16 May How to Maintain a Polished Plaster Wall

Polished plaster, also known as Venetian plaster, is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to painted or wallpapered walls. It has a highly decorative, luxurious appearance, and offers strength and durability, making it an ideal choice for both residential and commercial environments. But how easy is it to maintain?

It is surprisingly easy to keep polished plaster in pristine condition long into the future. Here we offer some expert tips for its upkeep and maintenance.

1. Treat it gently

Polished plaster has a beautiful appearance, very similar to that of marble. This means it naturally gives your environment a more classy and opulent ambience than paint or wallpaper. As its appearance is due to its natural properties, it also maintains its looks for much longer than other wall coverings with very little maintenance or cleaning.

From time to time, however, you may want to brighten up the appearance of your polished plaster wall or remove any stains that have occurred. Polished plaster is a strong material, but it is also delicate, so cleaning should always be done gently, with sensitivity to the surface. We recommend using a mild soapy detergent with a damp cotton cloth to wipe down your walls, or a microfibre to dust them. This will return their lustre.

Treating your polished plaster walls with respect will maintain their appearance for longer, so remember to use cleaning products that are gentle, not harsh.

2. Check the finish of your wall

Most Venetian plaster walls are sealed with a special wax to make them waterproof. This makes the day-to-day care of your polished plaster far easier.

Before you attempt to clean polished plaster, it is important to check whether or not your wall has been sealed with wax. If it has not, this means it can absorb water, so cleaning and maintenance is more difficult. In these cases, we would advise you to consult a polished plaster specialist before attempting any maintenance yourself.

If your polished plaster has been sealed, you should easily be able to clean it yourself, and possibly even perform your own minor repairs, should they ever be needed. If your polished plaster walls are old, they may have lost their protective coating. If this is the case, test a small inconspicuous area before cleaning.

3. Clean your sealed wall with regular household products

When cleaning a sealed polished plaster wall, it is essential to take care of the surface by only using non-abrasive cloths. Otherwise you can scratch the surface of your wall.

Soak one cloth in warm water, then add a very small amount of mild liquid soap at the centre of the cloth. It is vital to make sure this is a gentle soap that does not contain any bleach or other harsh cleaning chemicals. These can damage the appearance of your Venetian plaster.

Clean in gentle circular motions. This should be sufficient to remove the vast majority of dirt. If a stubborn stain persists, try rubbing it gently with a bleach-free commercial cleaning wipe. Never use abrasive cloths or products.

4. Dry your wall thoroughly

Sealed Venetian plaster is waterproof, but it is not advisable to leave moisture on its surface. Once you have removed all traces of dirt, use another soft, non-abrasive cloth to dry your wall. Drying in gentle circular motions can also help to restore the shine to your plaster, brightening its appearance.

It is worth being thorough at this stage, to ensure no water marks or smudges spoil the look of your wall.

5. Repairs

Polished plaster is a strong and durable surface, but in some circumstances scratches or cracks could occur. Unlike many other wall covering solutions, polished plaster is surprisingly easy to fix. This is because it is applied in layers, so it is easy to recreate a smooth appearance without having to re-plaster the whole wall.

Some home or business owners may feel brave enough to attempt to repair their Venetian plaster wall themselves should it become damaged. While it is possible to do this, it is not recommended if you want to maintain the pristine appearance of your wall. If scratches or cracks do appear, we recommend you contact an experienced polished plaster specialist, who will quickly and easily be able to restore your wall to its original, beautiful appearance.

Find out more about polished plaster

If you are considering polished plaster for your home or business, or you would like more information about how to maintain it, please call us on 0113 258 0387. Our specialist team will be happy to advise you.