How to apply Venetian marble plaster with your own hands
Choosing a material for wall decoration is not easy. It must be beautiful, practical, durable and, preferably, inexpensive. Venetian plaster meets almost all of these requirements. It is beautiful - it looks like natural marble, it is practical - the surface covered with wax can be washed repeatedly, it is durable - if you do not scratch it on purpose, it will not be damaged, it can be applied to any surface - even, curved. Just the perfect finishing material. But, as usual there is a "but". She is expensive. This is the first disadvantage. The second is that it is difficult to apply it with your own hands. Rather, it is not difficult to apply, it is difficult to obtain a beautiful surface without experience. But you can try or hire a master. But before entering into a contract, ask for customer contacts. If you succeed, see the results of the work yourself, or call and ask about your impressions.
The content of the article
What is Venetian plaster and its composition
If the wall looks like a marble surface, but there are no seams on it, it is finished with Venetian plaster. This finishing material was invented centuries ago in ancient Rome. When someone came up with the idea of mixing marble dust and slaked lime. The result was an elastic composition that looked like natural marble on the walls. For a clearer pattern, natural dyes were added to the mixture.
Venetian plaster is applied to walls, ceilings, columns
The most popular was clay. The walls had reddish or pinkish (depending on the color of the clay) streaks, which made the decoration more similar to natural marble. To make the coating durable, the plastered surface was covered with a layer of wax, which was then polished. The walls were indistinguishable from marble. Only there were no seams.
And only centuries later, during the Renaissance, Venetian plaster appeared in Venice, where it was used instead of marble slabs. The technique was not straightforward, but working with Venetian plaster is much easier than fitting and sanding marble slabs. Therefore, this type of decoration has become very popular. She decorated walls, ceilings, columns in palaces. The finish was beautiful and durable, reacted poorly to changes in humidity and temperature, which in the conditions of high humidity of the Venetian canals led to literally the widespread use of this material. The popularity was also promoted by the fact that it is easier to bring marble dust, and it costs less. The rest of the components were added locally mined. The fame of the most beautiful decoration material spread quickly by merchants, and they called it Venetian plaster. Since then, it has become the custom.
Decorative Italian plaster can be light or saturated colors
The composition of the Venetian plaster described above - marble dust, hydrated lime and coloring additives - is still used today. Completely natural finish. But there are compositions in which synthetic dyes (acrylic) are added or modern binders are used instead of lime. There may also be the sap of rubber trees, crushed granite. All or some of the additives are contained - depending on the manufacturer, but this material is also called Venetian plaster, since the main component - marble dust - remains the same.
Application technology
Do-it-yourself Venetian plastering is difficult.The problem is that this is a creative process and ways of applying mass. From different movements, a surface that is different in appearance is obtained. Without experience, it is impossible to predict what you will succeed. You can only find out which movement will lead to which result experimentally, that is, you have to try. But. Venetian plaster is not cheap at all, so the experience is expensive. Although, it is necessary to study somehow ...
Application techniques are different, the look is very, very diverse
The only thing that can be advised is to plaster a piece of plywood with an area of at least 1 square, or better 2, sand it, cover it with a primer and try to apply Venetian plaster on this surface, honing the technique. It is not recommended to start finishing immediately. Most likely, everything will have to be removed and redone, which is insulting, expensive, long. If you're lucky, you can get to the dealers who teach how to work with Venetian plaster. They provide material and a stand for work, show how to do it. But this rarely happens.
Preparatory work
The base on which the Venetian plaster is applied must be perfectly flat. It is pre-putty and leveled to absolute smoothness. Use a latex putty. If you apply the composition to an uneven wall, it will only highlight the flaws and increase the consumption of the Venetian. Alignment can be carried out with a base layer, but such an alignment will be very expensive.
This is the wall you can get
A smooth wall is covered with a deep penetration primer. Preferably in two layers. This will ensure good adhesion of the finish, remove dust that remains after sanding the plaster, and prevent the development of fungi. After the wall dries out, you can start working.
Mixing and tinting
Venetian plaster for sale in buckets, it looks pasty. The basic version is white, colors are added to obtain color, there are decorative additives for different effects - mother of pearl, sparkles, etc. You can color the composition in the store or on your own.
For self-tinting, you will need a drill with a stirring attachment. In some cases, the Venetian plaster is covered with a layer of water to prevent it from drying out. In this case, drain the water before using or tinting. Then, using a drill bit, the composition is mixed until smooth. And only after that, the dye is poured into the mass, mixed for several minutes (5-10) using a drill and a nozzle.
Mix well until the color is uniform. In time it takes 10-20 minutes
When mixing, be careful: the composition often does not stain near the sides of the bucket. Taking out the nozzle, take a clean wooden block of small cross-section, run it along the walls. Most likely, there are places where the dye did not get. Run the bar several times along the walls, making sure that the walls have painted material. Mix again with a drill until a uniform color is obtained. This procedure can be repeated one more time - for more confidence. There is one more nuance: some manufacturers recommend waiting 12 hours after staining.
When self-tinting, it must be remembered that some formulations change color when dry (not all). Therefore, to determine the future color, you need to make samples: apply a couple of strokes and wait until it dries. According to the results, either add a dye, or an uncolored composition.
Also remember that manual tinting will not repeat the same color. The new batch will be different. Therefore, the material must be painted in a larger quantity than the consumption is supposed to be: it is better that something remains than not enough.
Layer rules
Layers when applying Venetian plaster can be from two to ten. It all depends on the desired result. And the correspondence between the “desired result” and the actual one is a matter of experience.
You can do this kind of beauty with your own hands ... if you practice before that
The layers are applied in different ways, but each of them is leveled and sanded until smooth, each must be allowed to dry. And only after applying and drying the latter, the surface can be covered with wax - beeswax or synthetic. Depending on the type of wax, either a glossy surface (beeswax) or a matte surface (on a synthetic base) is obtained. The walls covered with a synthetic protective compound also become water and moisture resistant, so if you want to decorate the walls in the bathroom with Venetian plaster, take synthetic wax.
Base
The first layer is the base. It is applied evenly, according to the rules for applying ordinary plaster - it must be even. It can be tinted or not. Depends on whether you want the background to be white or colored. If 2-3 layers of material are applied, it will shine through them. If there are 5 or more layers, most likely it will not be visible (again, it depends on the type of composition).
A small amount of the composition is applied to the trowel and rubbed along the wall
To find out exactly, read the manufacturer's recommendations or watch master classes on how to apply Venetian plaster. And to feel the difference, try to do this and that on a piece of plywood. It is safer.
Second and subsequent
The second layer of Venetian plaster, and all subsequent ones, are applied with chaotic strokes. The composition is taken on a flexible thin metal spatula or a special Venetian trowel. The composition is applied to the edge of the trowel / trowel, applied with small strokes in different directions to the wall. In this case, one must try to not see the trace from the first touch of the tool to the surface. The subsequent smear, as it were, closes, lubricates this place. Moreover, you should not seek uniformity. The whole point is in the chaos of directions, shapes, lines, bends. About the same as in natural marble.
Application of the second coat - chaotic or in one direction - depends on the desire
Venetian plaster dries in 1-10 hours - depending on composition, manufacturer, temperature and humidity. See the package for the exact time. After drying, the surface is rubbed with a dry trowel. This smoothes out all the differences that remained after applying the layer. The next layer is applied to the cleaned surface, dries up, smoothed out. And so on until you get the desired result. And the result - usually like this - through thin layers, darker stripes shine through in those places where, when applied, the composition lay more densely. The depth and brightness with which the stripes "show through" depends on the number of layers applied.
Finishing
The last layer of Venetian plaster must be applied with a thin metal spatula. The technique is called "sdir" and the layer is almost transparent. A little of the composition is taken on a spatula, applied to the wall, tightly pressing the blade, collect the composition from the wall back. This leaves a very thin layer of material on the wall. At this stage, you must try to make the surface even. Small irregularities will be removed when grouting, but you must try.
This is a tool for applying Venetian plaster - a special trowel
Ironing
The last thin layer of Venetian plaster is not completely dried. After 20-50 minutes, we begin to iron the surface. Please note that some formulations need to be ironed in small areas. We applied Venetian plaster to a small area (about half a square meter) and wiped it off. Other manufacturers allow longer periods of time. You should definitely look at the packaging or ask the manufacturers.
The ironing process itself is grouting with a dry clean metal surface. We take a clean Venetian trowel without scars, scratches or other defects and smooth the surface with circular movements.In the process, a pattern appears, shine appears, gradually Venetian plaster acquires "depth" and layering, which is characteristic of natural marble.
After ironing, a pattern appears, the wall becomes marble-like, has a light silky shine
When ironing Venetian plaster, you must carefully monitor so that no scratches or tears are formed. To do this, there should be no grains of sand, grains of material, etc. on the trowel. You also need to iron the wall with the plane of the trowel, without touching its edges. We process a small section at a time, when a drawing appears on it, we move to another section, not forgetting to pay attention to the boundaries of the two sections.
Ironing Venetian plaster can be the last step. In this state, you can leave the walls or ceiling in the rooms. For corridors, baths, kitchens, a protective wax coating is required.
Waxing
The wax is applied after the Venetian plaster is completely dry. For confidence it is better to wait a day. The wax is applied with a wide spatula in a thin layer "on the sder". The thick layer begins to flake off and peel off over time, so we leave a minimum on the wall.
After applying beeswax, the wall becomes glossy
About 30-50 minutes after application, we begin to polish the wax. A fluffy attachment for a drill or grinder is suitable for this. The pile of the attachment should be short and soft, and should not fray. We set the speed to no more than 3000 rpm. At higher rpms, the wax is erased rather than polished. Polishing continues until the desired gloss is obtained (depending on the type of wax).
If you need a dull matte finish, use a synthetic wax
Complete drying of the wax - about two weeks. Only after this time can you wipe / wash / rub. When it comes to the bathroom, it's best not to over-exploit it (if possible).
Several application techniques
Stuffing the Venetian plaster case on your own is expensive. At the same time, it is almost impossible to understand from the description what and how to do, how to apply strokes - it is not clear, the phrase “in a chaotic order” does not explain anything at all, because there is still no complete chaos. There is some order or bias of application. So, to make it easier to find your own way, we will tell you at what angle to apply strokes in each layer. So there is a chance that after a couple of tests "on plywood" self-laid Venetian plaster will please you.
The Venetian looks great in the bathroom
Method one: the drawing is not too bright, not very clearly expressed, smooth lines, without sharp transitions. Apply layers like this:
- Base - it is possible without tinting, with a white composition, an even layer, smoothing the surface well. Consumption - 500-600 mg / m2.
- The second layer is tinted material. The slope when moving the trowel is about 30 °. Darker and lighter streaks may remain. Consumption 220-250 mg / m2.
- The third layer is tinted. Pre-sand the edges of a small Venetian trowel with 600-grit sandpaper and remove any dirt. Apply the compound at 45 ° with this trowel. Consumption 80-100 g / m2.
- After 20-30 minutes, iron it, if necessary apply wax and polish.
Venetian plaster looks rich in any interior
Not a bad option with a good effect. A not too heavy technique gives hope that the Venetian plaster will look normal even if applied by a novice without skill. But first test everything on "plywood".
Method two: with a color base, multidirectional strokes in each layer. The application procedure is as follows:
- Base - an even layer, material tinted in the main color, consumption - 500-600 mg / m2.
- First layer. Composition of the same color. Thin strokes, practically “slicker”, alternately in three directions - vertically, horizontally, obliquely. Alternating these directions gradually, fill the surface with thin strokes.
- Second layer.Another color of the material, you can slightly lighter. The strokes are also multidirectional, but slightly smaller in scope.
- Conduct ironing, wipe with wax.
Venetian plaster in the kitchen must be protected with synthetic wax
This method is also not bad if you manage to master multidirectional movements. In this case, do not forget that the strokes should be thin. In general, let's try.
Venetian plaster: video tutorials on application techniques
