Venetian Plastering Training for Guildford

Venetian plastering training for Guildford is available, though not in Guildford itself. The courses run at the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham, and this article is written for Surrey people who are happy to travel there for a few days.

It speaks to decorators with a busy diary, plasterers wanting to move into decorative work, designers and project managers who want to know what good plaster takes, and career changers.

What the Guildford area offers a decorative plasterer

Surrey is one of the more affluent counties in the UK, and Guildford sits at the centre of a market for high quality interiors.

The county town has a historic core around the steep High Street, with Tudor, Georgian and Victorian buildings, and a castle at its heart. Behind it, the suburbs contain Victorian and Edwardian houses, while the villages of the Surrey Hills have timber framed cottages, brick and tile farmhouses and country houses. Old walls such as these were built to breathe, and breathable lime finishes like Marmorino sit comfortably with them. There is more reading about the county in our article on Venetian plaster in Surrey homes.

Guildford is also home to a university and a busy town centre, with new apartment developments and plenty of homes renovated or extended by owners with a budget. Smooth, well lit rooms in modern builds suit polished plaster, and kitchens and bathrooms are good places for microcement or tadelakt.

A Guildford decorator who can offer genuine Venetian plaster has a way to stand out in a crowded, quality conscious market, and to quote work at a higher level than standard painting.

Which Zavoré course should a Guildford student book?

Start with Beginner if you have never worked in Venetian plaster. Pick Advanced if you are ready for the finishes that command the highest prices. Choose 1 to 1 if you want a course built around your own plans.

• Beginner Course runs for 3 days and costs £750 per person, with no experience required.
• Advanced Course runs for 4 days and costs £1,200 per person, for those who have done Beginner or who work on site.
• 1 to 1 Training runs for 3 days and costs £1,500 for any level, with the plan set by you.

Days start at 10am and finish at 5pm. The Beginner Course teaches how a wall is built up in layers and how to protect it. The Advanced Course adds stencil work, acrylic polish plastering and high gloss polishing. A 1 to 1 lets you work on, for instance, a new design or a liquid metal finish. Check the training page for dates, or leave your interest there.

Planning the journey from Guildford to Birmingham

Guildford students can travel to Birmingham by train or by car. Birmingham is central in England, so the same place serves students from the south as well as the north.

A 3 or 4 day course means thinking about where you will stay. Zavoré keeps a partner rate at a hotel close to the Academy, so remember to quote Zavoré. If you would like a lift from the airport or station, ask when you book and the price will depend on where you arrive. Lunch and refreshments are covered each day.

Using your training back in Guildford and Surrey

You return with your own finished panels as a portfolio, a Zavoré certificate and trade pricing on Zavoré materials. The course group and helpline for life stay with you as you take on real walls. Advanced students are helped to find, price and win a first paid decorative job.

When a client wants the finish but not the learning curve, Zavoré installs with its own applicators, as you can see at Venetian plastering in Guildford. Materials are available from the shop with tracked UK delivery.

Questions about Venetian plastering training for Guildford

Where can I do Venetian plastering training near Guildford?

The courses are taught at the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham. Guildford is not a course location, so students from Surrey travel to Birmingham for the days.

Is the training suitable for a decorator with no plastering background?

Yes. The Beginner Course starts with theory and preparation, so you do not need to have plastered before.

Can I bring a colleague?

Yes. Group courses take up to six students, so you can book two benches or more, and you can both reserve with half the price.

What will I be able to do after the course?

You will understand the materials and how a wall is built up, and you will have practised textures and finishes such as Marmorino, polished plaster and metallics on your own panels.

To book from Guildford, ring 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. Upcoming dates are on the training page.