
Venetian plaster is a wall and ceiling finish consisting of plaster mixed with marble dust, applied with a spatula or trowel in thin, multiple layers, which are then burnished to create a smooth surface with the illusion of depth and texture. Venetian plaster techniques include marmorino, scagliola, and sgraffito.
How to make a Venetian bronze finish?
Step Two: Paint
- After the primer has dried for at least 12 hours, thoroughly stir and apply a thin coat of paint.
- The piece shown below has one coat of bronze paint. How about that color? ...
- But, for the sake of illustration, I did continue. Just know that I do plan to mix up the finishes in the set by leaving some with this fab bronze ...
How to apply a Venetian plaster wall finish?
- Hold the trowel at a 15 to 30-degree angle, and wipe it often with a clean, dry cloth to prevent dried bits of plaster from affecting your pattern.
- It is a good idea to start at the top, in a corner.
- To get plaster into tight spots, such as in a corner or along molding, simply apply the plaster with your finger using latex gloves. ...
How to create a Venetian plaster faux finish?
The specific products that are ideal for these applications include:
- SofTex
- FauxStone Pull-Off
- PlasterTex
How to paint over Venetian plaster?
Steps to Paint Over Venetian Plaster
- Make sure that your Venetian plaster is clean. If you live somewhere that has high humidity, your Venetian plaster could have grease and dust on it.
- Before you can start to plaster over Venetian plaster you will need to look closely at it first. ...
- Take the sandpaper that is 80 grit and attach it to your palm sander. ...

What is the difference between Venetian plaster and regular plaster?
What differentiates Venetian plaster or lime plaster from other plasters is that there are no aggregates mixed in. Tadelakt and Marmorino, for example, include aggregates like marble, granite, or glass.
How do you do Venetian texture?
2:233:51Venetian Plaster Basic Skip Trowel Application Video (short ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake your rag. The last step is to take the trowel. And you're going to push it down. So I have allMoreTake your rag. The last step is to take the trowel. And you're going to push it down. So I have all my pressure on the side of the trowel away from me and rub. It pretty vigorously.
Is Venetian plaster the same as plaster of Paris?
Plaster of Paris is very dense and hard once cured. Venetian Plaster is an acrylic and gypsum product that accepts acrylic paints very well. It must be built up in thin layers. When using acrylic paints, dilute them with water so they are more readily absorbed into the plaster.
What texture is Venetian plaster?
Despite its think, textural appearance, Venetian plaster is actually soft and smooth to the touch.
How long does Venetian plaster last?
Now, does Venetian Plaster last 400 years or longer? Well, in a country that values longevity, Venetian Plaster is the first choice for wall and ceiling finishes. In interiors it will easily last that long – or even longer!
What color is Venetian plaster?
Venetian plasters are natural materials made of lime and marble powders. Therefore, although you can tint Venetian plasters in any color, some hues that remind soft earth tones suit them better. For example, colors such as grey, beige, cream, and ivory recall stones and marbles.
Is Venetian plaster outdated?
The age-old surface treatment of Venetian plaster is making a comeback in modern homes. Mostly used on interior walls or ceilings, it mimics the multi-toned, three-dimensional effect of natural stone—without the need for lugging and installing heavy slabs of real marble or limestone.
Does Venetian plaster crack?
Venetian plaster is more likely to crack in older homes where there is movement or even subsidence, and especially where the product was applied several decades before. Some of the most common factors that can cause Venetian plaster to crack include: Continuous high winds.
How expensive is Venetian plaster?
Venetian plaster typically costs $10–$25 per square foot to apply.
Is Venetian plaster shiny?
It is a natural plaster found in the exterior and interior walls of the Venetian buildings. The surface is smooth and slightly shiny, with light contrasts giving a sense of depth.
Is Venetian plaster cheaper than tiles?
Venetian plaster gives your walls a spectacular finish, whilst also being water resistant and much more affordable than tiles.
How do you make Venetian plaster look?
0:059:59How to Make Venetian Plaster Look Like Polished Stone - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd I work with gold and paint works today we're gonna be showing you a classic three coatMoreAnd I work with gold and paint works today we're gonna be showing you a classic three coat application in stucco Veneziano. Using the product from golden paint works venetian plaster.
What is venetian plaster?
Venetian plaster (sometimes known as lime plaster) is essentially a putty made from fired limestone or marble dust mixed with water. As the surface is burnished after application, it develops a finish that has the look of genuine marble. Traditionally, a Venetian plaster surface achieved its effect through the use of unique materials applied by ...
How to burnish a Venetian plaster?
To burnish, rub the surface with very fine sandpaper (400- or 600-grit) using a circular motion. Clean the surface with a damp cloth.
How to burnish a surface with a trowel?
You can also create a good sheen and add protection to the surface by using paste wax for the topcoat. Apply a thin coat of wax with a trowel, and then burnish the surface by rubbing it with the side of the trowel.
What do I need to paint a Venetian wall?
The most basic Venetian plaster finish requires only a steel trowel and the plaster material. New drywall requires a preliminary coat of primer or flat wall paint, so you may also need an array of basic painting supplies.
How long does plaster need to dry before applying plaster?
Clean off the trowel from time to time to keep dried plaster from getting into your finish. Let the plaster dry thoroughly (about four hours) before applying the next coat.
Is venetian plaster the same as paint?
Venetian plaster is different from paint, and knowing how to paint a room does not automatically make you competent with Venetian plaster. A little time spent practicing with this new material will help you gain confidence and skill.
Can you do Venetian plaster yourself?
Traditionally, a Venetian plaster surface achieved its effect through the use of unique materials applied by a skilled craftsman. Fortunately, newer products have made it possible for do-it-yourselfers to create similar results in just a few steps and with no special training. Even better, today's products contain acrylic polymers ...
What is Venetian plaster?
Originating in Venice, Italy, Venetian plaster gained widespread popularity in the Roman Empire as a means to imitate natural stone surfaces inside of palazzos, villas, and cathedrals. Artisans would blend lime plaster with marble dust and pigments to create the compound Venetian plaster, then trowel it onto walls or ceilings in multiple thin layers with short, overlapping strokes. Professional painters still use this authentic method today, but most do-it-yourselfers choose to mimic the look with either a homemade plaster finish of tinted joint compound and tinted glaze or ready-to-apply cans of synthetic paint formulated to look like Venetian plaster. Whatever method you choose for the interior walls and ceilings in living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms, you’re sure to end up with the luxurious look of natural stone without the expensive and cumbersome installation.
How much does it cost to make Venetian plaster?
You can achieve a homemade Venetian plaster finish for roughly $6 to $11 per 100 square feet , considering you’ll need $2 to $3 for pre-mixed joint compound, $0.10 to $0.50 for latex colorant, and $4 to $7 for tinted glaze. That’s a bargain compared to the material cost of ready-to-apply cans of synthetic Venetian plaster (which run $18 to $33 per 100 square feet) and authentic lime Venetian plaster (which costs $32 to $84 or more per 100 square feet for materials alone).
How do I apply Venetian plaster to a ceiling?
First, prep the space to be treated. Whether you intend to apply homemade Venetian plaster to the walls or ceiling (or both), lay drop cloths beneath the surface you intend to finish to protect it from paint splatter. Remove all hangings and fixtures from the surface and fill any holes with spackling paste. Let the paste cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then lightly sand the spackled areas with a 100-grit sandpaper.
How long does it take for plaster to dry?
Meanwhile, a professional will take significantly longer to apply authentic lime Venetian plaster, which could require up to ten days of drying time between coats.
Is homemade paint better than synthetic paint?
Of the two DIY-friendly methods, the homemade treatment is more forgiving than the synthetic paint. Its joint compound is malleable, dries slowly, and can easily be wiped away and re-applied if you make a mistake. But keep in mind that the homemade treatment requires more initial labor, since you need to tint the compound.
Can you remove plaster from a Venetian wall?
Removing a Venetian plaster treatment can be a messy and time-consuming process, no matter which technique you used to apply it. All three surface treatments—joint compound, synthetic Venetian plaster paint, and authentic lime Venetian plaster—are designed to be permanent. If you do change your mind about the treatment, you would need to run an electric sander over the finished surface until smooth. This process can result in a hefty amount of debris and clean-up work.
How to do Venetian plaster finish?
Preparing for the application process minimizes the mess and speeds the clean up. Empty the room. If this isn’t possible, cover the furniture with plastic, and tape the plastic with low tack painter’s tape to keep it tightly secured to the furniture its protecting.
How to finish a Venetian plaster wall?
The first step of a Venetian plaster finish begins with selecting the colors you want your plaster to be when it’s on your wall . While installing the plaster isn’t a difficult process, it is a time-consuming process, so making the best color choices the first time saves you time, money and frustration. Choose colors you enjoy looking ...
How long does it take for venetian plaster to dry?
Let the first coat of venetian plaster dry for approximately four hours — it’s dry when it has a matte or flat finish. Once the first coat is dry, apply the second coat of plaster. Apply this coat in a skip-trowel fashion: meaning you’re applying a second color of plaster over the top of the first, but skipping sections of the wall so the first coat can be seen.
What is the darkening and shining plaster?
The darkening and shining plaster that appears is the burnished plaster. Add as much or as little burnishing as you like. This is a personal preference. Seal your Venetian plaster with a sealant that’s painted on the wall, just as a traditional paint is applied.
How to get the texture of Venetian plaster?
Sand as much of the texture from your wall as possible, but take care not to sand through the drywall. Wipe down the walls and plastic tarp with cloths. Vacuum thoroughly and repeat the wipe down.
Do you need powder plaster colorant?
If you’re coloring your plaster prior to putting it on the wall, you’ll need powder plaster colorant as well. Purchase your colorant when you purchase your plaster. All of these tools are available at your local home improvement center. Using the Venetian Plaster Finish Technique.
What is used to burnish venetian plaster?
When applying the final layer of Venetian Plaster, there’s a special technique which is used to burnish the surface with a special steel trowel to give a glass like sheen that creates the impression of magnificent depth and texture. Tools for venetian plastering include the use of a round edged plastering trowel.
What is Venetian plaster made of?
Traditional Venetian Plaster, otherwise known as marble plaster, Italian plaster or polished plaster is made of lime putty and marble dust and gives a highly polished finish to walls and ceilings, which can look like stunning marble itself. As a result it’s very often used successfully for decorative effect.
Is venetian plaster hypoallergenic?
It’s popular, not only for the striking and luxurious effect that it gives, but also because lime based venetian plaster is made with less harmful chemicals, which makes it hypoallergenic, as well as mould and algae resistant, not to mention the fact that venetian plaster can also regulate humidity.
Is Venetian Bronze The Same As Oil Rubbed Bronze?
Oil rubbed bronze, and Venetian bronze are not the same thing. Although both finishes are commonly available in varying types for your bathroom and kitchen faucets and hardware, there are a few differences that can help you determine which is right for your home.
What Is Venetian Bronze Finish?
Venetian bronze finish is lighter than the rich, deep, chocolatey color of oil-rubbed bronze. This finish is smooth, matte, and does not have an oily residue. Since Venetian bronze is hand-finished, the variations are unique and feature beautiful golden highlights.
What is Oil Rubbed Bronze?
Oil rubbed bronze does vary based on the company, but it is usually a deep, luxurious chocolatey color. Designed to imitate antique bronze, this finish has copper undertones that complement the deep color.
Presentation
Both of these finishes present beautifully, with stunning colors that complement the copperish undertones. While the Venetian bronze is lighter and comes in a powder-coated finish, the oil-rubbed bronze is deeper in color and has a slightly oily residue. When it comes to presentation, the primary difference is the slight variation in coloring.
Maintenance
Maintaining these finishes is somewhat more complex than an average faucet or piece of hardware. The wax coating that protects the piece is stripped when installing, so it is essential to protect the finish with a layer of furniture wax. No need to go overboard with the protectant; a slight coating will do.
Cleaning
Water spots, especially on faucets, are very common. To help avoid water splotches or hard water buildup, use a soft cloth to wipe down the faucet after running water, whether showering, washing your hands, or cleaning dishes. Showing your faucet a little love goes a long way for maintaining the gorgeous finish.
Pricing
Oil rubbed bronze is a touch cheaper than Venetian bronze, as the latter is hand-finished. With that said, both finishes do come in around the same price within a few cents difference. Pricing will vary based on the type of hardware or faucet you get, but the Venetian bronze typically is slightly more expensive than the oil-rubbed bronze finish.
What is venetian bronze?
Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Venetian bronze and oil-rubbed bronze are two finishes that are commonly available in drawer and door pulls, as well as in faucets for the bath or kitchen. The two are very similar, both in appearance as well as in the proper care that is necessary ...
What is the difference between oil rubbed bronze and venetian bronze?
It will feel slightly oily to the touch. Venetian bronze is a lighter color that comes in a powder-coated finish. While it reflects more light than oil-rubbed bronze, it is still a matte finish.
Does bronze oxidize?
Venetian bronze and oil-rubbed bronze will oxidize over time. This will change their appearance slightly. The final appearance will be close to aged copper and is very pleasing to the eye. Regular maintenance is still required to protect the finish, even after it has oxidized. Wax both finishes regularly, and clean them with a soft cloth daily to remove the oils from your hands that transfer to the metal.
