Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans Frequently Asked Questions – 2025

Please read the below information that covers a little about us, payment and billing, order shipping and fulfillment, sample and color matching services, and specific things to know for Italiwalls students.

Italiwalls students – more specific information for you is below at the bottom of the page. Please read all FAQ’s carefully including those preceding the Italiwalls section. Thank you!

A Little Bit To Know About Us & Your Order

Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans (GCPA) is dedicated to bringing you world-class plaster, microcement, and decorative arts materials at highly competitive prices along with great customer service and product support. We are the US distributor of Stucco Italiano plasters and decorative arts products. We are the Gulf South distributor for Topcret, the world’s leading manufacturer of microcement from Barcelona, Spain. Additionally, we are certified trainers for both Stucco Italiano and Topcret.

Like you, we are also busy applicators with our sister business, Sylvia T Designs, The Gulf South’s premier decorative arts firm. Most days, we are also on jobsites. So, we appreciate your patience. We work to respond as quickly as possible and get your orders going as soon as we can. However, please be aware that it may take us a business day or two to get back to you. Please note that we currently do not offer an online store. Please see the “Payment and Billing” section for more.

Payment & Billing

At this point, we don’t feature an online store. We have found that most orders require additional support, information, and customer service to ensure you get exactly what you need for your projects! The best way to reach us to start the process is via email at: info “at” gulfcoastplasterartisans.com. You can also call us at 504.435.8081.
The preferred method for payment is either payment through Quickbooks invoices (we provide a secure link for you to pay online) or an ACH bank transfer.
We do not accept credit cards over the phone. You can securely pay using a credit or debit card with the Quickbooks payment method with a 3% credit card fee.
ACH bank transfers incur no additional fees. Please contact us for information if you prefer this method.
PayPal Pay in 4 options are also possible for certain purchases and workshop registration fees.
Mailed checks are strongly discouraged due to the unreliability of postal services these days and the potential for fraud.
The order fulfillment process begins once payment is received and funds have cleared the account.
Invoices and estimates are good for 30 days. After that point, a new invoice must be generated, and prices and timing for fulfillment are subject to change.

Order Shipping & Fulfillment

Orders are generally fulfilled one day per week. Our application and project schedule may alter that.
Please allow up to 10 business days for your order to ship once payment is received.
If you require an accelerated timeline, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you (though, we cannot guarantee it.)
We always work to keep shipping costs down whenever and wherever possible. As these products are often oddly shaped, heavy, etc., shipping costs can vary significantly, depending on the order.
We typically ship using normal ground carriers for small and medium-sized orders. Larger orders will/can be shipped LTL as needed. We will work with you to optimize the best shipping options for your order.
Out-of-stock materials, those we do not regularly carry in inventory, and very large orders may require special ordering from the manufacturer. These orders require pre-payment. Expedited shipping, via air freight is available, if needed, for an additional cost.
Sea shipment orders can take up to 8 weeks to receive, clear customs, and be ready to ship domestically. We regularly put in sea shipment orders from our manufacturers.
Please note – we host several training workshops at our space in New Orleans. During the week of the workshop and the 2-3 days beforehand (end of the previous week, typically), orders will not be fulfilled and shipped. They will do so immediately upon resuming normal business activities the week after the workshop concludes.

Sample Production & Color Matching Services

Sample production and color matching services happen on a regular basis, however, not daily.
Color matching and samples are produced by hand and take time (same day or next day is generally not possible).
These services are in frequent demand and there is often a cue for them. We will inform you of the approximate turnaround time.
We always do our best to accommodate your project needs and schedule in concert with managing our own application schedule and project needs.
We can color match virtually anything and are always able to do so with Benjamin Moore, Farrow and Ball, and Sherwin Williams colors as well as others.
We are happy to discuss the aesthetic you are trying to achieve and can provide these services to you to assist your project goals.

Support & Education

We always strive to provide the best support possible to our clients.
Please note – we sell professional level products to professional applicators and budding professional applicators only.
If you are looking to learn more about professional application, we suggest you check out our in-person workshops offered throughout the year. More here. Another great option if you are just getting started is to explore online education options through our partner, Italiwalls. More here.
As mentioned above, we are also active applicators working on job sites, this gives us hands-on and direct experience with the products we sell. It also means that we may take a bit of time to get back to you on support questions and inquiries. We thank you for your patience!

For Italiwalls Students

Italiwalls & Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans Kits: FAQ’s

What is the process for ordering my kit?

We are excited you have signed up for an Italiwalls course. At this time, Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans does not have a system for ordering kits online. We have a partnership with Italiwalls as the USA distributor for Stucco Italiano products, but supplying the plaster kits for courses is a new endeavor as of 2025. Here’s what you can expect when you order a kit:

The best way to get the ball rolling with the kit(s) you need is to email us at info “at” gulfcoastplasterartisans.com. In the email, let us know the specific name(s) of the Italiwalls courses you are taking.
We will set up a profile for you within our system based on the information you provided on the New Client Form.
We will send you pricing for the kit(s) corresponding with the courses you have signed up for (not including shipping.)
We will send you an invoice through Quickbooks for secure payment.
Once the invoice is paid, we will process your order and get it shipped via UPS Ground.
We will follow up with tracking information for your order.

What can I expect in my kit?

Kits provided by Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans will contain only Stucco Italiano primers, plasters, sealers, and color packs. You will also have the choice of Stucco Italiano tools to order. We do not provide any supplemental materials you may see in the videos (ex. brushes, rollers, tape, extra buckets, mixing tools, etc). We opted for this approach to keep the kit cost down and minimize single use waste since you may already have these items or can easily access them.

Can I change the contents of my kit?

All kits are sold as is. Each product within the kit is proportioned to follow the scope of the course. All tools are sold à la carte so you can choose exactly what you need. There are a few options for color choice in certain kits; this will be noted on the kit. Otherwise, the colors are as is. If you are interested in purchasing products that differ from the contents of the kit, Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans can provide you with 2KG sample sizes of most plasters, primers, and sealers. Here we can customize your order!

How much is shipping?

All our kits are shipped through Shippo, from New Orleans, Louisiana. We always look for the most competitive prices. Shipping is dependent on the weight and size of the package, as well as the destination. Kits with fewer components will be lighter versus kits with many components, which may be heavier. Please understand that these products are heavy. A kit can range between 15-40lbs.

When can I expect my kit?

Please allow up to 10 business days from our receipt of payment for your order to be processed. Orders are processed one day per week. We are a small business, with a small staff, with multiple responsibilities. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We value customer service and transparency in our process.

What kind of technical support can I expect?

Tom at Italiwalls is a master artisan! He is your go-to person for technical support in regard to the application processes for the kits and courses. You can reach him via Discord or WhatsApp. We are able to answer questions about the contents of the kits, but Tom will have the most accurate insight on how/when to use products in the context of the courses.

When you’re ready to order sample sizes or full pails of plaster, Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans will be ready to help you with selecting the appropriate primers, base plasters, and sealers for the finish you want to achieve. Our team members are certified and highly trained Stucco Italiano applicators. We know the tips and tricks from experience! We believe in exceptional customer support to ensure you are getting the most out of the products you ordered.

Are there safety and technical data sheets for the products?

If you are looking for a safety and technical data sheet for any of the products, we would like to direct you to the Stucco Italiano website: https://stuccoitaliano.com/ Stucco Italiano keeps their technical data sheet up to date with feedback from applicators. They are always working to improve their products and processes for use.

What can I use my one time, 10% discount on for being an Italiwalls course participant?

We are so glad you enjoyed Stucco Italiano products and excited for you to keep developing your craft! Your one-time, 10% discount can be redeemed on any order for any full-size pails of plasters, primers, and sealers. This discount does not apply to sample size pails of any products (plasters, primers, or sealers), tools, colorants/color packs, additives, sample boards, services, or shipping.