What is decorative plaster used for?
Ready decorative coatings also require additional treatment to provide new properties, shades, and more. In this article, we will discuss what decorative plaster is covered with, what effect it achieves, and why it is necessary.
Why Apply Varnish to Decorative Plaster
Most decorative coatings do not require the addition of paints and other materials. However, some mixtures fully reveal their potential only when varnishes and other compounds are applied to them.
Applying varnish to a plaster-covered surface is necessary for:
- Strengthening the material.
- Protection against external factors: moisture, damage, chemicals, and more.
- Reducing the risk of fungal infections.
- Preserving the original finish.
- Maintaining color saturation.
- Providing protection, making the finish washable.
However, varnishes are often used to emphasize, enhance, or complement the decorative features of the finish. Special varnishes can add a shine to the composition, emphasize silver and gold particles if they are present, create a glossy and pearlescent effect.
What are Lustering Compounds
Lustering wax is a material used to cover plaster and give it additional decorative properties. So if you're wondering what to use to enhance decorative plaster with additional features, lustering is an excellent choice.
This material can be applied to both smooth and textured surfaces. After application, it forms a thin film that, upon drying, adds shine and enhances saturation or hue. The main feature of lustering compounds is that they do not alter the texture and color tone of the plaster itself but only accentuate its relief.
Moreover, after drying, the film becomes moisture-resistant while strengthening the durability of the underlying wall or ceiling covering. As a result, areas where plaster has been applied with lustering compounds become more resistant to mechanical and chemical damage, and they are less prone to fading in the sun. Additionally, rooms with walls coated with lustering compounds are easier to clean: the walls appear polished, and the wax fills in any irregularities, making cleaning and washing much easier.
What to Use to Cover Decorative Plaster?
If you need to cover plaster on your walls, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the manufacturer's recommendations. They provide clear guidance on the best materials for it and instructions on how to apply them.
Varnishes
When discussing what to use to cover decorative plaster, it's impossible not to mention varnish products.
Varnishes can come in various types:
• Glossy varnishes that create a moisture-repellent film on textured surfaces;
• Matte varnishes that emphasize the tiniest details of the relief;
• Crackle varnishes that create decorative cracks for an antique look;
• Iridescent varnishes that produce a pearl-like shimmering effect;
• Holographic varnishes that create specific effects;
• Colored, silver, gold, and others.
You can apply varnish using a regular brush or roller, as well as by spraying or using other unconventional methods.
Wax
When the question arises of what to use to cover decorative plaster for a glossy finish, the best option is wax. It protects against moisture, provides smoothness and shine, and is used for polishing decorative finishes. It is commonly applied with a spatula, roller, or painting glove, depending on the desired decorative effect. Waxes can be glossy or matte, transparent, colored, or contain metallic pigments.
Velatura
Another popular decorative method is velatura. It is a translucent material with a texture resembling dense paste, somewhat like wax. By adding pigments to velatura, you can achieve a new shade, an antique effect, and much more. For small-scale work, use a roller with long bristles, and for creating original effects, opt for a painting glove.
Glaze
If you're wondering what's the best way to cover decorative plaster, then using glaze is an excellent choice. It may be relatively expensive but excels at adding an additional effect to an existing finish. To apply it, it's best to use a large brush without a handle, which allows you to create a pearlescent, uneven shine. Essentially, glaze is a type of chameleon effect varnish.
However, it's essential not to confuse decorative plaster glaze with other types of glazes. There is wood glaze, which is a semi-transparent paint with an oil base, and it's not suitable for painting decorative plaster.
If you need assistance in choosing what to cover existing decorative materials for walls or ceilings, feel free to contact Elf Decor experts!