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A Breif History about Veneer Plaster

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It was standard practice, until mid century in Western construction to surface interior walls using wooden lath and a layer of plaster about a half-inch the lath and plaster. With time, drywall became a standard.

 

Normally , drywall is surfaced using the "mud-and-tape" method, where non-adhesive paper or mesh tape and drywall joint compound-mud, is used to fill joints, cover nail heads, and repair any flaws.Veneer Plaster was developed as a way of taking advantage of the reduced labor of modern drywall, while providing a genuine plaster surface for a wall.

 

Veneer Plaster Application

 

In much of the world, plaster veneer is a very rare wall surface. Consequently, it can be difficult to find a local trade worker skilled in the practice. However, in some regions, such as Ireland, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and other states this situation is reversed, with plaster veneer a common standard, and mud-and-tape the less common alternative. 

 

Veneer Plaster is well-suited to the renovation of older buildings, since it is an easier option than full re-creation of the original lath and plaster. The veneer surface will closely mimic antique walls, with their hand-applied variations. In contrast, properly finished mud-and-tape drywall can be very planar, and industrially uniform in character. Drywall feels relatively warm and soft to the touch, while plaster feels cooler and very hard.

 

Thus, plaster veneer might be an appropriate choice in the renovation of an older house with existing lath-and-plaster walls.

Bare mud-and-tape drywall is generally only acceptable as a final decorating finish in utility spaces such as attics or garages. In most rooms, such walls are finished with paint or wallpaper. Plaster veneer walls are usually similarly decorated, but unpainted plaster can also serve as a finish.

 

Since bare plaster can be appealing to the touch, and paint would add an additional layer, some decorators opt to leave exposed plaster in some or all of a room, as a creative choice. In such cases, if the plaster's natural color is not desired, tints can be added as part of the mixing process, or can be introduced unevenly for artistic color effects.

 

Veneer Plaster Advantages

 

  • Moisture resistance: Once cured, plaster is an effective water barrier. By contrast, unprotected drywall and joint compound absorb water, causing sagging, bloating, or complete structural failure. As a consequence of plaster's inherent water shedding properties, it is a very effective water and MILDEW barrier.

  • No sanding: Plaster is typically applied in one work session per wall or per several non-adjoining walls. The smoothness or texture is achieved by working the plaster as it sets, over a period of up to five hours. By contrast, drywall is typically sanded or otherwise mechanically smoothed as the final step of the wall surfacing process. The fine dust particles created can be difficult to clean and dangerous to breathe.

  • Pleasing surface: Bare plaster can be a beautiful interior surface. The natural color of veneer plaster is a mottled white. When applied for maximum smoothness, it can result in a hard, mirror-like surface, which masks the mechanical uniformity of the drywall with the subtly organic form of a hand-applied layer. Tinting can be added to the wet plaster for color effects.

  • Durable surface: Plaster veneer results in a harder and more durable surface than drywall. Scuffs and gouges are less likely.

  • Quicker: The overall calendar time from beginning to end for a plaster veneer project is typically slightly shorter than for conventional drywall.(N.B. The overall labor time is usually less with mud-and-tape drywall.) This is because drywall joint compound is applied in at least three phases, followed by sanding. Some drywall joint compounds ("hot mud") set chemically, allowing rapid re-coating, but these compounds can make sanding more difficult. By contrast, each wall in a plaster veneer project is applied as a single task, and allowed to set and cure without intervention.

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A Brief History About Venetian Plaster

  Ceilings and wall finishes are popular in homes, hotels, restaurants and they aren’t new. People have been in love with exotic finishes for hundreds of years. There are many types of interior and exterior wall finishes available, such as drywall and vinyl.

 

Even so, one of the most popular wall finishes now days is Venetian polished plaster. Polished plaster such as Venetian, is made of marble dust and slaked lime, which offers a luxurious, exotic and stylish wall finish. This type of plaster was very popular in the 16th century throughout Venice and in Italy. Venetian plaster got its name from this amazing, historic city Venice.

 

This plaster has become popular not only for its appearance but also for the many benefits it offers your home. I would like to share some of the benefits of Venetian polished plaster for your home.

 

Maintenance is Easy

 

One of the most important factors when considering a wall finish is how easy or difficult it is to maintain. Look no further, Venetian polished plaster is extremely easy to maintain. What it takes to keep the plaster clean is some mild soap and water. This type of wall finish is made with different kinds pre-mixed pigments, and they will not fade away, even with cleaning.

 

One of the popular wall treatments is paint; however, it doesn’t last and requires plenty of maintenance as time goes on. However, with Venetian polished plaster, you won’t have to repaint frequently, and maintaining the wall treatment is easy.

 

I addition, the plaster is applied in layers. That means Venetian polished plaster is easier to repair and return to its original appearance without having to redo the plaster of the entire wall or room.

 

Venetian Plaster is Versatile

 

Additional, benefit of Venetian polished plaster is that the material is very versatile.  This means that polished plaster can be applied to the ceiling, the walls, over tiles, cement board, on brick surfaces, wooden surfaces, exterior wood, drywall, and more.

 

Also, the plaster can be used on archways and other architectural features. Venetian plaster is the perfect choice if you need a wall treatment that can be used safely on multiple surfaces.

 

This Finish is Durable

 

Venetian Plaster is the most durable and long lasting finish. Also, the plaster is less prone to shrinking and cracking like cement-based wall & surface treatments. And the plaster is easy to preserve; all you need is a wax coating that can repel dust and dirt, so there’s little maintenance required to keep it looking beautiful.

 

This plaster has been used for centuries and has been found in almost pristine condition in buildings dating from mediaeval times and more. Venetian Plaster polished plaster is one of the most durable and long-lived wall treatments around.

 

The type of plaster prevents cracks in walls and creates a marble-like finish that looks amazing for years and decades to come. One of the best things about this plaster is that it’s easy and cheap to repair. Venetian polished plaster can easily withstand minor impacts. So, you can rest assured that this wall treatment is one of the most durable available today.

 

Perpetual Look

 

Polished Venetian plaster also offers a timeless finish to any surface. This makes the plaster extremely versatile and popular as a wall treatment. You can finish the wall, and with proper maintenance, it will last for decades.

 

This beautiful gentle finish also creates a distinctive, unique finish on surfaces. One can use Venetian plaster for remodels and create a stylish, luxurious and exotic look that will last for years to come.

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