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Where Artistry Begins
Venetian plaster is laid in thin coats with a steel trowel and burnished to bring up a sheen. It is not difficult to start, but it rewards patience and practice. This is a plain step by step guide for beginners and DIYers, covering the kit, the preparation, the coats and the wax. Always follow the technical data sheet for the product you are using, because drying times and coat numbers vary between products.
Venetian plaster is what Zavoré supplies, installs and teaches, and our own team provides Venetian plaster installation across the UK.
The full kit list, with what each tool does, is in Venetian plaster tools. To work out how much plaster to buy, read how much Venetian plaster do I need.
The wall must be sound, dry, clean and flat. Fill cracks and holes, sand them smooth and remove dust. Every bump shows through a polished finish. For plasterboard, joints and screws need filling and sanding. Read how to prepare walls for Venetian plaster.
Apply the primer evenly and let it dry fully. Primer helps the plaster grip and evens out how much the wall absorbs.
Load a little plaster on the trowel and spread it thinly over the wall with short, overlapping strokes in different directions. Hold the trowel at a low angle. The aim is an even, thin coat, not full coverage at any cost. Let it dry.
Lay the second coat even thinner, filling the gaps left by the first. This is where the pattern and depth start to appear.
As the last coat starts to firm up, run a clean trowel over the surface with firm pressure, held almost flat. This compresses the plaster and brings up the sheen. For a higher shine, some finishes take a further thin coat and more burnishing.
Once the plaster is dry, spread a thin layer of wax with the trowel or a cloth and buff it. Wax adds sheen and makes the wall easier to wipe clean. Read how to wax Venetian plaster.
Reading helps, but a day with a trowel in your hand helps more. The Zavoré Academy in Birmingham runs hands on Venetian plastering courses. See our training page.
Yes. Many people do a feature wall themselves. Start with a practice board and a small wall.
Usually at least two, and more for a high polish. Check the product's data sheet.
Yes. A stainless steel Venetian trowel with rounded corners avoids marks and does not stain the plaster.
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