Waxes, Sealers and Coloured Waxes, What Training Teaches

Training in waxes and sealers teaches you how to protect Venetian plaster once it is burnished, and how to add colour and depth with coloured waxes. The protection systems start on the 3 day Beginner Course, and coloured waxes, sealers and blending are covered on the 4 day Advanced Course at the Zavoré Academy in Birmingham.

This guide explains what the protective layer does, what each course teaches, and why skipping this step is a false economy.

What do waxes and sealers do on Venetian plaster?

They protect the finished surface and shape how it looks. A wall that has been plastered and burnished still needs a protective layer, because bare plaster can mark, stain and wear more quickly than a protected one.

The protection also changes the appearance. A wax or sealer can soften or deepen the sheen, bring out the tone of the colour and make the surface easier to live with. That is why protection is taught as part of the finish, not as an afterthought.

The right system depends on the plaster, the room and the look you want, which is exactly what training sorts out. For the basics, our Venetian plaster wax guide is a good starting point.

What does the Beginner Course teach about protection?

The Beginner Course teaches the systems, meaning how many coats each product needs and how to protect the finish. You learn that every plaster comes with its own recommended system, and that following it is part of doing the job properly.

• Why a finish needs protecting once it has been burnished.
• How each product has its own sequence of coats and protection.
• How protection is applied to Marmorino, polished plaster and metallics.
• How to avoid the common mistake of leaving a wall unprotected.

It is 3 days, from 10am to 5pm, at £750 per person, with no experience needed and up to six students. See the Beginner Course page, or read Venetian plastering training for beginners for the whole syllabus.

What do coloured waxes and blending add on the Advanced Course?

The Advanced Course adds coloured waxes, sealers and the skill of blending colours and waxes. Here protection becomes part of the design, because wax can carry colour as well as shield the surface.

• Coloured waxes. Waxes that add a tone, shadow or warmth to the plaster.
• Sealers. A protective layer chosen to suit the finish and the room.
• Blending. Combining colours and waxes to build depth and subtle variation across a wall.
• Tinting. Setting the colour of the plaster that the wax will sit on.

This is detailed work, because wax can look different on different tones and different sheens. You practise on panels with a tutor, and you keep the panels afterwards. The Advanced Course is 4 days, £1,200 per person, for beginners who have done the first course and people from site. See inside the Advanced Course or the Advanced Course page.

Wax or sealer, what is the difference?

A wax is rubbed or worked into the surface and builds a soft, hand finished sheen. A sealer forms a protective layer over the plaster. Which one a job needs is set by the product system, which your tutor explains.

Do not treat the table as a rulebook. Each product has its own instructions, and training shows you how to read them and why they matter. Related guidance is in how to maintain Venetian plaster.

Why does the protective layer matter for durability?

Because it is the layer that people touch, clean and splash. A beautiful finish with poor protection will not stay beautiful, and a client will blame the plasterer.

Protection decides how a wall copes with everyday life. Hands, furniture, cleaning and humidity all work on the surface, and the right wax or sealer is what stands between them and the plaster. Getting it wrong shows up late, long after the job is paid for, which is why tutors spend real time on it.

It also protects your reputation. Applicators who protect every wall to the product system build a body of work that lasts. Every seat includes all materials and tools, so you can try several systems on your panels, plus a Zavoré certificate, a private course group with a helpline for life and a trade account with ten percent off every material, applied automatically. For all dates see the training page, and for a course built round waxes alone, ask about the 1 to 1 Training at £1,500 for 3 days.

Questions about waxes and sealers training

Are waxes taught on the Beginner Course?

Yes, protection is part of the systems you learn on the Beginner Course. Coloured waxes, sealers and blending are covered in more depth on the Advanced Course.

What is a coloured wax?

A coloured wax is a wax that carries a tone, so it protects the plaster and also adds depth or warmth to the finish. You learn to blend colours and waxes on the Advanced Course.

Do all plasters need wax or a sealer?

Each product has its own protection system, which the course teaches you to follow. Your tutor explains what each product needs.

Can I focus on waxes on a 1 to 1 course?

Yes. The 1 to 1 Training is shaped entirely around what you want to learn, so waxes and sealers can be the focus.

Do I take samples home?

You take home your finished panels, which can include the protected finishes you practised, as a portfolio for clients.

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