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Hawk-n-Trowel - Hawk & Trowel - Index

Venetian Photo
plaster
12 ◆ www.Hawk-n-Trowel.com ◆ Spring 2008
Lime vs. Synthetic
by Amy B. Johnson
To begin, there is no one thing that
is “Venetian plaster.” It is a term
widely used to describe the rich,
glowing fi nishes we associate with that
beautiful Italian city, Venice. Th e term is
applied loosely to results achieved with
anything from inexpensive thick paint
products to costly lime plasters with
marble fl our.
Most experts prefer to call Venetian
plaster a technique or look rather than
a product in order to avoid confusion
about materials. Venetian plaster is a
term that refers to “an integrally colored,
smooth paste plaster that is applied in
thin layers to achieve a smooth, marble-
like fi nish,” says Dean Sickler, owner
and founder of Dundean Studios Inc., in
Chatham, N.J.
In fact, being clear about naming
products and materials used for this
technique is critical because its use
is growing rapidly in the United
States, increasing the occurrence of
misunderstanding and misapplication.
Artisans in this industry agree that
less-expensive paint or cement products
should not be confused with true lime
or synthetic plasters because the cheaper
materials do not deliver the look or
longevity of higher-quality products.
“Th ere are dozens of products calling
courtesy of TexSton Inc.