Benefits of Venetian Plaster

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Why Venetian Plaster is gaining popularity?

Apart from being one-of-a-kind finish yet exudes beauty and luxury, venetian plaster has many benefits. This explains why it is becoming increasingly popular as more people discover its many benefits.

Whether you’re looking for old-world charm or modern glamour, Venetian plaster can help you achieve the look you want. This versatile material can be used to create a variety of different finishes, from smooth and glossy to rough and textured.

Environmental friendly

Venetian plaster been used for centuries in Italy (hence the name) and has only recently begun gaining popularity in the United States and increasing interest in Australia. Not only does Venetian plaster look beautiful, it also has a number of environmental benefits as the main ingredients made of all natural and non-toxic materials. It doesn't contain any harmful chemicals or very minimal VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

Durable

Venetian plaster: the surprisingly durable wall finish. This centuries-old wall covering is made from a mixture of lime, water and sand, and can last for hundreds of years with proper care.

Despite its durability, Venetian plaster is not indestructible. It can be scratched or chipped if something hits it hard enough. But overall, it is a very tough finish that can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

If you're looking for a finish that will last for generations, Venetian plaster is a great option. It's also a beautiful finish that adds a touch of luxury to any space.

Sustainable

Venetian plaster Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a sustainable building material that has been used for centuries. It is made from limestone, which is a renewable resource, and it can be recycled back into limestone when it is no longer needed. CaCO3 is also very durable, so it can last for many years without needing to be replaced.

There are many benefits to using calcium carbonate as a building material. It is fire-resistant, pest-resistant, and does not emit harmful chemicals. It is also very efficient at absorbing sound and heat, making it ideal for use in buildings where these things are important.

Handmade finish

Venetian plaster is made from a compound of water, lime, and sand. It can be applied to walls or ceilings, where it dries to form a smooth, hard surface that is resistant to mold and mildew. Venetian plaster is extremely durable, and will not crack or fade over time. It can also be tinted in a wide range of colors - from pale pastels to bold jewel tones. If you're looking for an alternative to drywall, Venetian plaster is the perfect choice.

Venetian plaster application

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Back to Narellan, we were requested to attend to some minor touch-up to the venetian plaster walls newly completed but had some minor defects due to installation works by other contractors. 

Application of venetian plaster

Venetian Plaster application can take on many different looks, depending on the artist’s style and the desired effect. Generally, however, a venetian plaster application will result in a smooth, glossy finish that resembles marble. This is the traditional finish as we called it.

Step by step in traditional venetian plaster application

  1. The first step in creating a venetian plaster look is to apply a base coat of plaster to the walls. This base coat will provide a smooth surface for the subsequent layers of plaster.
  2. Once the base coat has dried, multiple thin layers of Venetian plaster are applied atop it. Each layer is allowed to dry before the next is applied, and each successive layer is thinner than the one before it.
  3. Once the final layer of Venetian plaster has been applied, it is polished to create a smooth, glossy finish. In some cases, additional colors or glazes may be added to create a unique look.
  4. Finish off the plastering with a protective coat of natural beeswax. This coating while protecting your venetian plaster, it allows the surface to be water repellent making it easier for maintenance.

Consideration prior to Venetian Plaster application

If you’re considering Venetian plaster for your home, there are a few things you should know about the application process

The Venetian plaster application process is relatively simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the surface you’re working with must be clean and free of any debris or dirt. Next, you’ll need to choose the right type of plaster for your project. There are two main types of Venetian plaster: slaked lime plaster and acrylic plaster. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, so be sure to do your research before making a decision. Once you’ve selected the appropriate plaster, it’s time to prepare the materials according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

At Hachi Lifestyle we are able to apply Venetian plasters colour tinted to customise to your project, as most of our architects in Project Gallery would have specify their requirement and approve a sample prior application.

Once the plaster is mixed, the main working tool will be a special steel trowel. This will be the main challenge if one is considering a DIY project as usually in a traditional venetian plaster application, it requires one to master the technique in application for best results, this require a master craftmanship who has years of hands on application experience gaving vast knowledge on both materials and tools.

Features of Venetian Plaster

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Fine Italian Lime Plaster

Stucco with stencil
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‘Perfetto’ – natural, breathable, zero-low VOCs, water-based and totally green eco product. Your walls will age gracefully over time.

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Features of our Venetian plaster materials

Made in Italy

Most of our venetian plasters are Italian made. These are lime-mineral based and the authentic ones used in Italy (no synthetic additives or acrylic modifiers). We do use local Australia brands however majority of the raw materials are imported from Italy and repackaged locally in Australia.

Raw ingredients used

Most venetian plasters are made with seasoned slake lime, powdered marble, crushed limestone, earth based pigments, natural polymers, pozzolans, selected crystalline calcites and river sands.

Types of Venetian Plaster

The names used commercially are somewhat confusing as there is no standardized naming system applied to the manufacturing of Italian venetian plasters. Names may refer to composition, style, or may be merely branding, or some combination of the three. Further confusion comes from the vernacular use of the term "Venetian" to refer to any and all types and techniques of decorative plaster work.

In our terminology, we classify our plasters based on the grains and types of application; you can see the types of Venetian plaster we carry here

Stucco Veneziano

Stucco Veneziano - contains no sand and is applied in multiple thin layers. It can be applied very subtle and matte or can be polished to a high reflectiive mirror sheen like marble.

Marmorino Fine

Marmorino Fine - Thinner plaster with a less and smaller sand particles. Applied matte or medium or polished for more variation and movement of color.

Marmorino Grosso

Marmorino Grosso - similar to fine, but with slightly thicker grains and sand allowing more texture and thickness to be form on surface. Popular to create effects of linear, diagonal, distress, crackle and many creative technique used to make the visual impact.

Traventino

Traventino - Thickest plaster with biggest grains and sand particles. Highly durable and suitable for exterior application.

Venetian Plaster

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What is Venetian Plaster?

Venetian Plaster Is the hottest trend in modern luxury, commercial, and residential decorative wall finishes. Known by many names; venetian stucco, marmorino, intonachino, polished plaster, marble plaster- let us demystify these centuries old materials used extensively in Europe during the Renaissance period, now they are making a comeback as modern architectural surface finishes.

History of Venetian Plaster

Lime plasters were used for thousands of years across all continents. Early Egyptians used lime plaster to decorate the tomb walls while the Romans used lime stucco and sand to build walls. During the Renaissance period, more decorative application came with using marble dust.

In Middle Ages 13th century, plaster decoration was widely used in Europe. This spread to parts of England during 14th century, decorative lime plaster were used to decorate buildings’ exterior timber frames. In the mid 15th century, Venetian plaster were applied direct on masonry. By the 17th century many types of interior plasters flourished, the most notable is the highly polished Stucco Veneziano found in the palaces and Villas of 16th and 17th century Most Serene Republic of Venice.

Hence various type of Venetian plasters were created for various textures, we now refer to names like Stucco, Marmorino, Traventino, Intonachino etc.

Definition of Venetian Plaster

Scientific name is Calcium Carbonate CaCO3, represents the same definition as Limestone. The plaster comes in putty form and the same exact material has been used to coat walls and ceilings of homes and buildings for centuries, especially during the Renaissance period in Venice.

Aesthetics

Venetian plaster celebrates timeless beauty and elegance.
You need skillful hand application; a layer at a time to produce subtle texture and lustrous finish.

Modern Application

With technological manufacturing advancement, these ancient materials are now finding ways back in modern building architecture as time has proven that these are the best surface finish.

Look around historical buildings across the region, you will find that those surfaces that withstand the decades and centuries are all plastered with lime-based Venetian plasters.