How To Care For Venetian Plaster Walls

A well-made plaster wall asks very little of you, which is part of its appeal: while paint is being redone, plaster is quietly getting older and better. But the little it asks matters, and it depends on how the wall was finished. Three minutes here will keep your walls right for decades.

First, know your finish

Waxed walls, the most common domestic finish, carry a thin beeswax layer that deepens the colour and sheds everyday marks. Sealed walls, usual in bathrooms and commercial spaces, carry a sealer or varnish system and tolerate more serious cleaning. Bare lime, left unwaxed for the driest, most matte look, is the most breathable and the most absorbent, and wants the gentlest hand. If you are unsure which you have, wipe an inconspicuous corner with a damp cloth: water beads on wax and sealer, and darkens briefly on bare lime.

Everyday cleaning

Dust with a soft dry cloth or a soft brush. Marks on waxed and sealed surfaces lift with a soft cloth wrung out in warm water; work gently, without scrubbing at one spot. For anything more stubborn on a waxed wall, a solution of Marseille soap does two jobs at once: it cleans, and it feeds the surface a whisper of new protection. On tadelakt this is the classic regime, and the wall genuinely improves with washing.

The short list of nevers

Never acidic cleaners: no vinegar, no limescale removers, no citrus sprays. Lime is calcium carbonate and acid dissolves it, dulling the polish permanently. Never abrasives: no scouring pads, no cream cleaners. Never harsh solvents on wax. And never masking tape directly on the finished surface during later decorating; tape to the adjacent surface instead.

Renewing the glow

Every few years, a waxed wall in a busy room enjoys a fresh whisper of wax: applied thin with a pad, allowed to haze, buffed soft. It takes an afternoon and returns the wall to day one. Sealed commercial surfaces are renewed on the schedule set at specification.

Small repairs

Because our material is machine-tinted through the tub, a small chip shows the same colour beneath and often needs nothing at all. For anything larger, keep the labelled leftover tub from your job; a matching repair is then straightforward for an applicator. No leftover tub? We hold your tint reference and can match it again.

If a wall of yours needs advice, photograph it and ask us: the helpline is there for exactly this.