GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR USE AND INSTALLATION
Product Bulletin

COVERAGE:

Up to 30sqm/5gal-pail for Veneziano (interior plaster) or, in the case of Stucco (exterior plaster), 14sqm/5gal-pail, based on application to a smooth wall surface, with no more than 3mm deviation from true level, without crevices, holes and/or pock-marks, that may cause more material to be used to fill up such gaps or spaces.
The coverage indicated is merely average and should not be misconstrued as an express warranty to same. Coverage can also be affected by degree of smoothness of the surface.

STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE:

Use VASARI products within six months from time of delivery. Store in dark, cool and dry environments.

APPLICATION:

Cement Surfaces:

Vasari plaster and stucco must be applied to completely dry cement walls. Recommended curing time for cement wall finishes ideally should be 28 days to ensure total curing but must not be less than 14 days.

Both Veneziano and Stucco may be applied directly to bare cement walls without need for any further preparation but will cause more material to be used, the extent of which will depend on degree of roughness of the surface.

After rough cement plastering, Vasari strongly recommends the use of its VASARI Base Coat to be applied to rough cement plaster as an initial layer to prepare the surface for application of VASARI products. Third party skim coats may be used if preferred. However, VASARI categorically does not warrant performance of such as cement-based skim coats tend to manifest cracking at times and “spider web-like hairline cracks after drying and may leave slight marks to a very smooth Veneziano finish, which, while does not materially affect the appearance of the finished surface, some customers may object to.

While not recommended, at Customer’s option, however, Vasari products may be applied directly to pure cement-smoothed walls.

CAUTION:
In using skim coats, follow directions carefully, as per manufacturers’ recommendations. Specifically, follow strictly curing period recommended by the manufacturer before applying Vasari product on top of. Test the skim coat after it’s completely cured by soaking in water for about an hour and scratching the surface for durability. A skim coat that does not peel off or scratch off after being subjected to such test is an ideal surface.

Wood, Gypsum, Fiber Cement and other non-cement Surfaces:
When applying to non-cement surfaces, surface must be primed with latex or acrylic primers ONLY. Vasari plasters will not adhere to oil-based primed surfaces such as “Acrytex” brand primer or similar products as they are oil-based.

Remodel Projects:
Plaster can be applied directly to painted surfaces provided the paint used on the surface is not oil-based. However, the strength of adhesion of the plaster is only as good as the existing paint’s adhesion is to the wall or substrate.

Inspect carefully the condition of the paint on which the plaster is to be applied to. If there are signs of cracking, blistering or flaking, chances are the wall or substrate need to be fixed prior to application of the plaster and removal of the paint prior to plastering is necessary to ensure adhesion of the plaster.

CAUTION: Suitability for Use:
The end-users or applicators are ultimately responsible for suitability of use of Vasari products and therefore must conduct whatever tests necessary to ensure proper adhesion of Vasari to their intended surfaces.

Equipment and Mechanics:
Essential tools necessary for Vasari application are metal trowels and hawks, ordinary paint brushes. For mixing on site, a hand drill fitted with a mixing paddle is necessary for mixing. Check for availability of these items with us. We may have some on stock.

Use a well-smoothed and true-straighted edge metal trowel to apply the plaster. Sand trowel edges regularly to keep edges in good condition. Just exert enough pressure to apply the product evenly across the surface. A hawk is handy during application as it saves time and lessens wastage due to spillage and dropped product or “droppings,” when transferring product from pail to trowel.

Always keep pails covered so that no contaminants get mixed into the pails during application.

Prior to application, mask all areas not intended for plastering. After application, wait for plaster to completely dry before removing the mask. Remove mask gently as some plaster may come off with it during removal. Wait for plaster to completely dry prior to removal.

Prior to application of plaster, it is recommended that edges and corners first be applied with plaster using a brush. Use an appropriate-sized paint brush to apply plaster to all negative and positive corners, as well as hard-to-reach or hard to trowel surface areas. For corners and edges, brush about one (1) inch beyond the edge or corner. This will eliminate having to trowel all the way to edges and having to clean up corners encrusted with extra plaster after application.

For Veneziano, two coats are recommended. The first coat should just be to cover the surface. Wait for the coat to completely dry and then apply the second coat.

For Stucco, one coat and two passes is recommended. Apply the stucco, wait for it to set up just enough so that it can be re-troweled without coming off. Use a clean trowel with some plaster to finish the surface.

CAUTION: Ensure that all surfaces are free of dust prior to application of Vasari plaster. Wipe all surfaces clean with a damp cloth prior to application.

CAUTION: When applying stucco on exteriors, always work under the shade, i.e. in the morning, the east side is exposed to the sun. Conversely, work on the east side in the afternoon as the sun will be on the west side. If it really cannot be avoided, wet the surface well prior to application as the walls will dry very quickly.

CAUTION: Do not apply too much pressure when applying plaster.

This will result in some areas becoming very dark. When you see dark lines or areas or spots during application, that is an indication that too much pressure is being applied.

Different strokes may be used to apply plaster. There is no one “right” stroke to use. This is a matter of preference. Generally, a free-style stroke application results in more texture, more consistent strokes, less texture.

CAUTION: When stopping work in the process of application of plaster, i.e. break times or end of work day, do not leave straight edges. Always feather edges so that lines will not develop when continuing application. A straight edge will result in a distinct joint line.

Sheen in Veneziano is achieved by continuous troweling with a clean trowel over almost dry second coat. The more passes, the more sheen.

Stucco, while can be troweled to produce a certain amount of sheen, will not produce as much sheen as Veneziano, even with continuous troweling due to presence of sand in stucco.

A subtle sheen can also be achieved by simply wet-sanding (using a 320grit sandpaper), the surface after the plaster has dried up. This method also results in better-controlled degrees of sheen.

Whatever method is used, the general rule is dried plaster cannot be re-worked, and neither can wet plaster.

Colorants.
Vasari plasters always come in 3-gallon or 5-gal pails, pre-mixed and ready-to-apply, wet plaster.

CAUTION: For users who want to mix their own colors using colorants not supplied by Vasari, the warranty of Vasari against discoloration and fading is automatically voided.

Shelf Life:
Veneziano has an open shelf life and can be stored indefinitely. Stucco, on the other hand, is delivered with a separate packet of pre-measured pozzolan cement. So long as the pozzolan is not mixed into the pail, stucco will also have an indefinite shelf life.

For Stucco, prior to use for exterior surfaces, the packet of pozzolan must be added to the pail at site using a hand drill to mix. Once mixed, the product will have a 48-hour shelf life before it hardens and becomes unusable. Always mix only what can be consumed in a day.

Storage:
When leaving a pail overnight or for any extended period of time, always add about one half (1/2in) inch of clean fresh water on the surface of the pail. This will compensate for any evaporation during the night. Mix again in the morning to redistribute the water prior to use.

CAUTION: DO NOT USE SALT WATER TO MIX VASARI PRODUCTS!

Care and Maintenance:
All Vasari products can be cleaned using just plain water in most instances. Ordinary detergent and appropriate household cleaners can be used to remove stubborn stains. Acid-based cleaners are not recommended.

VASARI SEALER:
Vasari supplies a solvent-based sealer that is recommended for plasters applied to exterior surfaces. The use of sealer will protect the plaster finish and will make the surface easier to clean over time and will offer more resistance to stains and dirt alike. The sealer can be applied using a wide brush or roller.

Liquid coconut oil soap works well to seal Veneziano in interior applications.