Decorative varnish – shine and protection of your plaster!

The use of decorative varnish to finish plastered walls is revolutionary. It gives your plaster a gorgeous sheen that improves its aesthetic appeal and provides a layer of protection that will keep it looking great for years to come.

Ordinary plaster can become a focal point with decorative varnish, whether you’re going for a subtle sheen or a high-gloss finish. It’s an easy yet powerful way to give your walls a more polished, polished appearance that makes them stand out.

However, decorative varnish offers advantages that go beyond appearance. This final coat serves as a barrier, shielding your plaster from moisture, dust, and normal wear and tear. It’s an investment in strength and beauty, making sure your walls look just as amazing as the day they were completed.

What is a glaze composition

A coating called glazing varnish is applied to enhance the material’s aesthetic qualities. It creates a robust, transparent film, adds the appropriate sheen or shade, and works well on both smooth and textured plasters. It merely draws attention to the relief of the plaster rather than masking its color and texture.

Using glazing varnish, one can:

• Improve the appearance of the coating. Different types of composition and application techniques give different effects: emphasize the relief structure of the material, give a pearlescent shine to the coating, give the wrong color of plaster the desired shade.
• Protection. After drying, the composition forms a vapor-permeable film, which enhances the strength of the main decorative coating. Plaster treated with varnish is more resistant to mechanical stress, is not afraid of moisture, does not fade under the influence of sunlight. Dust settles less on uneven surfaces, and if necessary, the wall can be washed. Plastering in damp rooms (in the bathroom) always ends with finishing varnishing.

The composition is safe for the environment and can be applied to residential spaces.

The picture below shows how decorative plaster that has been varnished looks in various hues.

What varnish to cover the walls with

The glazing varnish consists of a water-based acrylic solution with specific additives added. It comes in two versions:

• colorless – used unchanged or tinted independently;
• colored – completely ready for use, you cannot add paints or dye to it.

There’s a chance the composition contains glitter, which turns the surface it covers pearlescent.

The glazing varnish can be glossy, semi-gloss, or matte, depending on the type.

The majority of decorative plaster producers also offer varnish for their product’s coating. However, using materials from the same brand is not required; you are free to use any, such as VGT, San Marco, Perlacheo, Tex, Poliver, Dali, Bayramix, etc.

How to tint varnish

If you’re having trouble selecting a color from pre-made compositions, you can purchase a colorless one and mix it yourself to get the right shade. Use special solutions, called colorants, to provide the desired color. Scales, a mixing container, and a drill with a mixer attachment are also required.

• Pour the required amount of varnish into a container, weigh.
• The maximum allowable volume of colorant is 10% of the base. It is advisable not to pour out all the paste at once, but add in small portions, then mix.
• Then apply the liquid to a sample of the coating and wait for it to dry to evaluate the result.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that acrylic compositions could become slightly darker after drying.

Decorative varnish gives your plaster a glossy, polished finish that improves the overall appearance of your walls while also adding a protective layer. It’s a simple method to increase style and durability so your plaster will continue to look vibrant and new for many years.

How to do it yourself

Many manufacturers produce staining compositions, but the majority are pricey. You can prepare the solution on your own to save money.

You’ll need the following for this:

1. scales;
2. wallpaper glue;
3. acrylic panel varnish (matte or glossy, depending on the type of coating required);
4. drill with mixer attachment;
5. container for mixing the solution;
6. colorant or water-based paint;
7. additives (glitter).

Recipe. Two parts glue, one part varnish, and half of paint will make up the glazing solution (azure).

1. First, prepare the glue – dilute the dry powder according to the instructions on the package. Mix thoroughly and leave until the flakes completely dissolve in water. It is not advisable to store the prepared liquid for a long time, so you need to calculate the required volume and prepare as much as you need for work.
2. Pour the panel varnish into a container with the prepared glue, mix thoroughly.
3. Then add paint. If you use a colorant, pour in a smaller amount (not ½ part).
4. At the same time, add glitter. Additives are added very little – a few grams per 1 kg of solution is enough.

There are more recipes than this one. For example, you could use acrylic varnish that has been tinted with color and diluted 1:1 with water instead of wallpaper glue. If water isn’t added, the plaster will have an excessively thick glossy layer.

Application (glazing)

After the plaster has dried completely, the glazing composition is applied. Dust and dirt, such as those left by grout, are cleared off the surface. Prior to varnishing, decorative finishing is varnished; priming is not necessary.

The room’s humidity should not be higher than 75%, and the ideal temperature range for work is +5 to +35 °C. Apply the coating after the primer layer has dried.

Application tools include paintbrushes, spray guns, rollers, and sponges.

Crucial! In order to prevent the additives from sinking to the bottom of the container, a glitter-containing solution needs to be continuously stirred.

• Work begins from the corner. The wall is mentally divided into squares of 1 m². First, one is processed, then immediately move on to the next, without allowing the first section to dry. If you take breaks, the liquid will dry, and the transitions will be noticeable. This cannot be fixed.
• If the liquid has thickened, or you need to get a light, almost invisible coating, the liquid is diluted with water. The composition is practically odorless during application, dries quickly.
• The composition is applied in separate strokes, without trying to completely paint the surface. The movements can be straight or circular, chaotically directed. After processing, even before the liquid dries, you need to shade the surface. Since the solution dries quickly, it is recommended to work in pairs: one applies the composition, the second shades.

Depending on the composition, drying times range from one to two hours on average.

The material consumption is approximately 100 g/m². Utilizing a spray gun helps cut down on usage.

One layer should be sufficient if the objective is to give the plaster extra protection or a thin layer of coating. When more color saturation is required on the surface, the second is applied. You can use a different color or the same solution to create an extra layer. There is a one to two hour gap between applications.

Decorative varnish is a fantastic way to add durability and a touch of elegance to your plastered walls. Your walls can look more appealing by using varnish, which gives them a distinctive glossy or matte finish. Varnish shields your plaster from moisture, dust, and general wear and tear in addition to being aesthetically pleasing.

There is a decorative varnish that can fit your needs, whether you want a more traditional, textured look or a modern, sleek finish. It’s a quick and simple method to give any room a more polished look while giving your walls an additional layer of security.

In general, applying ornamental varnish to your plaster is a wise choice in terms of longevity and style. It’s a quick step that can have a significant impact on the appearance and durability of your walls.

Video on the topic

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Protective varnish for decorative plasters! Usage experience.

What varnish to cover the walls with? Type of coating. Application of varnish.

How to cover decorative plaster?/Azure, waxes, varnishes