Faux Finishing - Behr Venetian Plaster

There seems to be a bit of a common thread here about VP. I picked some up with little or no information as to how to do it. It has been a struggle to say the least. Behr gives very little information on "how to" and my friend and I have made just about every mistake I can think of.

So - my question is this.... I have seen a few threads about getting a smooth marble like finish and I'm wondering if I should have sanded the walls first? I seem to have a pretty heavy texture to them and the 2 coats that Behr's instructions said I should use just aren't covering it. There were pockets and holes and so I put it on a little thicker. Let's just say that it's not quite as pretty as I'd hoped. I can see the potential, but I'm not sure what to do next. I'm thinking the best thing to do would be to get out the sander and take it down to a SLIGHTLY smoother surface and then try again. I don't mean sanding off all of what I've put on, but just enough to allow me to put thinner layers on without leaving big holes were the original paint color shows through.

Once I get what i'm looking for, is it necessary to sand with a fine grit before I put the sealer on? I'm doing this in a bathroom and I'm worried about the moisture. Not to mention that I would like it to have a slight luster. That then leads to burnishing. Should I or shouldn't I do this?

If no one has answers to my questions, can anyone point to a site or provide a link where I can get better instructions? I would appreicate it so very much!

Thanks for your time.
Tammi:wall:

Dear Tammie,

The answer to your question first is No, you didn't need to sand the walls first. I had my first experience with VP about a year ago. I decided I wanted that look in my formal dining room. I researched on the application process as much as I could find on the web. One thing the Behr step-by-step instruction guide doesn't tell you is that you may need to apply more than two coats to get the "old world" feel. Also the more coats you apply the more depth it has.

I think you should go ahead and sand it down just a little. Then re-apply in long & short strokes (in thin layers) until you get the look you desire. It took me at least four coats to get the look I wanted and it's what I envisioned. I truly love the look; I want to do my living room in VP as well.

I tested the topcoat on one wall first and it did not agree with me. So I re-applied VP on that wall (which has five coats to correct that decision). The topcoat may be needed since it's in your bathroom and you may like the look.

I hope I have helped you in some way!