| Venetian Plaster (326) |
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| Developed by Italian artisans this form of gypsum is typically applied to
walls for a rich lustrous smooth finish. |
| Exceptionally attractive hard and dense with a range of faux finishes
that vary from the feel and look of crushed velvet to gold leaf tones. |
| Often referred to as spatolato, marmorino veniziano, venezia stucco,
roman plaster and other terms. |
| Venetian plaster is a trowel applied surface finishing plaster cement
which is tooled to a reflective veneer without delineation points. Superb craftsmanship
and tooling technique is required. |
| Mixed in moderate batch sizes Venetian Plaster is a pasty-slurry mixture
for thin topical glazing. |
| A ground coat-base layer is first built up over perforated mesh or wire
lath. European craftsmen employ various personalized preparation methods in the build up
of a plaster-lime gauging course which sets the stage for the final finish. |
| Wetness, viscosity and "hand" is personalized according to the
span and plane. Ceilings and vertical walls-arches etc. require specific viscosity
characteristics. |
| No set ratio or formulation mix design is standardized. Each artisan must
tailor the mix to suit handling, work time, density and spatulation-trowel flow. |
| Starting point formulations are keyed to the gypsum cement selected,
admixture minerals and the binder-polymer ratio. |
| Finished gloss-reflectance is controlled by the use of matting-dulling
agents such as fumed silica, micro silica and rheology modifiers. |
| Work time is influenced by set retards and inhibitors. Longer pot-batch
time is controllable by the addition of calcium carbonates, chalk, lime and stone dust
minerals. |
| Hardness and chip resistance is based on the level of polymer added.
Zeller Internationals addition polymers provide smooth flowable trowel-spread properties
to the mix. These include liquid and dry polymers based on single component acrylic
polymer chemistries. |
| Referenced as "Plastico" "L" for liquid and
"P" for powder. Preference for the "L" type includes
additional-multifunctional applications such as priming new or old surfaces, and as a
dispersent-wetting agent for dry oxide based pigments for in situ coloring or addition of
microfibers for additional crack resistance. |
| Plastico "L" is also used for misting-wetting the trowel
surface for glide and smoothing ease. As supplied Plastico "L" is used neat as
received or partially diluted with water for variable levels of concentration ratios. |
| Whereas gypsums are supplied in many grades and are contingent upon
suppliers and country of origin water-polymer addition ratio also varies. Testing is
warranted to suit the feel and properties of the mix. |
| Plastico "P" is used as an insitu polymer for base mixes. It's
functionality and purpose is limited to bodied viscous pastes which are solely for applied
ready to work conditions. |
| Plastico "P" is best dry mixed with the plaster before water is
added. |
| Mixing is best achieved by using a power mixer-gear motor set up with a
non aerating mud mixer-impeller blade. |
| While hoe-trowel hand mixing is possible for small quantity batches in a
mortar pan or mixing board surface, high shear agitation assures complete uniform polymer
interrogation and wet out. |
| Numerous supply houses offer professional equipment for mixing. Trowels
and a broad range of plastering tools are available from Stanley Tools and other vendors. |
| Thorough lump free mixing is critical for smooth blemish free troweling. |
| Venetian Plaster when properly done results in a ceramic-glass smooth
finish. When dried thoroughly post finishing with stains, oil colors and other finishing
techniques creates an attractive durable washable wall-ceiling for any setting. |
| Scenic painting and decorative accents are enhanced by priming-sealing
the dried wall surface with low viscosity shellacs, lacquers such as Enviroseal™, and Acrilon™ polymers
from Zeller International. |
| A properly done very attractive surface finishes will result with many
years of service. |
| To appreciate this craft a trip to Venice, Italy is encouraged. Numerous
hotels such as The Bauer are showcase examples. |
| Bauer Hotel-Venezia |
| Italia 30124 |
| S. Marco 1459 |
| Tel. 041-5207022 |
| Telefax-041-5207557 |
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| Many excellent examples of fine high quality plaster finishing are found
throughout Italy in homes, restaurants, galleries and museums. |
| Zeller International maintains a limited supply of dry Venetian Plaster
in 50 lb. bag quantities. |
| Supplemental products are also stocked in our New York warehouse. |
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