From Skimming to Venetian Plaster, Training for Plasterers

A plasterer already has most of what Venetian plastering needs, which is trowel control, wall reading and preparation. The new skills are thin coats, burnishing, colour and protective waxes, and they are taught on the Zavoré Academy courses in Birmingham.

This guide is written for plasterers who skim, render and board for a living and wonder how a Venetian finish differs, which course fits, and how it could add a premium service to the work you already do.

What does a plasterer already bring?

You bring the foundations that take longest to build, which are a feel for the trowel, an eye for a flat wall and good site habits.

• Trowel control. You already know how angle and pressure change what the plaster does.
• Reading a wall. You can spot a poor substrate, a hollow or a damp problem before the material goes on.
• Preparation. You understand that the finish is only as good as what is under it. Our guide to preparing walls for Venetian plaster shows how much that matters here.
• Working to a line. Straight edges, clean returns and tidy corners count for more on a thin, polished surface.
• Site discipline. Protecting floors, managing mixing and cleaning tools carry straight over.

What changes when you move from skimming to Venetian plaster?

The aim changes from a flat, ready to paint surface to a finished surface that people will look at and touch. That shifts how you apply, how long you work a coat and what you do at the end.

Lime based systems also behave differently from a standard skim coat. You learn which products suit which walls, and how many coats each needs. Our guide to lime and acrylic Venetian plaster explains the two families.

Which course suits a plasterer?

Most plasterers who have never used Venetian plaster should start with the Beginner Course, because it teaches the systems and finishes from the first coat. The Advanced Course is open to people from site, so ask us if you already work with decorative plaster.

• Beginner Course. 3 days, £750, no experience needed. It covers theory, preparation and base coats, a wide range of textures, the systems, and the finishes Marmorino, polished plaster and metallics. See the Beginner Course.
• Advanced Course. 4 days, £1,200. It is for beginners who have done the first course or people from site. It adds artificial rock, textured Marmorino, stencil work, acrylic polish plastering, vein work, sanding, high gloss polishing, tinting, coloured waxes and sealers. See the Advanced Course.
• 1 to 1 Training. 3 days, £1,500, any level, shaped around what you want to learn, such as a finish you plan to quote for. See 1 to 1 training.

For a closer look at the second course, read advanced Venetian plastering training. If you wonder how long each takes, see how long Venetian plastering training takes.

How does it add a premium service to your plastering?

It lets you offer clients a finish, not only a surface, so you can sell the same wall at a different level. Most of the work is in the preparation you already do.

1. Finish the course and take home your panels, which are your first portfolio.
2. Offer a Venetian finish on feature walls, fireplaces or hallways in jobs you already have. Our guide to Venetian plaster room by room helps you suggest where it suits.
3. Quote carefully, allowing for the layers, drying and protection. Read pricing Venetian plaster jobs before your first quote.
4. Buy materials on a trade account, which gives ten percent off every material, applied automatically (trade page).
5. Use the private course group and helpline for life when a job throws up a question. Advanced students also get help to find, price and win a first paid decorative job.

You can look at the finishes themselves on our Marmorino and polished plaster pages. Zavoré also installs Venetian plaster across the UK with its own applicators, so it helps to see how the work is done.

Questions about Venetian plastering training for plasterers

Can a plasterer learn Venetian plastering?

Yes. A plasterer already has trowel control, wall reading and preparation skills. The course teaches the new parts, which are thin coats, burnishing, colour, lime systems and waxes.

Is Venetian plastering different from skimming?

Yes. Skimming gives a flat surface that is painted. Venetian plaster is a finished decorative surface built in thin layers and burnished, so imperfections show.

Should a plasterer do the Beginner or Advanced Course?

If you have never used Venetian plaster, start with the 3 day Beginner Course. The Advanced Course is open to people from site, so call us if you already work with decorative plaster.

What does a plasterer take home from the course?

You take home your finished panels for a portfolio and a Zavoré certificate. You also get trade pricing on Zavoré materials and a private course group with a helpline for life.

Can my plastering team train together?

You can book more than one bench on a course, and you can ask us about team training. Up to six students attend each course.

To book a bench, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. You can hold a seat with half the price and pay the rest on the day. Dates are on the training page and are confirmed by email within 24 hours of booking.