A DIYer’s Guide to Applying Real Venetian Plaster

Remove Cabinets

The kitchen wall we chose to plaster had a few cabinets we planned to replace with open shelving, so our first step was to tear them out. If you’re plastering a wall that holds cabinets you plan to keep, you can plaster right up to them.

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Repair Wall Damage

It’s best to start a plastering job with a smooth wall. Removing the cabinets damaged our drywall in some areas.

While we were removing the glass tile backsplash, chipping it away a tile at a time, we decided it was safer and easier to remove the backsplash as a unit by cutting out the drywall it was attached to. Then we patched in the new drywall, smoothed it out with a few coats of joint compound and repaired all the dents with surfacing compound.

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Prime the Wall

After sanding the repaired wall smooth, we sealed it with a special primer that has “tooth” to hold plaster, which is thicker and heavier than paint.

Texturline Sharktooth Primer rolls on just like any other primer but dries with a grittier surface — key to creating a good bond for the plaster. Let the primer dry for three to four hours. Try this primer for similar results.

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Trowel on the First Coat

Apply the first coat evenly across the entire wall. Use a 3-in. taping or similar knife to scoop the plaster onto your trowel. Then start from one end and work your way across the wall, applying a thin coat, troweling the plaster in different directions, then smoothing it out.

To avoid trowel marks in smoothed plaster, spread the plaster from the bare wall into your previous strokes. Use a good quality trowel for best results. If you’re going for lots of texture, make many small strokes; make longer strokes for larger smooth areas.

We visited a specialized retailer who mixed the exact color we wanted, but some online retailers offer pre-mixed plaster.

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Skip-Trowel the Second Coat

The second coat is lighter than the first and meant to smooth out the ridges created by the first coat.

I started on the opposite side of the wall and worked my way across. I put plaster on my trowel, applied it to the wall and smoothed it out toward the previous strokes. I intentionally left some areas uncovered, letting the first coat show through in small patches.

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Burnish the Plaster

Before the second coat dried completely, I burnished the entire wall with a clean trowel. Starting on the same side of the wall as the second coat, I slid the trowel across the plaster, holding the trowel at an angle and using moderate pressure.

Burnishing closes the pores of the plaster, creating a smooth and more water-resistant surface. The technique also gives Venetian plaster its unique shine. Burnishing makes the texture created by the first coat come alive.

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Wax the Plaster

After the second coat, wait 48 hours to let the plaster dry completely, then apply the protective wax. I used Cera Wax to brighten up the wall, protect it from moisture and make it soft to the touch. Here’s a similar product you can use.

I applied this liquid to the wall with a sponge in a circular motion. Apply two or three thin coats to complete the wall.

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