Veneziano Application

Venetian Plaster made with lime and crushed marble - Page 7 of 7

PATCHING
If the plaster takes on damage, like a major ding or nail hole, simply take the plaster and apply it onto the spot like putty. Even it out level to the wall. Let it dry, and then sand it, or wipe it with a damp rag, or plaster slurry to make it look seamless. Remember to wipe away sealer or wax before doing this. If using an acrylic sealer, sand the area a bit, patch, then reseal. Most dings or scratches will disappear with reapplication of sealer. If you have other layers like lime wash, wax or other sealer; plaster the area, then proceed with the lime wash, wax, etc.

PEELING
If the plaster drags or peels when burnishing, stop and let the plaster dry a bit more. If this still persists, spray the area lightly with water and try burnishing again. Usually peeling is a result of over-burnishing an area or burnishing when it is too wet. Otherwise, it is an adhesion problem with the wall.

BUBBLES
Bubbles mean that the base coat is expelling gas. If you mix your own colors, sometimes using an electric drill at high speeds can whip tiny bubbles into the mix. You can usually cut them down by floating them out, or you can reapply another thin coat over the area.

PLASTER IS NOT ADHEREING TO PRIMED WALL
It could be that the plaster was layered much too thick. At some point, the plaster gets too thick and will crack. It is made to apply in thin coats. Another issue may be that the primer was too chalky (cheap product) or the base coat was oil-based instead of acrylic.

Sometimes, the room or wall was too cold: do not apply plaster in less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Another weather related issue is that the plaster can freeze, thaw out and be degraded. The plaster dried too quickly or is too near a heating vent or direct hot sunlight. The base coat was mineral based, like cement. The base coat sucked the moisture out of the plaster too quickly. Wet the base coat next time.

LIGHT SPOTS AFTER BURNISHING
If after burnishing, if there are undesirable lighter spots that you missed; spray water on the areas and polish them with 600-grit sandpaper.

TRIM JOINT LINE IS NOT STRAIGHT
If the line where you taped is not straight, either wipe clean any excess plaster/paint with a rag and water, or re-tape the area and run a finger full of plaster along the spot. Another option is to add water to the plaster, making a slurry out of it, then paint the area.

OVER BURNISHED AND THERE ARE DARK SPOTS
First try lightly sanding the area with 600-grit sandpaper and wiping it with a damp rag. If this doesn't work try 400-grit sandpaper. If that doesn't do it, wet the area, and repeat the sanding. Be gentle. Wipe with a damp rag afterwards. Then, make the plaster into a slurry by adding water. With this paint, dab the areas with a small brush. Possibly the easiest way to do this is to trowel a very thin layer over the area and sand it out when it dries.

GAPS BETWEEN WALLS AND TRIM
This is because the trim is not caulked or the wall and trim are separated. You can prevent this by caulking larger gaps before you start. The smaller gaps can be filled with plaster on the second coat. Often on new construction, wood is not fully dried and the trim shrinks. This is why after a year or two, you see cracks in the caulking of the trim. In older homes you usually don't have to worry too much about this. For newer homes, try taping the trim a little closer to the wall, so if it does crack, it's not too obvious a defect.

CLEANING AND MAINTENENCE
Veneziano is easy to maintain. There's nothing to do unless it needs cleaning. You can wipe it with a damp or even wet cloth. If that doesn't work, use 400-grit sandpaper and follow with 600-grit. If that doesn't work, just put another skim coat on the area and then sand it. You can also add water to the plaster making a slurry, then dab it on with a brush or rag. If Veneziano is unsealed, do not clean the adjacent trim with oil. If it gets on the plaster, it will discolor. Wipe walls only with water, unless cleaning difficult dirt. If it is sealed with any type of sealer, then you can clean the trim with oil. The best all-around sealer for general areas is the Olive Oil Sealer. For waterproofing, which is rarely necessary, use the acrylic sealer.

VENEZIANO APPLICATION
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