Packaging
Marmorino Fine comes in paste form in 24, 16, and 8 kg buckets.
The product is white and can be tinted with our Colour System.
Yield
24kg of Marmorino Fine (1 bucket) = 26 square meters
Composition
Very aged, finely filtered slaked lime putty, special powdered marble granules sifted and selected according to granule size of 0,0 to 40µm, water, and special additives (no more than 1,8% total in wet volume).
Application
Note: This is a description of the normal application.
Tools necessary for application: Normal big trowel, good big trowel, medium size good trowel, soft cloth.
Protection of the work area: Apply masking tape and protective material over the baseboards and around windows and doors.
Don’t apply in temperatures below 5°C (41°F).
Don’t apply outside if the wall doesn’t have upper protection like the protrusion of a roof.
- 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.
- The first coat applied can be either white or colored plaster. 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 600 grams of material per square meter. The aim of laying the first coat is to obtain a thick, absorbent layer on which to spread the successive coats.
- 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.
- When the first coat has completely dried, normally by the next day, the second coat is carefully applied with a large metal trowel using 400 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 creating shiny areas. Since shiny areas can cause problems when applying the next coat, it is necessary to work with a light touch, without pressing too hard; maintain a 40° angle with the blade of the trowel. If the application of a single second coat does not give you a smooth, even surface, you should apply another coat immediately before the second coat dries. We suggest applying this additional second coat especially when the desired finish is to have little texture or when you want to achieve a superior, quality job.
- While you can apply the final coat as soon as the second coat begins to dry, most people prefer to wait for the second coat to dry completely because of the risk of peeling. Apply the last coat in a thin layer to small areas (max. 1 square meter) 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 swipes should be in a different direction than the previous one so that you obtain a harmonious design. At the beginning of each swipe, 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 previously laid. In this way, you keep the newly-laid plaster thin enough over the previous applications while polishing 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.
- 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.
- With this coat, proceed to the final polishing, going over the surface repeatedly with a clean metal trowel moved in different directions. Be sure the edges of the trowel blade are always smooth by using P240-360 sandpaper. If 3 people are working, it’s best that 2 people apply the material with a quick polishing and the 3rd person only polish. Before it dries, finish by buffing it with soft fabric cloth.
- 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 its axis (the handle).
- The aim of the third coat is to obtain a smooth and shiny surface. Shiny meaning that the porosity has been reduced as much as possible. You need to understand that when the material begins to dry, it shrinks, opening up micro-pores. The more micro-pores there are, the less shiny the surface will be. If the third coat is too thick, either by mistake or by necessity (in the case where the previous coat was not smooth enough), the finish might not be shiny enough. To avoid this, it may be preferable to apply the third coat in two layers. First, by applying a quick coat to a square-meter area without polishing, and then by applying another again, this time completing the polishing as described above.
- During application be sure the work area isn’t too damp or warm to avoid problems with application times.
- With Classic, once it is completely dry, after at least 24 hours, we suggest using our Natural Bee’s Wax, colored with the same pigment you used for the stucco. It makes a more refined, “richer” finish, and reduces light spots.
- 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
Marmorino, thanks to its smooth surface, is a finish that doesn’t get dirty easily. However, we advise the following protective treatments.
Interiors
After a minimum of 24 hours, at least one coat of the following can be applied:
- A coat of Natural Bee’s Wax to obtain waterproofing and general protection against dirt. It makes the surface shinier.
- A coat of Marseille Soap waterproofing. This does not make the surface look shinier and gives a nice peculiar soft touch.
Exteriors
After at least 72 hours at 20°C or above, proceed with colorless, penetrating HydroCalce, developed to protect exterior plaster surfaces.