REAL VENETIAN PLASTER

HERE'S HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS MARBLE-LIKE FINISH YOURSELF

- MIKE BERNER

WHAT IT TAKES

TIME

2 days 

COST

< $300 

SKILL LEVEL

Beginner

Venetian plaster, a beautiful and durable texture that mimics natural stone, is believed to date back to fourth-century Rome. Creating it is a skill that takes years to V master; however, there's room for artistic license. Modern tools and materials put the technique within the grasp of a DIYer.

THE PLASTER

We chose a type of Venetian plaster called Marmorino. Depending on the application technique, you can achieve a variety of finished looks, including polished, matte and satin. The mix can be customized with different size aggregate for rough and smooth textures, and in custom colors. We had our supplier mix a batch with larger aggregate in this beautiful charcoal color.

Venetian plaster is a great choice for a kitchen backsplash. It may seem as though it would be difficult to clean, but when the texture is burnished and sealed, cleaning it is no more difficult than cleaning grouted tile. Of all the projects the Family Handyman team completed in our kitchen remodel, this Venetian plaster wall is the most friendly to beginning DIYers and had a huge impact on the entire look.

This was my first try at a plaster wall, and I'm not even very good at finishing drywall. But with guidance from PlasterCenter's Drew Beninati and a little practice, I felt confident enough to tackle it. After you read this, I hope you will too!

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