Hi,

Can you please advise me what is the correct way to prepare a wall(s) before applying venetian plaster? I have a new wall that's sheetrocked, spackled, and primed. And I have another wall that's very old painted plaster and it's a little 'wavy', too!


Thanks,
Tom

VP requires a level 5 (for the mostpart)even tho it can be achieved with a level 2.

Sheetrock wil tend to have raised paper and pattern and it can translate into the finish. If the finish is primed and sanded back, yo uought to be able to follow thru with whatever the manufacturer of your plaster suggests.
The question is really open ended since EACH product has it's cycle of application. Most acrylic VPS will allow you to basecoat with a roller, (first coat is rolled on), and after lightly sanding with 220 to get rid of any nubbies, you can do a skip trowel , then a final skim tight...

That is most of the products out there.

Some require a fixitive, some require some sort of primer they make....

it all depends on which product manufactuerer asks, usually, it's on the label from the product you are using.

Carmine,
Thanks for youe input. Now considering an old plastered wall that's a bit "wavy", i.e., not 100% flat, do I go over the wall with some sort of filler material?

Tom

Tom, if you want waves in your VP, then you will leave the walls the way they are... If you are a painter, then you know what you need to do to get a wall to look right which is going to receive a satin or semigloss paint. I use that example because both a VP and a higher gloss paint will tend to show wall imperfections, (albeit diffeently) but both will translate it to the final finish. VPs are gloss or high gloss, (sometimes semigloss) so the light will appear wavvy. Any divots left, will show up, in fact, any and all spot patching will showup if not perfect....

Always attack a wal as if you were doing total restoration.... That includes sanding the prime coat roller marks, EVERYTHING. You want a perfect finish, use a sanding primer when you are done and then pole sand the heck out of it to get baby butt smooth... then follow the manufacturers suggestions for the finish....

In the end, the greatest VPs wil look like dung in the hands of an ameteur, the cheapest will look great in the hands of the master... What you do in prep is as important as what you do with your trowel....

I have a semi wavy wall in my moms home, I did my first VP there several years ago.. you can see the waves even tho when you look at it on, it is fine, just against the light, running down the wall, you see the waves. They are ok with it and in fact, the VP was overkill for her anyway.. in your case, wavvy might be ok, all depends on how much "true to form" you want your walls to look.

Of course, the above is way beyond what most people do.... most VPs are ok with leaving a slight orange peel on the surface..... Just watch our roller marks, burrs in the finish and spot patching edges.

Once again, thanks

Tom