The concept of the « marmorino off-white» decor
“The texture is mineral, it is a traditional Italian marmorino, a mix of lime and marble powder. The finish is very matt. The colour is a chic, sophisticated off-white.
The plaster is animated with deep striations which create a dynamic rhythm. The lines are vertical, although not straight.
The artist's gesture is perceptible, you can feel the energy with which the plaster has been applied and the experimented hand of the artisan.
t is what gives all its value to the decor, bringing a modern, strong and sensitive touch to the walls. “
Caroline Perrin
STEP 1 : Study the architects drawings and understand the layout
Study the plans and drawings to understand the number of panels, their sizes, their direction, and the overall layout.
If you have joints because the decor is made of several panels, make sure the joints are hidden behind a shelf or behind a screen or video panel.
If you work directly on walls, and panels form an angle, get organised to work on one panel on day 1 and on the other panel on day 2, as you cannot apply marmorino on adjacent walls on the same day
Check the direction of each panel before starting. The decor is vertical
Check the number of workers you consider necessary to carry out the entire application, because the marmorino plaster dries very fast and you might 4 people on certain large walls.
STEP 2 : Order the material
Primer : MARCOSIL GRIP PRE-TINTED FOR WT04 (COLOR RAL: 9016)
MARCOSIL GRIP is a mineral product containing modified potassium silicate
Yield : approx.1L per 5 sqm
Plaster : MARMORINO « OFF-WHITE » (colour formulation for 25 kg : bianca base - WS 56 - TW 6)
MARMORINO CLASSICO is a base of mineral binder with lime, for finishes that resemble the ancient plasters of the buildings of Venice and are characterised by varying shades and colour effects. The colour is specifically developed for Dior Parfums.
Yield : approx. 1,4Kg per sqm
Water-repellent : H-REP SILOSSANICO
H-REP SILOSSANICO is a ready-to-use water-based product for the protection of mineral surfaces, giving them great resistance to alkalis and atmospheric agents. It has a waterrepellent effect on the surface
Yield : 0.5L per sqm
LIST of CONTACTS at SAN MARCO:
MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA:
RamyTadros Ramy.Tadros@sanmarcogroup.it
+ 971 54460 56 40
CHINA, and SOUTH KOREA:
Ming Yan
+86 13901042176
SPAIN, OCEANIA, AMERICAS, JAPAN, AFRICA:
MkheidzeYulia
Yulia.Mkheidze@sanmarcogroup.it
+ 39342336 99 88
BALKANS COUNTRIES, HUNGARY:
David Sav
+385 91519 17 24
CENTRAL EUROPE, UK, NETHERLAND, IRELAND ,SWITZERLAND, PORTUGAL, ROMANIA :
Jonathan Sharpe
Jonathan.sharpe@sanmarcogroup.it
+ 39340098 77 52
STEP 3 : Order the tools
Coating knife
Spatula
Expert smoother (60-80cm)
American knife
Spalter brush
Specific metallic brush
Wedge and sandpaper (120 / 240)
Masking tapes of different widths
(including 3mm or 5mm tapes)
Paint roller Medium-long coat
STEP 4 : Prepare the panels
1. Apply a sealer (local sourcing)
Panels should be prepared well in advance to allow for sufficient drying time. Remove all the dust or powder from previous sanding before you apply the sealer. Use a vacuum cleaner and a wet cloth. Dusting is very important otherwise there is a risk that the marmorino will not stick enough to the surface. Use a sealer adapted to the nature of the panel whether for MDF, plywood, aluminium or dibond.
2. Apply a special Primer for Marmorino : MARCOSIL (from San Marco)
Once the sealer is fully dry, and only then (follow instructions regarding drying times as indicated by the supplier), apply one coat of marcosil grip tinted in RAL 9016. Use a roller. As indicated on the primer bucket you may dilute the marcosil grip by adding 25% of water. The marcosil grip takes 12 hours to dry to heart.
STEP 5 : Prepare the marmorino WT04 & the brush
Mix the marmorino with a mixing drill to make it more malleable. Do not use water to dilute it (it contains lime). Using water could change the colour.
It is often quite solid when you open the bucket. Just mixing it a little will change its consistence and will make it much easier to apply.
Create the perfect brush :
Bend the metal wires of the brush with your hand to create a thinner pattern. Test the result on the sample until you obtain a graphism that you like.
STEP 6 : Application
Part 1 : Apply one coat of marmorino
• Apply a layer of marmorino everywhere, not too thick, but check that it is thick enough at the edges, where it dries the fastest.
• Smooth the plaster to make it homogeneous in thickness : use a large smoother to erase the defects of the blade. Some marks left by the tool are allowed if they are vertical and not too important • Remove the marmorino from the sides of the panel (do not let it dry until the next day as it becomes hard like stone).
• => this should be done quickly as marmorino dries fast. Adjust the number of people working on 1 wall according to the surface to cover.
Part 2 : Draw vertical lines with the metal brush
Once applied, immediately streak the layer of marmorino plaster with a fairly dynamic, linear movement, starting from the top to the bottom
When several people are working together on the set, make sure that hands are crossed on the same panel. Every artist has a different gesture and it is the mixing of different traces and movements that will make the decor interesting. ’
Overlap some paths. Iron over partially filled lines. Refine the graphics with uplifted and flexible lines. Play between striped spaces and places kept empty (rhythm)
! Most Artistic Part!
Detailed explanation
The difference in rendering is obtained by varying the inclination of the brush and the intensity of movement. For a stiff effect, the pins should be almost perpendicular to the décor. For a lifted effect, the bristles must be almost parallel to the decoration.
The more confident the gesture, the better. Aim for fluidity and rhythm. Do not hesitate to previously practice and train on test panels, until you obtain a result that you feel you can reproduce with ease.
Clean your metal brush all the time, to prevent it from getting filled with marmorino (the lines would become too deep and wide).
Use a plastic brush and a bucket.
STEP 7 : Finishing and varnish
Once the marmorino is totally dry (usually it takes one full night to dry to the heart) :
Vigorously remove the the pillings by scratching them in the opposite direction (from bottom to top) using an American knife (or an old / damaged coating knife).
Holes can be part of the décor.Meticulously remove all dust from the panel with a brush.
Use a roller to apply the water-repelant in the direction of the material. Blend the beads with a spalter brush and unclog the holes
Avoid leaving any drop, once dry drops become white mark
Touch ups on site and hiding joints
Touch ups on marmorino are not easy because the texture takes a lot of time to dry and the colour changes when you apply a second coat. This is why it is important to respect drying time, use proper sealer and primer, get it done well the first time!
To hide joints, we recommend to use a white specialist filler such as Semlight. Use delicate masking tape (pink or orange) to place around the joint you want to hide, apply the filler with a soft tool or your finger (with a glove), remove the tapes before the texture is dry.
