Venetian plaster walls are attractive and stronger than drywall material.
But still, Venetian plaster cracks. Cracks in Venetian plaster tend to develop, especially in old homes, when the plaster was installed decades ago.
There are lots of elements that cause your Venetian plaster to crack. Some of the reasons for plaster cracks are given below:
- Stress
- Wind
- Expansion can cause cracking
- Bad installations
- Poor mixtures
When the plaster cracks the aesthetics of the plaster disappear. Repairing of the plaster cracks is not easy because even a slight discoloration will show through the plaster.
Venetian plaster is used in different building projects. Since the advent of drywall, homeowners start to choose inexpensive wall materials. However, the Venetian plaster slowly, but surely making a solid comeback. Venetian plasters have improved techniques and making it more affordable, with all the previous benefits still intact. Venetian plaster walls are thicker and durable than drywall.
Why are Venetian Plaster Walls better than others?
Venetian plaster walls are more durable because paint can be distributed uniformly. They possess additional strength that allows it to easily strip without causing any damage to the walls. It is different from the drywall and offers short-term resistance to water. Moreover, plaster surfaces are smoother and flatter.
This article is all about why your Venetian plaster cracks and how you can repair it?
One of the most common cracks in Venetian plaster is known as a hairline crack. Venetian plaster usually cracks because of stress or movement. This type of crack will usually be an inch wide or possibly smaller than that. If the crack is bigger, then it is no longer the hairline crack.
Another type of crack that will result in due to shrinkage or expansion will result in foam trim. If fiberglass mesh tape is not used on the seam, then this type of cracks appears. Another crack that can happen to your Venetian plaster is spider cracking. These types of cracks are nothing but the base coat that wasn’t properly cured. If the mixture was made incorrectly or dried too quickly, then this type of crack appears.
Another pattern in the wall can be seen that are either vertical or horizontal cracking. This type of cracking is caused by lath. You can’t take this cracking lightly because cracks mean there are loose areas.
Real and Faux Venetian Plaster Walls
Real Venetian walls are not common these days. To create the walls of unmatched beauty and strength, a mixture of dust, marble, and other materials is used. Venetian plaster is not cheap by any means. It requires a highly trained craftsman.
Real Venetian plaster is used as a cheap alternative material to marble, and it is used as the most common interior of walls. A veneer can be used to achieve the texture of real plaster. For a decorative painting technique, a skilled artisan is required. A veneer can blow the wall of neighbors out of water.
Drywall plaster walls are competitively cheap, but homeowners must have more expertise to install these walls. A base used for faux plaster is gypsum-based lath paneling. To create the desired effect, a thin layer of paneling is then applied over the paneling by using a trowel. In the end, decorative paint is applied to the wall for wall finishing.
How to Venetian Plaster Your Walls?
Venetian plaster has been used for a long time and never gone out of style. It creates a deep marble effect; that is why it is used to create stunning rooms. Venetian plaster is used to add character to boring wall surfaces. The instructions given below will guide you to give your walls a classic European look.
- Choose a plaster (Synthetic or lime-based)
- Lay down tarps and gather your tools
- Prepare your walls
- Apply primer
- Let it dry
- Prepare your trowel
- Apply your plaster in two coats
- Let the coats dry
- Burnish the surface
- Apply the topcoat
- For more decoration, use different shades of paints.
How to Repair Venetian Plaster?
No doubt, plaster is stronger than drywall, but it doesn’t mean that it is indestructible. The plaster seems to crack in old homes that were constructed decades ago. While repairing the Venetian plaster, you have to take two routes.
- The first one is to hire a professional to re-apply the plaster to the cracks. This process will help walls to recreate the strength of the original plaster.
- You can hire drywall that will give you a passable plaster repair with substitute materials. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they will use drywall materials. These substitutes can do a good job if the entire wall is resurfaced to blend the repairs with the original wall.
- You can attempt DIY plaster repair as well. But for this, you will have to be super prepared if you don’t want any inconsistencies in your walls. One thing is for sure, this resurfacing of walls is still cheaper than hiring someone to repair cracks with more Venetian plaster.
Installation and Decoration of Venetian Plaster
During the initial construction of your home, the installation of Venetian plaster is easy. If your home’s exterior is comprised of expensive drywall material, then your home needs an extra treat to prevent water damage.
Most of the homeowners don’t like the idea of ripping down all the inner walls. It is not true that you can’t use a mix. You can install plaster on one of your walls. You can decorate your walls with different shades of paint. So, for getting breathtaking results, install a plaster wall.
Conclusion
Does Venetian plaster crack? Yes, Venetian plaster cracks. There can be lots of reasons for cracks in Venetian plaster walls. No need to worry about it because there are ways to fix these cracks. You can do it by yourself, or you can hire a professional for this job. For a perfect look, it is better to hire some professionals to do the job.
