Polished Glossy Marmorino Wall Finishes

Introduction to Marmorino Veneziano Carrara

This finish is smooth with a variable degree of lustre depending on how much it has been burnished. Carrara is a very smooth and satiny with pleasant light and shade effects owing to its visible workmanship, which gives it a sense of depth. Carrara Marmorino is suitable for both interior and exterior surfaces.

Unlike marble it has a single, soft color with subtle shadings. It is a natural material made of lime and ground marble.

Its principal characteristics are hardness and durability even in humid environments such as the Venetian lagoon. It is especially appreciated for its aesthetic effects; its unique appearance is especially enhanced under good lighting. It is used in sophisticated environments, such as reception areas, offices, and villas. It is also suitable for use in bathrooms, where it is used as an alternative to marble and ceramic.

Marmorino is one of the finest plasters common in Venice during its splendour years. It has a very smooth surface like that of marble from which it derives its name: “marmo” means marble in Italian language.

Product information

Surfaces suitable for applying Marmorino Veneziano Carrara

Type of surface	Preparation required
New lime and sand based plaster	No priming necessary
Gypsum	One coat of Quartz Primer
Plasterboard	One coat of Quartz Primer
Medium density	One coat of Quartz Primer
Old plaster	Brush down thoroughly and one coat of Primer Normal or of Quartz Primer
Limewash	Brush down thoroughly and one coat of Quartz Primer or Primer Normal
Polished lime finish	Brush down thoroughly and sandpaper and one coat of Quartz Primer
Washable paint	One coat of Quartz Primer

How to apply Marmorino Veneziano Carrara

Note: This is a description of the normal application.

Tools necessary for application: Normal big trowel, good big trowel, medium size good trowel, plastic trowel, soft cloth.

Before application

Protection of the work area: Tape around all baseboards, doors and windows before beginning work. The first coat applied can be either white or colored plaster.

Primer application

One coat of Primer Quartz is applied with roller or brush to a uniformly smooth, clean surface and allowed completely to dry (3-5 hours).

It is necessary to apply the primer on all surfaces with the exception of plasters made of lime and sand. These have a similar composition to marmorino.

Note: In the bucket, water on the surface is normal, and should be removed before use. All lime-based products lose their viscosity when shaken, and need a period of 12 ± 24 hours after mixing to regain their density.

The product is very dense, and ready for use, thus it may be necessary to use an appropriate drill attachment to stir for a few minutes to reduce viscosity. Choose the colour.

Add all of the color additive to the container and continue mixing until a homogeneous shade is obtained. Let the product rest for 12 ± 24 hours before using.

N.B.: For exteriors, do not apply these products on windy or rainy days in order to obtain a continuous coat without linear interruptions on the wall.

Preparation of the Marmorino material – colorization

In the bucket, water on the surface is normal, and should be removed before use. All lime-based products lose their viscosity when shaken, and need a period of 12 ± 24 hours after mixing to regain their density. The product is very dense, and ready for use, thus it may be necessary to use an appropriate drill attachment to stir for a few minutes to reduce viscosity.

After opening the container of Velvet Marmorino, remove any water on the surface, and mix for about 30 seconds using an electric mixer until homogenized. To correctly choose and mix the color read “General Rules for Correct Color Mixing” described in our Color System. Choose the colour. Add all of the color additives to the container and continue mixing until a homogeneous shade is obtained. Let the product rest for 12 ± 24 hours before use.

Don’t apply in temperatures below 5°C (41°F).

1. Remember to have a strong light parallel to the wall and situated on only one of the two sides of the wall you are working on (usually on the same side other sources of light come from such as the windows). In this way the shadow of the trowel allows you to see the actual state of the finish. Every so often, during the second and third coat, the light should be moved so that the wall doesn’t dry out too much in one spot from the heat of the lamp.
2. The first coat is applied with a metal trowel using visible strokes, which will be the underlying base for the final coats. This coat is applied thickly, using about 950/ 1000 grams of material per square meter. The aim in laying the first coat is to obtain a thick, absorbent layer on which to spread the successive coats.
3. During all the application of the three coats keep a strong light parallel to the wall. To avoid problems removing the masking tape at the end of the job, it is best to replace all the tape when the first coat is almost or completely dry.
4. When the first coat has completely dried, normally by the next day, the second coat is carefully applied with a large metal trowel using 750 / 800 grams per square meter. Always keep in mind that the aim of this coat is to lay the smoothest and most uniform surface possible, being careful to avoid the creation of shiny areas. Since shiny areas can cause problems when applying the successive coats, it is necessary to work with a light touch, without pressing too hard; maintain a 40° angle with the blade of the trowel. If a single second coat does not succeed in obtaining a smooth, even surface, you should apply another coat before the second coat begins to dry. We suggest applying this additional second coat especially when the desired finish is to have little or none texture or when you want to achieve a superior quality job.
5. As soon as the second coat begins to dry you can apply (wet into wet, so that the granules of marble can penetrate into the previous applied coat) the last one in very thin layer (80–100 grams per m²) to small areas (max. 1 m²) with a large, or better yet, medium-sized metal trowel. Normally, you should start high on the wall (on either the right- preferred by left handed- or the left side – preferred by right-hand people- of the wall) swiping on one trowel application after another; each time, the trowel swipe should be in a different direction than the previous one so that you obtain a harmonious design. At the beginning of each swipe, the blade of the trowel should be at a 30–35° angle to the wall moving toward the plaster you have already laid. As you continue the swiping movement, you immediately remove excess material by changing the angle of the spatula to 40–45° while moving toward the area you have previous laid. In this way you keep the newly-laid plaster thin enough over the previous applications while shining the area of contact between the newly-laid plaster and the area you have already polished. Since the material on your spatula dries out over time, occasionally you will need to scrape the thickened material off, disposing of it, and replacing it with fresh plaster.
6. To achieve seamless application when moving from one section to the other you need to proceed both horizontally and vertically. Normally, the application should continue until the wall is completely finished. If the wall is large, you will need more than one person to apply the finish; otherwise, you risk leaving unsightly overlapping marks.
7. With this coat, proceed to the final polishing, going over the surface repeatedly with a clean metal trowel. Be sure the edges of the blade of the trowel is always even by using P240–360 sandpaper. Occasionally, go back to the last square meter and burnish all of it. For a more highly polished finish we suggest to burnish at the end (after burnished with the metal trowel and before it dry) using a plastic trowel (prepared with rounded edges) and then with a soft fabric cloth. If 3 people are working, it’s best that 2 people apply the material with a quick polishing and the 3rd person only polish.
8. Important note: While applying the third coat, but especially during the polishing phase be careful to move the trowel with the back of the trowel directly following in the path of the front of the trowel. That is, the movement of the trowel MUST NOT be perpendicular to the trowel’s handle, but parallel to it. If this is not possible, then the trowel’s movement on the wall should form a 45° angle with respect to the its axis (the handle).
   See video clip on how to polish with the trowel at the correct angle.
9. During application be sure the work area isn’t too damp or warm to avoid problems with application times.
10. With Carrara, once it is completely dry, but not before 24 hours have passed, we suggest using our Natural Bee’s Wax, colored with the same pigment you used for the stucco. It makes the finish more refined ( “richer”), reducing light spots.
11. Remember when you are applying our Marmorino, it should not be too difficult. If it seems too difficult, stop and try to understand what the problem is.

Protecting stucco surfaces against dirt

Marmorino, thanks to its smooth surface, is a finish which doesn't get dirty easily. However, we advise the following protective treatments. Removing dust with a soft dry cloth is normally enough. After some years it can be cleaned with the specific Marmorino cleaner. Do not use water or normal soap.

Interiors

After a minimum of 24 hours, at least one coat of the following can be applied:

1. A coat of Natural Bee’s Wax to obtain waterproofing and a general protection against dirt. It makes the surface shinier.
2. A coat of Marseille Soap waterproofing. This does not make the surface look shinier.

Exteriors

After at least 48 hours at 20°C or above, proceed with colourless, penetrating Idrocalce surface protection, developed to protect exterior plaster surfaces.