People are becoming more and more concerned about indoor air quality. Homes plagued with VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) or mold can negatively impact the health of the occupants. According to Green By Design, “an estimated 15% of the U.S. population — millions of people — are chronically ill from their homes, and indoor air quality is a major factor.”

If you are using Venetian plaster, you might want to check out some info on indoor air quality around the web:

• The EPA’s guide to indoor air quality

• Wikipedia on indoor air quality

• Treehugger on causes and testing of poor indoor air quality

• Build It Green explains that “A common source of indoor air pollution is the offgassing of chemicals found in many building materials…”

• There’s even an Indoor Air Quality Association…

Have you noticed a difference between working with non-toxic Venetian plasters versus acrylic finishes? Tell us about it in the comments…

• UPDATED 8-18-09

VENETIAN PLASTER AND FAUX FINISHERS:

http://twitter.com/VistaCustmClrs
http://twitter.com/GregthePainter

http://twitter.com/shaktispace
http://twitter.com/smartartstudios
http://twitter.com/FauxDaddy
http://twitter.com/KimKimCherie
http://twitter.com/momsiepalooza
http://twitter.com/barnmom
http://twitter.com/annielore
http://twitter.com/PaintedLadyRach
http://twitter.com/Token12ga
http://twitter.com/singingwalls
http://twitter.com/carolreynolds
http://twitter.com/IcingStudios
http://twitter.com/LynneRutter
http://twitter.com/artistryinfaux
http://twitter.com/muralmaker1
http://twitter.com/FikeStudio
http://twitter.com/faithfaux
http://twitter.com/goldleafwalls

OTHER  – INCLUDING DECORATIVE CEMENT AND PLASTER CONTRACTORS

]]> http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/social-media/twitter/venetian-plaster-and-faux-finish-people-on-twitter-updated/feed/ 3 http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/tips-tricks/venetian-plaster-installation-intonachino-x-fine-interior/ http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/tips-tricks/venetian-plaster-installation-intonachino-x-fine-interior/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 21:40:47 +0000 Aaron Cohen http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/?p=892 This project involves the interior installation of about 6000 square feet of our Intonachino Extra Fine lime plaster.  We are doing the finish in a distressed style, leaving some random openings between the first and second coat and lacing in some lighter highlights.

We went through a number of samples to find just the right color and texture.  Below is a sample wall I did just to make sure the owners were completely comfortable with the finish before we got started.

The clients asked me to come up with something that would work well in their elegant Mediterranean home. It was easy to see how using a richer color for the interior walls would help accent the substantial crown moldings, baseboards, and casings and give the home more richness and depth. The owners commented that once the walls started getting plastered the paint job on the walls began to look like primer – as if the house had not been completely finished until we showed up.

My good friend Bill Kaiser, owner of Elite Plaster in Bend, Oregon, and his brother David came up to help out with the project.  Both guys, although relatively young, have a great deal of expertise in Venetian plaster application, as well as extensive exterior stucco knowledge.  Bill’s done numerous exterior applications with Intonachino in central Oregon over the past few years.

We ran our material as a modified wet-on-wet application.  First coat was applied and allowed to go to set – as soon as we were sure there were no soft spots on the first coat we went right back in with the finish coat, waited for that to firm up, and then came back with a clean trowel to press and smooth the finish.

This technique saves some time and materials as compared to a traditional application in which one allows the first coat to go completely dry and come back next day.  Another advantage of going wet-on-wet is that the residual moisture in the first coat gives the second coat more open time, eliminating concerns about cold joints and lap marks even over large walls.  I wouldn’t recommend the same application on an exterior – you’re much better off doing a full first coat and letting it dry completely for exteriors.

We still have a week’s worth of work doing sealer and finishing columns and a couple of accent areas next week, but most of the wall surfaces are complete.  Those exterior stucco guys move fast!  Here’s a before of the hallway:

And after:

I’ll post more finished shots when we get ‘er all done.

…

This project involves the interior installation of about 6000 square feet of our Intonachino Extra Fine lime plaster.  We are doing the finish in a distressed style, leaving some random openings between the first and second coat and lacing in some lighter highlights.

We went through a number of samples to find just the right color and texture.  Below is a sample wall I did just to make sure the owners were completely comfortable with the finish before we got started.

The clients asked me to come up with something that would work well in their elegant Mediterranean home. It was easy to see how using a richer color for the interior walls would help accent the substantial crown moldings, baseboards, and casings and give the home more richness and depth. The owners commented that once the walls started getting plastered the paint job on the walls began to look like primer – as if the house had not been completely finished until we showed up.

My good friend Bill Kaiser, owner of Elite Plaster in Bend, Oregon, and his brother David came up to help out with the project.  Both guys, although relatively young, have a great deal of expertise in Venetian plaster application, as well as extensive exterior stucco knowledge.  Bill’s done numerous exterior applications with Intonachino in central Oregon over the past few years.

We ran our material as a modified wet-on-wet application.  First coat was applied and allowed to go to set – as soon as we were sure there were no soft spots on the first coat we went right back in with the finish coat, waited for that to firm up, and then came back with a clean trowel to press and smooth the finish.

This technique saves some time and materials as compared to a traditional application in which one allows the first coat to go completely dry and come back next day.  Another advantage of going wet-on-wet is that the residual moisture in the first coat gives the second coat more open time, eliminating concerns about cold joints and lap marks even over large walls.  I wouldn’t recommend the same application on an exterior – you’re much better off doing a full first coat and letting it dry completely for exteriors.

We still have a week’s worth of work doing sealer and finishing columns and a couple of accent areas next week, but most of the wall surfaces are complete.  Those exterior stucco guys move fast!  Here’s a before of the hallway:

And after:

I’ll post more finished shots when we get ‘er all done.

]]> http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/tips-tricks/venetian-plaster-installation-intonachino-x-fine-interior/feed/ 6 http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/social-media/aaron-and-stucco-italiano-venetian-plaster-featured-on-fauxology-blog/ http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/social-media/aaron-and-stucco-italiano-venetian-plaster-featured-on-fauxology-blog/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:39:54 +0000 Katharine Houpt http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/?p=720 The lovely and talented Regina Garay of Garay Artisans posted a nice feature on Stucco Italiano including an interview with Aaron. He discusses what first sparked his interest in Venetian plaster as well as some of the more popular lime-based products.

Regina is quite prolific and her blog, Fauxology, is always a great read.  One of the most articulate and balanced resources we know of.  Definitely subscribe if you’re in the biz. Check her out on twitter too.

Thanks Regina for all you hard work!…

]]> The lovely and talented Regina Garay of Garay Artisans posted a nice feature on Stucco Italiano including an interview with Aaron. He discusses what first sparked his interest in Venetian plaster as well as some of the more popular lime-based products.

Regina is quite prolific and her blog, Fauxology, is always a great read.  One of the most articulate and balanced resources we know of.  Definitely subscribe if you’re in the biz. Check her out on twitter too.

Thanks Regina for all you hard work!

]]> http://www.stuccoitalianoinc.com/social-media/aaron-and-stucco-italiano-venetian-plaster-featured-on-fauxology-blog/feed/ 0

Jenn used Marmorino Carrara on these pillars (click on them to enlarge)…

And these are from her Intonachino project a few months ago…

And last but not least, and exquisite application of Marmorino Classic…

Like what you see? Contact Jenn.

Are you a Stucco Italiano installer that would like to be featured here?  Contact Katharine and send some photos.

Our Stucco Italiano line consists of non-toxic, natural lime plasters. If you work with our materials you can be confident you are offering your customers a natural alternative to acrylic and cement based materials, both of which do not offer the same naturally green characteristics. Pointing these features out is a good place to start a conversation about what kind of wall finishing materials your customer wants in their home.