The Venetian Plastering Skills Checklist After Training

After training in Venetian plaster you should be able to explain how a wall is built up, prepare and base coat a surface, create a range of textures, work Marmorino, polished plaster and metallics, and protect the finish, with the Advanced Course adding specialist techniques such as vein work and high gloss polishing. This checklist is based only on what the Zavoré courses teach, so you can see where you are and what to practise next.

Use it as a self check after the Beginner Course, after the Advanced Course, or as you practise at home.

What should you be able to do after the Beginner Course?

After the 3 day Beginner Course you should understand the whole sequence of a Venetian plaster wall and have practised each stage on panels. Control and consistency then grow with practice.

• Theory. Explain what Venetian plaster is, how the materials behave and how a wall is built up layer by layer.
• Preparation. Prepare a surface and apply primer and base coats.
• Textures. Create a wide range of textures by changing trowel movement, pressure and coat thickness.
• Systems. Know how many coats each product needs and how to protect the finish.
• Marmorino. Work the satin lime finish from bucket to burnish.
• Polished plaster. Build and burnish a polished plaster finish.
• Metallics. Apply and finish a metallic plaster.

The course needs no experience and costs £750 per person. See the Beginner Course page, or read inside the Beginner Course for how the days run.

What should you be able to do after the Advanced Course?

After the 4 day Advanced Course you should be able to take on specialist finishes and explain the difference between lime and acrylic systems. It builds on the Beginner Course skills.

• Deeper theory. Explain why materials and systems behave as they do.
• Artificial rock. Build a rock effect finish.
• Textured Marmorino. Add texture to a Marmorino finish.
• Stencil work. Carry a pattern or design into plaster.
• Acrylic polish plastering. Work acrylic polished plaster and explain how it differs from lime.
• Vein work. Draw veins through plaster.
• Sanding and polishing. Use sanding techniques and polish to a high gloss.
• Colour. Tint, use coloured waxes and sealers, and blend colours and waxes.

Advanced students also get help to find, price and win a first paid decorative job. See the Advanced Course page and inside the Advanced Course.

What good habits belong on every checklist?

Good habits matter as much as techniques, because they keep every finish consistent. These apply whatever course you took.

1. Prepare the surface properly before any finish goes on.
2. Work in thin, even coats and allow each one to be ready.
3. Keep your trowel and tools clean.
4. Keep a steady, even pressure when burnishing.
5. Protect every finish with the right wax or sealer.
6. Make a sample board before you start a client's wall, as in testing colour with sample boards.

Many of these link directly to common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them.

How do you keep ticking items off after training?

You keep ticking items off by repeating each stage on panels, then on small areas, and using the course group and helpline when something is unclear. A checklist is only useful if you return to it, so tick items off honestly and note the ones that need more panels. Revisit it after every few practice sessions, and add your own items, such as a colour you want to master or a finish you want to try next.

After the course you have trade pricing on Zavoré materials, a private course group and a helpline for life. Trade accounts give ten percent off every material, applied automatically. See the trade page. If you are still choosing a course, read how long Venetian plastering training takes, or compare the options on the training page. If you want a checklist built around your own goals, 1 to 1 Training is 3 days at £1,500 and is shaped around what you want to learn.

Questions about Venetian plaster training

What skills should I have after a Venetian plastering course?

After the Beginner Course you should understand the build up of a wall, preparation, base coats, textures, coat systems and protection, and the Marmorino, polished plaster and metallic finishes. The Advanced Course adds specialist techniques.

Will I be able to work on clients' walls straight after the course?

The course gives you a foundation and practice on panels, but confidence and consistency grow with practice afterwards. Start on panels and small areas, and use the helpline when you are unsure.

What does the Zavoré certificate show?

The Zavoré certificate records the course you completed. Your finished panels, which you take home, show the standard of your own work.

What extra skills does the Advanced Course add?

It adds artificial rock, textured Marmorino, stencil work, acrylic polish plastering, vein work, sanding, high gloss polishing, tinting, coloured waxes and sealers, and blending colours and waxes.

To book, call 07592 929191, email sales@zavore.co.uk or visit the training page. A bench can be held with half the price and the rest paid on the day, or you can book online and pay in full. Course dates are confirmed by email within 24 hours of booking.