Silk plaster – its application, effects and application rules.

Silk plaster is a distinctive and fashionable wall finishing material that combines the usefulness of traditional plaster with the appearance of opulent fabric. It’s becoming more well-liked because of its capacity to produce a textured, soft surface that can change the appearance of any space.

This kind of plaster is adaptable to many different interior design styles because it can produce a broad range of effects, from delicate shimmer to striking, artistic patterns. Silk plaster can be tailored to your vision, whether you’re going for a more classic, refined vibe or a modern, minimalist look.

Getting the right results with silk plaster requires knowing the right application techniques and guidelines. You will be guided through the essential procedures, hints, and methods in this guide to guarantee a seamless and fruitful project.

Application	Effects
Silk plaster is applied directly to prepared walls using a trowel or sprayer.	Creates a smooth, textured finish that resembles fabric, adding a luxurious feel to the room.
Can be used on various surfaces like drywall, concrete, or wood.	Offers a seamless finish with no joints, enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Mix the plaster with water as per the instructions before application.	Provides a soft, warm touch and improves acoustic insulation.
Apply in layers for a thicker texture or a more pronounced effect.	Can be easily repaired by reapplying the mixture to damaged areas.
Ensure the surface is clean and free of dust before application.	Comes in a variety of colors and finishes, allowing for creative designs.

What is silk decorative plaster and its types and composition?

There are currently two kinds of mixtures that, despite having nearly the same name, differ greatly from one another. Together, we will attempt to identify silk decorative mixtures and determine whether these can be applied with your hands alone, without specialized training.

1. Silk decorative plaster is a composition that includes cellulose fibers, cotton, silk, etc.. The name liquid wallpaper is more often used. It refers to textured mixtures. A striking representative is the compositions of the Silk Plaster company. Liquid wallpaper is applied without the use of special techniques and tools, while obtaining an excellent wall finish.
2. The second variety includes pearlescent plaster with a silk effect. Such solutions are applied with a thin layer and have several application techniques. The formula includes mother-of-pearl particles, which give a unique effect. Such coatings are also called ottocento.

We will focus more on the second type of finishing in this article, which enables you to create an imitation of a wall covered in silk fabric.

Video. Basics of applying silk plaster SILK PLASTER

Advantages and disadvantages of silk coating

Silk plaster has advantages and disadvantages just like any other material when it comes to wall surface finishing.

Among the benefits are:

1. Appearance. Using decorative mother-of-pearl silk in the design of the house, you will definitely get a beautiful unique surface texture. In addition, the coating will be seamless.
2. Durability. With careful adherence to the application technology, the service life reaches 10 years.
3. Environmental friendliness. Materials that are safe for human health are used in production.
4. Repairability. Even areas damaged during operation can be repaired without any problems.

The drawbacks consist of:

1. Cost. The price is comparable to expensive types of wallpaper and paint.
2. Requires preparation. Decorative plaster with a silk effect for interior wall decoration requires good, well-developed skills to obtain the desired result.
3. Absorbs odors. In this regard, it is not recommended to use in the kitchen or similar rooms.
4. Prone to damage. You can damage it simply by touching it with furniture, but it should be noted that repair is not a problem.

The aforementioned information leads to the following conclusions. In the event that you are not intimidated by the cost and are prepared to practice using it before tackling larger regions. You can design a chic layout for your own house.

Necessary tools

There are several methods for applying decorative silk plaster. Depending on its type and application method, several special tools are required. In any case, the equipment listed in this section will be helpful to the master; a specific tool will be mentioned later.

List of required instruments:

1. Spatulas with rounded edges – such spatulas do not leave grooves;
2. Venetian trowel. Depending on the surface area and the desired pattern, the sizes of the trowels will differ;
3. Roller;
4. Containers for mortar;
5. Drill and mixing attachment. This tool is needed only when working with large volumes.

Extra accessories:

1. Gloves;
2. Respirator;
3. Covering material;
4. Bucket for water;
5. Rags;
6. Safety glasses;
7. Masking tape.

When working with a composition like silk plaster, some of the aforementioned can be skipped. All of this will support the work and guarantee your safety at the same time.

Preparation for work and material consumption

You must first prepare the walls for silk plaster before you begin. However, it’s thought that the chosen material’s texture may be able to conceal certain drawbacks. Nonetheless, the composition of silk cannot be compared to fully functional structural coatings, which conceal even the most severe irregularities. This implies that the walls need to be meticulously ready for silk plaster. After the surface has been leveled, a premium deep penetration primer should be applied.

• Preparation for plastering. As with any finishing, it is necessary to remove the remains of the old or poorly adhering coating, dust and degrease the surface. To do this, you should use a vacuum cleaner and special chemical reagents.
• Alignment using cement plaster. Used in cases where the wall was not prepared at all or there are strong defects on it.
• Finishing putty. For final alignment and elimination of minor defects, we use putty.
• Primer. To improve adhesion, it is necessary to prime the surface. To do this, use soil, a tray, and a roller.
• The second layer of the primer. In the event that the porous surface is worth applying a second soil layer.

Interior wall decoration frequently makes precise use of decorative plaster silk. This implies that your housing’s future appearance will be significantly influenced by the preparation. If you pay attention to the steps that the application itself takes, you will make your later work much easier.

A practical tool is:

1. Perforator – to eliminate traces of the previous finish
2. Scrapers and chisels – for the same purposes as the punch
3. Brush and vacuum cleaner – to eliminate dust and pollution
4. Water with a cleaning agent – to eliminate traces of fat

An industrial vacuum cleaner is the better option as a standard one will become clogged with dust and become challenging to clean.

Before we begin to fix everything, we consider the expense. And there is a strong connection between this and consumption. It is best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in order to calculate the consumption. Silk decorative plaster is not a very costly material; the average calculation for its consumption per square meter is one layer at a rate of 1 kg per 3-5 m2. Usually, there are two or three layers when lying.

Let’s figure out how much energy an 18 m2 room uses. A room like that, with two windows and two doors, will have 36 m2 of wall space.

9 kg per layer is 36:4.

18 kg in total for two layers.

Wet silk with a white decorative coating costs about 2,500 rubles for every 5 kg. This indicates that we will require roughly 10,000 rubles for a 36 m2 room.

These amounts are similar to the price of high-quality paints or wallpaper.

How to apply silk plaster

The type of mixture selected and the intended outcome determine the application technology. The fundamental steps are always the same, even with the various techniques. The proper application of decorative silk plaster on the wall is crucial. In this instance, you will receive a robust, long-lasting coating that will satisfy the owner for the duration of its useful life.

How to use technology step-by-step:

1. Preparation. We have already described this stage in detail in the previous section of the article.
2. Preparation. Silk mixture for interior decoration is most often sold ready-made, if you suddenly come across a dry mixture, strictly follow the manufacturer"s instructions. Please note that such compositions require time after mixing, during which they will be fully ready.
3. Base coat. An important stage and it can be done in several ways. The first method is to apply the same composition with a large trowel, without creating any patterns and let it dry. The second method – application occurs with a regular roller. The third method – paint is used as a base layer, which is applied with a roller. What material is used to perform this stage, you can read in the manufacturer"s instructions. Most often, it is recommended to use the same composition.
4. Application of silk plaster. The mixture is applied with a trowel, its size is selected depending on the pattern you want to get. After partial drying, go over the surface with a trowel again to create the desired texture.

Take up your work from the corner. Work in segments of 1.5 to 2 m2 rather than processing the entire surface at once. If the treated area’s edges are straight, you won’t be able to see the layer joints later.

Use specific little tools for areas that are hard to reach. If there are places like that, make sure you buy a tool in advance.

Video. How to apply silk plaster.

How to make an imitation of a decorative coating wet silk

When using decorative plaster, the most common effect that people want to achieve is wet silk. Together, we will work through the process of making wet silk by hand.

As was already mentioned, the application technology for all of these kinds of mixtures won’t really differ from the general one:

1. Preparation – no different from standard.
2. Preparation is no different (the mixture is almost always sold ready-made).
3. Base coat – use the same composition as for future finishing, apply it with a trowel without creating any pattern.
4. Wet silk application technology – Start working from the corner. Work in small areas. Apply the solution using a regular trowel in multidirectional movements. Wait until the applied layer begins to dry. Using a plastic trowel (washer) with slight pressure, make movements reminiscent of the number 8. The size of the pattern will depend on the size of the washer and the width of the movements.

Water should be used to clean the trowel’s surface often. This will help stop it from sticking to the fix.

Crinkled silk effect technology description

You can give the wall the appearance of crushed silk by using the decorative plaster that is described. Regarding the earlier outcome, every step of the procedure—from planning to coating creation—will be comparable. We won’t go into detail about it; we’ll just quickly go over the steps.

1. Preparing the walls.
2. Preparing the mixture.
3. Base layer.
4. Crushed silk – the effect is achieved using a sponge. Apply the composition and when it dries a little, apply the sponge, which will create the effect of crumpled fabric.

Use of regular polyethylene film will yield the same outcome. After being applied to the still-dry surface, the film is nearly instantly removed. Because of this, the solution might start to show through in some areas, so you should be very careful when selecting the substrate’s color.

Video. Master class effect crushed silk.

Silk plaster is a decorative and adaptable wall covering that blends the strength of plaster with the appearance of fabric. It has a distinct, textured finish that enhances the beauty of any space and offers useful advantages like sound absorption and wall imperfection concealment. Although applying silk plaster is simple, a smooth and even finish can only be achieved by following the right procedures. This article examines the effects that silk plaster can produce, the different uses for it, and the crucial guidelines for getting the greatest outcomes.

Effect of flowing silk

"Flowing silk" is another widely used application technique. In this instance, you must use diagonal motions to apply decorative silk plaster to the walls. We won’t go into detail about the application preparation process because it is exactly the same.

1. Base coat – apply the same mixture using a trowel, after application you must wait approximately 3 hours until dry.
2. Flowing silk – work is carried out as always in sections, apply the solution with a trowel and wait a short time until the top layer dries. Using diagonal movements of the trowel, create a pattern reminiscent of flowing silk fabric. Hold the tool at a slight angle to the surface.

Always remember to wipe down the tool’s surface with water before adding decorative silk.

Video. Making Flowing Silk.

Silk plaster is a beautiful and adaptable wall finishing material that has both practical and visual advantages. It can make any space into a fashionable and comfortable haven thanks to its distinctive texture and spectrum of colors.

While applying silk plaster is not too difficult, careful attention to detail is necessary to get the best results. You can achieve an eye-catching, long-lasting, and exquisite finish by using the appropriate equipment and adhering to the suggested procedures.

Silk plaster is an option to think about if you want to give your house a more opulent feel or enhance a room’s acoustics and insulation. It is a sensible option for any interior design project due to its low maintenance requirements and capacity to hide flaws.

Video on the topic

Decorative plaster with smooth silk effect.

Effect "Matte Silk" | Decorative plaster Velluto (Decorazza)

SMOOTH MATTE SILK. Application of decorative coating Parade@Milano Liguria. Master class No. 30