Venetian Plaster Information and Considerations

Before you start a Venetian Plaster project, these are some of the frequently asked questions and important information and considerations you should be aware of.

What is Venetian plaster?

Venetian plaster is a plaster made from a limestone putty and marble powders and has been used for centuries for its water resistant and decorative qualities. Many wall finishes can be achieved, from glossy to matte and smooth to textured depending on application techniques and tools used.

Where can I use Venetian plaster?

Venetian plaster can be used in many areas of your home or business from walls and ceilings including wet areas such as bathrooms and splash backs. It can also be used as an exterior finish in most cases.

Planning your project

To obtain the best possible finish, venetian plaster must be considered from the early stages of a build – substrates must be prepared correctly and optimal lighting need be considered to achieve best results. Before the application it is advised to make sure all plumbing and electrical are already in correct positions to avoid any patches, which can be costly and takes from the overall beauty of the surface.

Preparation requirements

All substrates are to be prepared prior to venetian plaster application.

For venetian plaster projects:

All plasterboard walls need to be finished to a level 4 finish with one rolled coat of paint sealer (Dulux 1 step prep is our preferred product) or two coats of sprayed paint. Venetian plaster can be applied over bare hard set plaster. If applying over render – a steel trowelled finish is needed.

Venetian plaster cannot be applied over a mdf with melamine coating. It can be applied over raw mdf with joins plastered with fibafuse plasterers tape only and all screw and nail holes to be filled prior to venetian plaster application.

All expansion / control joints to be installed in substrate prior to our finish. Our masking tape may damage painted surface when removed, so please allow for paint repair or final coats after our application.

For micro cement wet area projects:

Substrates to follow the same preparation as Venetian plaster outlined above prior to waterproofing but no paint sealers are required.

Micro cement finish is 3-4mm thick, therefore care is to be taken with waterproofing surface to be free of wrinkles and lumps – a 10mm nap roller is recommended for a smooth flat finish. Builder to ensure all fitting penetrations will be covered prior to application as our product cannot fill holes.

Expectations and maintenance / cleaning

Venetian plaster is limestone and should be treated as a stone surface. Lime will absorb any stains if not treated with correct sealers and if it is used in an unsuitable area. Spirit based cleaners are to be avoided, in most cases soapy water will be sufficient for cleaning your walls. Our finishes are hand troweled and all work is one of a kind – the beauty of venetian plaster is in its imperfections which gives you that natural look that you won’t be able to resist running your hands over. If you’re after a perfect flat finish venetian plaster may not be what you are after on your project.