Venetian Plastering Training for Lincoln

Lincoln has no Venetian plastering training of its own, so the way to learn is to join a course at the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham. People from Lincoln and Lincolnshire come to the Academy for 3 or 4 days, then take what they have learnt back to the county.

The training is for decorators and plasterers, restorers and builders, designers, people moving into a new trade and homeowners who want a hands on skill. You can start without any plastering background.

Lincoln, its old buildings and its new ones

Lincoln is dominated by its cathedral and castle on the hill, and that setting shapes the sort of properties decorators meet. Old and new sit side by side, and each asks for a different kind of finish.

Uphill, around Steep Hill and Bailgate, the streets are lined with medieval, Georgian and later buildings, some of them listed. Solid walls like these were originally built with lime, so a breathable lime based plaster such as Marmorino respects the way the building handles moisture. Owners and hospitality businesses here often want character that matches the history around them.

Downhill, the city has Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas, and the area around the Brayford Pool has seen modern apartments, bars, restaurants and hotels. With the University of Lincoln nearby, there is also student and rental housing. Flat modern walls are ideal for polished plaster, and bathrooms in new flats suit tadelakt or microcement.

Outside the city, Lincolnshire has market towns, villages and farmhouses, many built from local limestone, along with barn conversions and larger country houses. A Lincoln decorator with Venetian plaster in their toolkit can work across a very wide area, and can offer owners of older houses a finish that suits their buildings.

Deciding which course to take from Lincoln

If you are new to Venetian plaster, the Beginner Course is the place to start. Those who already plaster or who have finished the Beginner Course can look at the Advanced Course, and anyone can ask for 1 to 1 Training. Dates are on the training page, where you can also register interest.

• Beginner Course takes 3 days at £750 per person and suits those with no experience.
• Advanced Course takes 4 days at £1,200 per person and suits Beginner graduates and people from site.
• 1 to 1 Training takes 3 days at £1,500 and suits any level, built on your own list.

Classes run from 10am to 5pm for up to six students. The Beginner Course shows how Venetian plaster behaves, how to prepare a surface, and how to build a wall in layers to a burnished Marmorino, polished plaster or metallic finish. The Advanced Course adds stencil work, vein work, sanding and tinting. If you restore older houses and want to concentrate on lime based finishes, 1 to 1 Training can follow that path. Our guide to the Beginner Course shows what to expect.

Planning the journey from Lincoln to Birmingham

Students from Lincoln travel to Birmingham by train or by car. Birmingham is central in England, which is why the Academy draws people from all over the country and abroad.

A course of 3 or 4 days means you will probably want somewhere to stay. Zavoré holds a partner rate at a hotel near the Academy, so quote Zavoré when you book. Pickup from an airport or station can be arranged with your booking, and the price varies with where you arrive.

Reserve a bench with half the course price and pay the balance on the day. Phone 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. Booking online is paid in full.

Taking Venetian plaster home to Lincolnshire

You return with your finished panels, a Zavoré certificate and trade pricing on materials. Panels help when talking to an owner of a Georgian or Victorian house, who can see and feel the finish at the kitchen table.

The private course group and helpline are there for life, and the Advanced Course includes help to find, price and win a first paid decorative job.

You can see how Zavoré installs finishes by reading Venetian plastering in Lincoln. The shop provides materials with tracked UK delivery.

Questions about Venetian plastering training for Lincoln

Is there Venetian plastering training in Lincoln?

No. The courses are taught at the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham, and students from Lincoln and Lincolnshire travel there by train or by car.

Can I use Venetian plaster on a listed or historic building?

Lime based finishes such as Marmorino suit old, solid walls because they let moisture move through. For any listed building, follow the advice that applies to that property before you start.

Who is the Advanced Course for?

It is for people who have done the Beginner Course and for people who already work on site. It lasts 4 days.

Where can I see the course dates?

Course dates are shown on the Zavoré training page. If no dates are set, you can register your interest there.

To book, ring 07592 929191, email sales@zavore.co.uk or visit the training page.