so work with small areas of about 1 m 2. Different places should overlap a little.

The example uses a training canvas

Important! If Venetian plaster is applied by two different people, then periodically they should change places - each has its own way of working, but at the same time it is necessary to achieve approximately the same appearance of the walls and their individual parts.

Step 2 Apply the first layer of Venetian plaster using smooth rounded movements with a spatula. It eliminates invisible wall defects, levels it and is a link for subsequent layers of decoration. Remember that you need to apply a small amount of plaster and a thin layer. At this stage, the presence of small bald spots is acceptable.

Step 3 Wait 60 minutes for the first coat of Venetian plaster to dry.

Step 4 Apply a second coat of Venetian plaster using a trowel. It should be as thin as the previous one, but at the same time form veins and other elements here, which in the future will become a “pattern” on the wall imitating natural marble or any other stone.

Step 5 Apply a third coat of Venetian plaster, known in the classical technique as "rubbing". For this work, use a Japanese spatula, while pressing it against the wall with considerable effort. With this tool, apply a small amount of plaster over the second layer, and immediately make movements to remove the excess.

Step 6 Without waiting for complete drying (but not immediately after application), sand the third layer of Venetian plaster with an abrasive sponge or very fine sandpaper. Shake off the dust formed during this operation from the treated area of the wall.

Step 7 After the final layer of plaster has dried, wax it. A small amount of it is applied to the spatulas according to the same principle as in the previous operation - first the composition is on the wall, then its excess is removed with pressure. Wax will make Venetian plaster one tone darker, give it shine and protect it from abrasion and moisture.

Step 8 20 minutes after waxing, the section of the wall finished with Venetian plaster is wiped with a dry and clean cloth. Before that, you can “grind” it again with a Japanese spatula, removing excess wax.

Applying Venetian plaster in two tones

Now let's look at a slightly more complex technique for applying Venetian plaster - here we work with mixtures of the same color, but different tones - one is lighter and the other is darker.

Step 1. Using tinting, prepare a certain amount of plaster of the same color, but in different containers and with different shades. As mentioned above, the first composition is lighter, the second is darker. Also determine the area of 1 m 2, from which the application of Venetian plaster will begin using this technique.

Step 2 As in the previous technique, apply the first layer of Venetian plaster with a Japanese trowel in a rounded motion with medium pressure and without much wiping. In this case, use a mixture of light colors.

Step 3 Wait for the first layer to dry before applying the second. He will be responsible for the texture of the wall decoration with Venetian plaster. Apply the main part of the second layer in a light tone, drawing small veins and other elements in height. Then, on a Japanese spatula, take a small amount of dark-colored plaster and leave small spots and streaks on the surface. Thus, form a certain pattern by copying a real stone.

Step 4 Apply a third coat of light-colored plaster. At the same time, work with a spatula with serious effort, in semicircular movements, “on the peel” of the newly applied plaster. Then polish these areas. The process is similar to what happens when describing the previous finishing technique.

Step 5 Wait for the third coat of plaster to dry and sand the wall section (or practice canvas in this case) with sandpaper or a sponge.

Step 6 Wipe off the dust left on the plastered area of the wall after using an emery sponge, and apply a layer of wax. As soon as it dries, wipe everything with a dry and clean cloth. After that, a section of the wall can be considered successfully plastered with a "Venetian" in two tones.

Important! Use the technique of applying plaster in two tones, taking into account the size of the finished area. If it is large, then the difference between the shades should be minimal - otherwise the wall will be "full" and annoy rather than evoke positive emotions. But for small areas, it is allowed to use plaster with a difference of several tones.

Application of Venetian plaster with imitation marble

And finally, let's get acquainted with the third technique of applying Venetian plaster - with imitation of real marble. Please note that this is a rather complex finishing option that requires some experience in this field.

Step 1. Prepare the base color plaster (in this case, the red that was discussed in the tinting section), as well as black and white mixtures, with which marble imitation will be performed. Apply the first layer of "Venetian" using the composition of the main shade. At the same time, lay the plaster on the surface diagonally from right to left, leaving characteristic stripes.

Step 2 Wait for the first coat to dry and apply a generous amount of base color plaster to the spatula, add some white mixture to it and mix lightly. Then complete with black. An example of applying plasters of three shades on a spatula can be seen in the photo below.

Step 3 Apply a mixture of three plasters of different colors in the second layer. At the same time, move the spatula diagonally from right to left, drawing a strip with veins.

Step 4 Using the instructions from the previous step, continue applying multi-colored mixtures of plasters until the second layer is fully formed. Let it dry.

Step 5 Sand the Venetian marbled stucco with fine grit sandpaper. Wipe off any dust generated during operation.

Step 6 Apply a coat of wax with a Japanese spatula to protect the plaster and give it a sheen.

Step 7 After the wax dries, wipe the surface with a clean rag or a special attachment for the angle grinder.

Prices for marble plaster

Marble plaster

Now you know about the basic methods of working with Venetian plaster. Try this type of finish as soon as possible - the difficulties associated with working with it will turn into an amazing result.

Venetian plaster appeared a long time ago, it was used by the ancient Romans. In Italian it is called stucco veneziano. Everyone knows that marble was the most popular in those days, and decoration was carried out using its waste - stone dust and small fragments of stone. There are no external differences in such a finish from natural marble or other material, and it is much easier to handle it.

What it is?

Venetian plaster is a finishing layer when decorating walls, ceilings of a room or building facades. Possesses fine decorative characteristics.

The price is high, but the effect is significant: the room acquires respectability and special sophistication.

There are several types:

Veneto- imitates marble. The simplest variety in terms of application and care relative to others. For cleaning, the use of a sponge and ordinary water is allowed.
Trevignano- up to 12 layers are used to create a coating. For binding, polymers are added to the composition. Favorably emphasizes classic vintage furniture, baroque or their modern counterparts.

Marbello- is a small glossy blotches on a matte background. When applied, mixes of different colors are used. Often used together with substances that increase the hydrophobicity of the coating.
encausto- it is characteristic that the plaster is similar to semi-gloss or glossy granite. Requires waxing after drying.

We list the advantages of Venetian plaster:

strength - does not form cracks, withstands significant external influences;
has a water-repellent effect after treatment with special wax, so it can be used in rooms with high humidity - bathroom, sauna, swimming pool, bath;
environmentally friendly material, safe for humans, since the main component is crushed natural stone;
perfectly reflects the rays of light falling on the surface - the "glow effect";
the material is fireproof;
the mixture can be made at home.

The disadvantages include the high price and special requirements for the base on which the decorative layer will be applied.

Features and composition of the plaster

In ancient times, only natural ingredients were included in the composition of Venetian plaster. Today, acrylic is often used as a binder instead of lime. Synthetic material allows you to increase plasticity and prevents the appearance of cracks after the mortar dries.

Mixture Ingredients:

stone dust (the finer the fraction, the better);
dyes (colours);
binders;
emulsions based on acrylic or water;
sometimes gypsum, other additives are added;
wax is used to protect against moisture and give shine.

Finished plaster can have a rough or completely smooth surface, imitate various textures. The application feature implies careful preparation of the base for plastering. There should be no bumps, drops, chips and cracks, otherwise they will become noticeable after the solution dries.

The use of natural chips in a mixture - onyx, malachite, marble, granite, quartz and the like, allows you to create magnificent coatings that are not inferior in beauty to natural stone. At the same time, the surface has no joints, it looks like a single monolith. The pattern of walls treated with such plaster is easy to restore, change their texture.

Material Quantity Calculation

We calculate the total area of all treated surfaces with a small margin. The thickness of the layer and the consumption per square meter are found on the packaging.
Of course, the required amount of materials directly depends on the number of layers, but the average consumption is 0.5 kg / m2.

Formula:

N = R x S x K,

N is the amount of plaster,

R is its amount per square meter,

S is the total surface area,

K is the number of layers.

Preparing the mixture

Plaster is made from three parts: stone chips, a binder (you can use slaked lime or various acrylic resins) and colors. Such plaster is used on walls and ceilings made of almost any material.

You can buy materials:

a crumb of stone - in a workshop of the corresponding profile;
slaked lime, resins and colors - in retail chains.

It is important to know that you cannot just come to the store, buy and apply the finished mixture for Venetian plaster on the wall. It takes a creative approach to make it. With a certain amount of free time and effort, Venetian plaster can be prepared with your own hands according to several recipes.

From stone chips

Coloring and texture can be anything: imitate leather, silk, stone. Such plaster is translucent, which allows you to achieve a unique play of light.

Work order:

We mix three parts of sand (pure) with three parts of gypsum putty and one part of building gypsum.
We mix everything with water until the desired viscosity is obtained.
While stirring, add gypsum putty until we get a homogeneous mass.
Paint is added to the mixture before it is applied to walls and ceilings.

If you bought the mixture in the store:

follow the manufacturer's instructions, they are necessarily attached;
remember that the mixture at the end of cooking should be of medium density;
when the mixture is ready, leave it for a quarter of an hour, after which it must be mixed again;
mixing is strictly not recommended if the air temperature is below + 10 ° C;
one batch can cover such an area of \u200b\u200bthe surface so that the border with the plaster from the next batch of mortar is not visible.

tinting

Giving color to the mixture is another important stage in the preparation of plaster. We select a color scheme. You can use the so-called "tinting fan", which contains both colors and many of their shades. Tools will come in handy: a sheet of white paper, a place for test mixtures to determine the shade, a spatula and dyes. There should also be some white Venetian plaster and the right colors.

What should be done:

We choose the main dye and add it to the base - white plaster.
Stir with a spatula until a uniform color.
We put a little colored mixture on the paper and compare it with the sample on the “fan”, determine which shade needs to be added / removed. If necessary, this step is repeated several times.

It should be borne in mind that the color after drying will be approximately a tone and a half lighter than with samples.

Tools for the job

mixture of Venetian plaster;
primer;
wax;
putty;
roller;
a special trowel used for Venetian plaster;
spatulas of different widths;
sandpaper of varying degrees of graininess;

grinder;
technical hair dryer;
centimeter / tape measure;
masking tape;
rags / suede / silk;
construction mixer (you can pick up any other device);
a place for mixing the components of the mixture;
stencils.

Surface preparation

We remove the remaining coating from the wall or ceiling, all contamination from previous finishing works: oil, dust, wallpaper paste on the walls, putty, and the like.
Obvious irregularities are eliminated by filling them with cement and sand, minor ones - with putty.
We use a grinder, sandpaper with different grains.
We apply the first layer of putty, let it dry and put a layer of fine final putty on top.
We rub with sandpaper.
Later, we impregnate the wall twice with a primer. We do this with breaks of 3-4 hours in order to increase the permeability of the layers.
It may be necessary to apply another layer of tint so that the plaster is the same tone as the primer.

Application methods

It should be noted that the invitation of hired specialists who will not work for free, and the very decoration with Venetian plaster is an expensive pleasure. Self-production of the solution and the application of simple textures allows you to save a lot, and the result justifies all efforts. There are certain rules and technology for applying the Venetian.

Step-by-step instruction:

We apply as thin a layer of facing putty as possible and wait 6-8 hours until it dries completely.
Apply primer evenly. The water / mixture ratio scheme is 1 to 7. Most likely, it will be correct to put 2 layers of primer.
We begin to apply the plaster from the top of the wall with light arcuate movements down and to the side. Unlike a primer, the mixture is applied unevenly.
It is necessary to monitor the saturation of the color of the paint, so that later you do not have to add layers of plaster to correct inconsistencies in the color scheme.

We apply the initial layers with a wide spatula with short movements in an arc.
After the process is completed, we look at the layer thickness, try to minimize it.
Again we take a wide spatula in our hands, smooth the Venetian from the bottom up and from the top down, crosswise.
We polish the entire area with a float at an angle of 10 degrees.
If there is a socket on the wall, the surface around it is processed in the direction away from it. A spatula of smaller width or a grater is used.
Any noticed defects / shortcomings / layer thickness - we fix it while the Venetian remains wet.
If necessary, treat the surface with wax - polish.

Here are a few different techniques for simulating the application of a Venetian:

Venetian plaster imitating marble

We apply the plaster randomly, covering the entire surface;
Add texture while the mixture is still wet with a trowel;
We pause for a couple of hours, during which we prepare 2-4 varieties of the mixture with additives of various colors. We apply them little by little with a spatula or trowel with strokes over the entire surface along a long arc.
Dry for about a day. You can repeat this procedure several times, leaving about a day to dry between each cycle.
We grind the wall three times with various nozzles using a grinder.
The next step is ironing. For ironing, it is necessary to press the trowel to the surface with considerable force.
In conclusion, we treat the wall / ceiling with varnish / wax.

Venetian plaster imitating the classic version

The first layer is applied in the same way as for marble imitation. We pause for a couple of hours to dry.
We process excess plaster with a trowel.
Ironing is carried out until we achieve the effect of a metallic sheen.
We prepare a monochromatic plaster, apply it, again return to the ironing process, after which we wait a shorter time - 30-40 minutes is enough.
With further imposition of layers, we follow the same sequence.
We use the grinder with three different nozzles only when the surface is completely dry.
We cover the wall with wax / varnish.

Venetian plaster imitating craquelure

Craquelure means "antique" in French.

Procedure:

Apply a thick layer of plaster with a spatula with random movements.
We heat the surface with an electric hair dryer so that cracks appear on the plaster due to contrasting temperature changes.
When cracks appear, we wait for drying - about 24 hours.
The finishing Venetian is applied in a thin layer and should have a color different from the previous one.
We finish the process with the usual three-stage grinding with ironing.

Venetian plaster imitating cork wood

We start with a layer that has different colors. It is prepared by incomplete mixing of solutions of two or three different tones.
With a trowel or a wide spatula, we apply a thick layer to the wall, then dry it thoroughly with a building hair dryer.
We use a hair dryer at various distances from the wall to obtain an inhomogeneous texture - characteristic cracks.
We pause for two days for further drying.
We impose a second layer of plaster, it should have a shade of color that differs from the first layer.
We grind the plaster with emery or a grinder.
We cover the wall with wax or varnish.

Textured Venetian plaster

We cover the surface of the wall / ceiling with a water-dispersion primer.
Let the coating dry and wear a layer of covering primer.
We take a break for a couple of hours.
We apply the plaster in a thin, even layer using a fur roller and leave to dry for three to four hours.
Smooth the surface with a narrow metal spatula.
We impose the second layer of the Venetian with a trowel.

Dry the surface for six hours.
We repeat the removal of irregularities.
Add a topcoat to the Venetian to create a final coat using a mixer or a drill with a nozzle.
We expect 6 hours to dry.
By ironing with a trowel, we obtain the effect of a metallic sheen.
Polishing - apply a layer of wax.

If you are tired of the usual wallpaper, it's time to master a new wall decoration technique. After all, do-it-yourself Venetian plaster is a creative and very exciting process. You can get the most unusual options both with the help of ready-made mixtures, and with your own preparations.

What is a Venetian?

The method of finishing walls under stone (marble, malachite, jasper or granite) is called Venetian plaster. This refined and very elegant technique can be used in any home and in any way of decorating rooms. It goes well with even the most modern styles, such as hi-tech or techno. True, in this case, it is better to choose light pastel or almost white shades for decoration.

By varying the types of techniques, with the help of a Venetian, you can also get the effects of a canvas, aged silver, copper or bronze. She can even draw whole pictures. You can plaster in this way not only walls, but also any decorative elements, panels or frescoes. Moreover, the Venetian is able to easily withstand temperature changes, and caring for her is easy and simple. You can wash it with a brush with plain soapy water.

Venetian plaster

Advice. You can decorate with a Venetian not only walls, but also ceilings.

Mortar for Venetian plaster

Since the time of ancient Rome, little has changed in her technique: slaked lime is also introduced into the composition of the solution (it can be replaced with acrylic putty), stone flour and coloring pigments. At the end of the work, the surface is covered with a layer of natural wax. Expensive wax, if desired, can be replaced with ordinary colorless varnish.

Venetian plaster can be purchased in the form of a ready-made solution or prepared independently. For this you will need:

Dry slaked lime or putty;

Stone chips of fine fraction;

Color tint (depending on the finishing method, one or more shades may be needed);

Natural wax.

To achieve the desired color, the paints are first mixed with a dry base, and then combined together. Please note that each batch of mortar may have different shades. If a significant surface is planned to be plastered, and it is not possible to immediately dilute the required amount of the mixture, the components to be introduced should be accurately measured.

Ready mix

Advice. The finer the components to be mixed, the more glossy the surface will be. To create a “thin” pattern, compositions should be selected that are crushed almost to dust.

Surface preparation

Before finishing the wall, it is necessary to carefully prepare: putty and sand. The surface should be perfectly flat - after all, the smallest tubercles, pits and roughness will be visible on it. Experienced craftsmen cover the walls with fiberglass or wallpaper for painting before starting work. To get a smooth surface, the seams are aligned before that.

The last layer is white primer giving an even color. It will not allow the surface to crack and provides reliable adhesion between the wall and the mortar. Before applying the primer wall must be thoroughly dried.

Primer

Main stages of work

Working with a Venetian is a rather painstaking and time-consuming task: for 1 sq. m, an experienced master spends five to six times more time than when working with ordinary plaster. To fill your hand, it is better to master this technique from small sections of the wall or individual decorative elements: paintings, panels or frescoes.

1. To obtain a high-quality coating, the mixture is applied in several stages - there can be from 3-4 to 10 such layers.

Each layer can have a different shade

2. For convenience, the wall must be visually divided into separate sections of 0.5-1 m.

3. After applying each layer, it is necessary to let it dry thoroughly, sand it with a building float to remove excess plaster, and only then apply the second one.

Grinding

4. All layers must be thin, almost transparent. The first and last layer is applied with slightly weakened pressure.

The plaster is distributed randomly over the surface

5. The solution is applied in small strokes using a trowel in a chaotic manner. dry to wet. The movements must be arched. If desired, strokes can have one tone, but different shades.

6. Spatula carefully after each stroke wiped with a rag.

Colors are selected depending on the desired result.

7. When moving to the next section, it is necessary to “cling” the boundaries of the previous section.

Main stages of work

8. After the final drying of the solution for 24 hours, to make the surface waterproof, glossy and matte, it is processed natural wax. It, like the solution, is applied in a thin layer with a soft cloth in smooth circular motions. Colors after such processing become brighter and more saturated.

9. After the wax has dried, the surface is polished with a soft flannel.

Wax for a Venetian

Venetian plaster is not only attractive, but very durable coating.

Types of techniques

The appearance of the surface depends on the composition of the solution and how it is applied. There are many techniques of Venetian plaster.

We list just a few of them:

carrara marble: this stone in its natural form is practically no longer found, however, it is possible to create its quite high-quality imitation; this requires very painstaking work and the application of up to 12 layers of plaster of several colors; the meaning of the method lies in the selection of similar and contrasting shades;

Carrara marble

craquelure: you can get a cracked “aged” coating by applying a special finishing composition - a special varnish, which, when dried, “tightens” the plaster; even a beginner can master such a technique;

Craquelure technique

Marseille wax: using this method, they imitate tree bark or old stone; walls are tinted with wax twice; to create contrast, the second layer may have a different shade from the first.

Marseille wax

Advice. You can even imitate Venetian plaster with the help of an ordinary crumpled plastic bag, a sponge or a small brush. First, a small layer of plaster is applied to the wall, it is evenly distributed over the surface with a spatula, and then shaded in a chaotic manner.

Imitation of Venetian plaster with a sponge, brush or bag

canvas imitation

You can also create chaotic patterns on the wall using a special print.

Master class: Venetian plaster

May 15, 2018
Specialization: facade finishing, interior finishing, construction of dachas, garages. The experience of an amateur gardener and horticulturist. He also has experience repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and much more, for which there is not enough time :)

Venetian plaster is one of the symbols of luxury, as it looks very impressive, and costs accordingly. However, in our time, in order to decorate walls in this way, it is not necessary to lay out a large amount for finished plaster. Next, I will tell you how do-it-yourself Venetian plaster is made from available materials.

What is a coating

A feature of Venetian plaster, which is sometimes also called Byzantine, is that visually it resembles marble, as it includes several colors and has a glossy surface. This coating gained particular popularity during the Renaissance.

In those days, Italian masters possessed an excellent technique for marbling walls. Apparently, therefore, the plaster began to be called Venetian. In fact, the coating was known to mankind long before the Renaissance, as it was used by the ancient Romans and ancient Greeks.

Initially, the considered decorative plaster was made from lime and marble flour. Of course, the application technology and materials for making the coating have changed a lot over hundreds or even thousands of years. However, the appearance remained the same - the coating still resembles marble and has a pleasant glossy sheen.

Wall preparation

Before proceeding with the decoration of the walls, they must be properly prepared. This procedure is carried out as follows:

Illustrations	Actions
	Materials and tools: Acrylic primer; putty; Grater with mesh; Cuvette rollers; Wide and narrow spatula.
	Removing the old coating: Remove old coating - paint, plaster, etc. You can learn how to quickly dismantle old coatings from other articles on our portal. Wash the surface to remove dust and other contaminants.
	Padding: Shake the soil. Apply the primer to the walls in an even layer using a roller. Wait for the soil to dry completely and repeat the procedure.
	Wall alignment: If the primer is purchased as a dry mix, mix it with water and mix. Level the surface with putty. To do this, apply it with a wide spatula. Try to keep it in an even, smooth layer. Wait for the putty to harden, then rub it with a grater so that there are no bumps and marks from the spatula on the walls.

After leveling and sanding the walls, they must be wiped with a rag to remove dust, and once again covered with a layer of soil. As a result, the surface should be smooth, fairly smooth and clean. Do not forget that the quality of the finish depends on the preparation of the walls.

Making Venetian Plaster

The process of making Venetian plaster includes several stages:

Preparation of materials

We will make decorative plaster from ordinary putty. For this we need the following materials:

Facade putty.
Several pigments for putty (you choose the colors yourself).
Acrylic lacquer for outdoor use.
Wax.

The type of pigment is selected individually for the type of putty. If, for example, the putty is acrylic, you will need an acrylic color scheme. For cement putties, a special dry pigment is used.

Of the tools you will need:

Narrow spatula.
Trowel.
Grater.
Mixer.

After preparing everything you need, you can start applying the coating.

Preparation of decorative plaster

Byzantine plaster is prepared very simply, in fact, all we need is to add color or pigments to the putty. To achieve the desired effect, you need at least 2-3 colors. You can use the same color in different tones.

You will also need a mixture of varnish and putty, but we will prepare it during the coating process.

To get the desired color of the putty, first mix it with a pigment in a small amount and remember the proportions of the latter. After that, the pigment can be mixed with the main part of the putty. Use a drill with a mixer attachment to mix the ingredients.

We apply decorative plaster

Venetian plaster involves the application of several layers of coating. Therefore, the work is performed in the following sequence:

Illustrations	Actions
	Apply base color: Apply the first layer with a wide spatula. Work with it in the same way as with ordinary putty. The only thing is not to strive for uniformity of the layer. If the coating will lie unevenly, i.e. with small sagging, this will only make the coating more attractive. After the first layer has dried, apply the second layer of the “base” dotted, i.e. separate curvilinear strokes. Thus, a certain pattern-substrate is created. After the second layer has dried, sand the surface with a float.
	Application of the third layer: Apply putty to the trowel that differs in color from the base layer. Lightly touch the trowel to the wall so that the putty adheres unevenly to the base. Wait a few minutes for the coating to begin to set, and then smooth with a spatula, moving in different directions. This technique of applying the second layer allows you to get the effect of a "map of the world". If you wish, you can use a different technique, for example, chaotic strokes of putty in different colors. In this case, mixing colors will occur directly on the wall.
	Application of the fourth layer: Dilute the acrylic varnish by 15 percent with water. Add dry finishing putty to the varnish and mix thoroughly. The consistency of the composition should be liquid, but not spreadable, so that it can be applied with a brush. Cover the surface with the resulting composition and roll out a thin layer with a roller. "Walk" over the surface with a spatula to remove excess composition. After the surface has dried, clean it with fine sandpaper.

On this, the work is almost done, now it remains to apply the finishing layer.

Applying the finish coat

To achieve gloss, we need wax, you can buy it ready-made or make it yourself from paraffin dissolved in kerosene. The work is carried out as follows:

Illustrations	Actions
	Wax application. Rub the wax into the surface with a soft cloth.
	Grinding. Rub the surface with a trowel with stretched felt to achieve a glass effect. To simplify and speed up the work, you can use a grinder.

The result is a beautiful marble finish. I must say that in this way it is possible to finish both facades and walls from the inside.

Conclusion

As you can see, Venetian plaster can be made from improvised available building materials, which will not be inferior to expensive coatings in decorative qualities. The main thing is to “fill” your hand and follow a certain sequence of actions.