Venetian plaster. Sounds fancy right? Well, that’s because it is native to the romantic city of Venice which by rights, is rather fancy! But what is venetian plaster and why is it so expensive when compared to regular plaster? Read on to find out everything you need to know…
Is Venetian plaster really all that expensive?
Venetian plaster with slaked-lime finishes tends to cost around the $12-$15 per square foot mark. Additionally, if you want to go for a certain coloured Venetian plaster, then it can be up to $25 per square foot. At a glance it doesn’t appear to be that big a difference, however, over a large area the cost will start racking up soon enough.
Regular plaster on the other hand comes in at around $2 to $10 per square meter.
Will Venetian plaster ever go out of style?
It is highly doubtful that Venetian plaster will ever go out of style. The fact is, Venetian plaster (particularly those made without any additional aggregates) does not age or fade. That, and Venetian plaster is highly durable and relatively easy to clean and maintain. These factors coupled with the irrefutable style and beauty that Venetian plaster effortlessly boasts make it highly unlikely for Venetian plaster to ever fall out of favour.
What is Venetian plaster made up of?
Venetian plaster is stunning, but what is it made up of? Venetian plaster is made from regular plaster mixed with marble dust. This gives the finished product a delicious illusion of depth and texture that emanates a subtle marbled vibe. The plaster is applied with a spatula in multiple thin layers, following that the finish is burnished to give it that signature opulent look.
Do you have to paint Venetian plaster?
You can leave Venetian left unpainted if you wish and it actually looks really rather stunning on its own. That said, left unpainted it takes in moisture and releases it much like regular clay plaster. That being said, unlike clay plaster, Venetian can be applied in kitchens and bathrooms (though should never be directly exposed to water so be careful).
Can you paint over Venetian plaster?
Venetian plaster has a beautiful finish with depth, transparency, and a glassy-smooth texture that is truly marvellous. That being said, you can indeed paint over Venetian plaster, though it will take a bit of time to prepare. If you wish to cover Venetian plaster that is roughly textured, you will be better off hiring the professionals like Platinum 3 Painting to get the job done right.
Can Venetian plaster be repaired?
Venetian plaster can be repaired if you find a blemish or two that is spoiling the finish for you. Whilst the process itself is simple enough, it is rather time consuming. In this situation you are likely better off hiring the experts to assist you.
How long does Venetian plaster take to settle?
When applied on plasterboard, it takes a good 2 to 3 days to dry, as opposed to the 4-6 days it takes on backing plaster. In any case, you should wait at least a week before you start painting new plaster. In some cases, it can take up to a month for plaster to be completely dry.
Conclusion
So, why is Venetian plaster so expensive? In honesty, it comes down to the marble dust. Marble as you know is quite an expensive material, as far as metamorphic rock goes. In addition to that, the magnificent look and feel that you get from a fresh Venetian finish is what gives it its value. Regular plaster left unpainted looks terrible. Venetian plaster on the other hand, can be left as it is in its raw form, whilst looking like a million dollars!
