What is Venetian/Polished Plaster?

Venetian plaster is an ancient form of wall finish, whose name hints at its origins in Venice. It seems likely, however, that it goes back even further. It is composed of lime putty, with additives such as ground limestone, ground marble, pigments, and sometimes other additives. Some modern Venetian plasters use acrylic, which enables brighter and deeper colours, and allows for a more polished finish. Venetian plaster is applied in several thin layers, with the final layer being burnished with the trowel, which creates the characteristic shine. It can be finished with waxes or other types of sealant, both to protect it and to add colour or more shine. Venetian plaster is durable, and water resistant, but not waterproof, and should not be used in showers.

What is the difference between Venetian Plaster and Marmorino?

It depends who you are talking to! The industry is renowned for its generous and ambiguous use of terminology and names. In general, Venetian plaster can refer both specifically to the shiny, glossy finish of ‘true’ Venetian plaster, but also to any form of Italian decorative plaster finish. Other names for this shiny finish might be lucido, or lucidato, Italian for ‘shiny’ or ‘polished’. Other companies use yet other names, confusing issues even more. To you as a customer, more important than the name is knowing the type of finish you want.

Marmorino is similar, in that what exactly it refers to depends on which company/producer you are dealing with. Sometimes it’s the shiny Venetian plaster, other times it’s a more textured plaster, with larger aggregate sizes, that can still be burnished, though to a lesser sheen than Venetian.

Then there is Grassello, which is Italian for ‘fatty’. This generally refers to a very fine plaster that can be burnished to a high sheen. With some companies grassello might be a less refined finish than their Venetian, for others a more refined finish, and for yet others it might just be what they call their Venetian.

Another confusing term is Travertino. This will generally refer to a plaster with larger aggregate sizes, which is used to create highly textured and rustic finishes. It is not appropriate if you are looking for a highly polished finish, but it can still be lightly burnished on its higher points.

If you are still confused feel free to drop me a line!

What is Tadelakt?

Tadelakt is a Moroccan finish, composed of layers of lime plaster, sealed with treatments of black olive soap, and polished meticulously with smooth stones. While many companies offer beautiful imitations of Tadelakt, if you are looking to use it in a shower or wetroom you need to make sure you use the genuine process, to ensure that it is waterproof. Tadelakt offers a beautiful shiny finish, but with soft rounded edges and corners. It is even possible to make your bath and sink in Tadelakt!

What is Microcement?

Microcement is the new ‘it’ thing. It is a highly flexible and very strong material, made from cementitious compounds and resins, along with colourants, and is applied in several very thin layers. It is naturally water proof, and with proper sealants can even be used in showers and wet rooms. Its extreme strength, durability, stain resistance, and flexibility allowing it to be installed in locations where more traditional finishes can’t be used. Even more amazing is that microcement can be applied directly onto tiles, saving you the mess and labour costs of removing your old, out of fashion, tiles.

Is Venetian Plaster expensive?

That depends. It’s certainly more expensive than just painting your walls in vinyl paint, but then again it’s also more expensive to paint one of your walls a different colour than the others. The general rules are that the more complicated the process, the larger the area, and the more costly the base materials, the more expensive the finish will be. All that said, Venetian plasters, polished plasters, microcements, faux finishes, and tadelakt can all add a touch of luxury and sophistication at a cost that won’t break the bank. Contact us with your idea and we can give you a rough estimate.

Is Venetian Plaster eco-friendly?

This is a tough one. Certainly most companies offering it will stress that it is, but it does require some close examination. Lime must be mined, refined, transported, and all this has a cost in terms of CO2. Lime is burned in kilns at high temperatures, though not as high as Portland cement.

However, lime plaster does have a strong redeeming feature, which is that its curing process depends on drawing CO2 from the atmosphere! It’s also a strong and long lasting finish, and its beauty makes it less likely that anyone will redecorate over it every few years, as people do with paint. It also doesn’t emit any VOCs.

So, on the whole, I think it’s a good claim, and it’s certainly more eco-friendly than many other decorating alternatives.

Is Venetian Plaster natural?

It depends what we mean by natural. Limestone itself is certainly natural, but you won’t find any Venetian plaster in nature. It has to be mined, burned in a kiln, refined, and have other things mixed into it, such as marble dust and pigments. In this sense it’s no more or less natural than Portland cement (which is also predominantly lime).

Is Venetian Plaster healthy?

This is a much easier one to answer! Yes, it is healthy, much healthier than many other options, like modern plastic based paints that emit toxic VOCs. Lime is a highly alkaline substance, and as such is highly resistant to mold and mildew growth, though this is somewhat reduced as it carbonates. It also ‘transpirates’, which means it absorbs water and then slowly releases it as vapour, which can help with dampness issues.

Can you do a feature wall in my house?

Most likely, yes, but it can depend very much on the substrate (the existing surface). If you have a wall that is liable to crack or move than it is suggested that we strengthen it with a special backing plaster with a fibreglass mesh embedded in it. It may also be appropriate on a less stable wall to avoid a shiny Venetian finish, which is difficult to repair in cases of cracks, and go for a textured finish, which is easier to repair, and may be less likely to reveal cracks. In an older house with well established settling it’s open for any finish you like! Have a look in our galleries, or search online for a finish you like.