To achieve an Italian building exterior, the first question you need to ask yourself is this. When you buy Venetian plaster, can it be applied to the exterior of your house, and is it composed with lime, and aged over a period of time? To get true Venetian Plaster, you will not be able to just go buy it off of some store shelf. You will be able to get what the stores sell, but they don’t sell the high quality product that comes out of Italy. To get true Venetian plaster, you will need to hire a company that specializes in applying the intricate plastering technique.

Understanding Venetian Plastering Techniques

Venetian plaster is a stunning historical product that goes back many years. It has been used in several countries for centuries. This product is sometimes referred to by its Italian name, which is Marmorino. This word means “little marble”.  The plaster often contains a marble called “carrara” marble. This comes in the form of small chips, and Venetian plaster is often applied in a way so that it resembles the fine appearance of finely polished marble or sometimes even honed limestone.

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Historical Use of Venetian Plaster

The recipe used in historic usage is slaked lime, finely ground marble, and a small portion of raw linseed oil. In some cases soap was even applied. Modern variations of Venetian plaster sometimes include silica, rheologic modifiers, and binders to give it a more pliable and smooth texture. Authentic Venetian Plaster is not a tinted compound, so beware of plaster containing the label “Tinted”, as this is not true authentic plaster. It is merely a replica that does not come close to the end result of true Venetian plaster. Never buy this plaster. You shouldn’t even be buying your own plaster anyway. If you want a true Venetian wall, then you will need a skilled plasterer that uses only the finest materials.

Knowing the Difference between True Venetian Plaster and Replications

Many people have claimed to have Venetian plaster on their walls. However, in many cases it is just replicated to look like Venetian plaster. Most people don’t know the difference, but if you compare a real Venetian plastered wall to one that is replicated, you can definitely see the difference in quality. The only way to truly know that your wall is authentic Venetian is to have the product installed by a trusted plasterer in your local area.  For example, John Anthony Plastering is a company that has done Venetian plastering for many 5 star hotels in London.  If you use a reputable company it may be more expensive but you will be able to guarantee the quality of work, materials used and that it will last longer than cheaper alternatives.