Home & Garden Cleaning & Laundry

How to Burnish Venetian Plaster the Easy Way

By Home & Garden Last updated Friday, May/31/2024

1). Wait for the final coat of plaster to dry on the wall for 24 hours before burnishing, so you don't remove the plaster. The plaster should be slightly tacky to the touch when you begin burnishing.
2). Attach 600-grit sandpaper to a hand-held power sander.
3). Turn on the sander and lightly run the sandpaper over the surface of the plaster. Work in small circles along the wall until the plaster surface develops a light gloss and the color deepens.
4). Sand the wall multiple times until you reach the level of glossiness you desire. Each pass with the sander will raise the gloss level slightly, but also reduces the color variations in the plaster.
5). Wipe the wall with a clean cloth to remove burnishing residue after you make the final pass with the sandpaper.