Venetian plastering with Marmarino Medium is an elegant way to achieve a natural, textured finish with subtle shine and depth.
Whether you’re working on a feature wall in a living room or covering expansive surfaces in a commercial space, this guide walks you through the full process—from surface preparation to the final waxing.
Let’s explore every stage to ensure professional, long-lasting results.
1. Preparing the Surface
Before you begin applying Marmarino Medium, it’s critical that your surface is properly primed and prepped. A well-prepared wall ensures better adhesion and a smoother finish.
Here’s how to prime your wall:
- Ensure the wall is clean, dust-free, and dry. Wipe away any debris, dirt, or loose particles.
- Apply a quartz primer: Quartz primer provides a rough texture that helps lime-based plasters like Marmarino Medium adhere effectively. Use a paint roller for large surfaces or a paintbrush for corners and edges.
- Allow the primer to dry completely, ideally overnight, before moving to the base coat.
Once your surface is primed and ready, you can begin the plaster application.
2. Applying the Base Coat
For the base coat of Marmarino Medium:
Tools you’ll need:
- Spatula or mixing stick
- Stainless steel trowel
- Marmarino Medium (your selected color)
Steps:
- Use a spatula to load material onto your trowel.
- Hold the trowel at a 20-30 degree angle against the wall.
- Apply the plaster using fan-like motions, sweeping the material across the wall evenly.
- Apply moderate pressure to spread the material without leaving it too thick or too thin.
- Move back over thicker sections to smooth them out, ensuring no primer shows through.
- Continue using fan-like movements to create a dynamic texture.
Once the entire wall is covered, allow the base coat to dry overnight. For small walls, this might be a few hours depending on temperature and humidity; for large surfaces, ensure it’s fully dry before proceeding.
3. Applying the Second Coat
The second coat follows the same process as the base coat but with a few important considerations.
You’ll need:
- Marmarino Medium (same batch or color as the base coat)
- Stainless steel trowel
- Clean water
- 800 grit sandpaper (for sanding prior to application)
Preparation:
- Lightly sand the dried base coat using 800 grit sandpaper to smooth out any imperfections.
- Wipe off any dust to ensure a clean surface.
Application:
- Using your trowel at a 20-30 degree angle, apply the second coat in thin layers.
- Maintain fan-like motions as before, covering any gaps and ensuring no areas of the base coat show through.
- Avoid overworking the plaster. Do not pass over an area more than 6–7 times to prevent prematurely polishing the surface, which can interfere with the adhesion of the final coat.
- Fill in all gaps and maintain even coverage.
Allow the second coat to dry overnight or until fully dry.
Pro tip for large surfaces: Work from top to bottom and if right-handed, move left to right; if left-handed, move right to left to maintain consistency and prevent visible joins.
4. Applying the Top Coat and Burnishing
The top coat not only adds the final texture but is key for achieving the subtle or polished finish that Marmarino Medium is known for.
What you’ll need:
- Marmarino Medium
- Stainless steel trowel
- Clean water
Application:
- Apply the third coat exactly as the previous coats using fan-like movements and a 20-30 degree trowel angle.
- Keep the coat thin and even.
Burnishing Process:
- Burnishing typically starts 5–10 minutes after applying the top coat. Timing is crucial: burnish too early, and you may remove material; too late, and you may miss achieving optimal shine.
- Use the trowel with increasing pressure, starting lightly and gradually increasing.
- Work the trowel over the surface repeatedly in fan-like motions, then move into vertical and horizontal strokesonce the plaster begins to harden (2–3 minutes into burnishing).
- For Marmarino Medium, expect a moderate shine; for a mirror-like finish, Marmorino Fine would be more suitable.
If working on large walls, apply the third coat in sections about 1 meter by 1 meter. Complete each section—including burnishing—before moving to the next to prevent visible joins.
5. Waxing and Sealing the Finish
Waxing adds protection and enhances the finish. For Marmarino Medium, multiple waxes can be used to customize the look.
Tools you’ll need:
- Natural beeswax
- Black beeswax (optional for depth)
- Bronze pearl cream (optional for decorative shine)
- Pinello brush or equivalent
- Polishing cloth
- Clean water
- Machine polisher (recommended for large surfaces)
Natural Beeswax Application:
- Shake the beeswax well before use.
- Apply one coat evenly across the surface using a brush, roller, or flexible trowel for large areas.
- Let the wax absorb for 30–40 minutes (up to 2 hours depending on room temperature).
- Polish the surface using a polishing cloth in circular motions. For large walls, use a machine polisher on speed 3 to avoid overheating.
If desired, apply a second coat of natural beeswax after the first has dried.
Optional Finishes:
Black Beeswax:
- Apply a thin coat over the natural beeswax.
- Allow a few minutes to absorb.
- Polish in circular motions, folding the cloth to avoid reapplying excess black wax.
Bronze Pearl Cream:
- Use sparingly for a subtle pearlescent effect.
- Apply lightly with a clean brush.
- Once absorbed, gently sweep excess before polishing as usual.
Final Thoughts
The process of applying Marmarino Medium—whether on a small feature wall or a large commercial surface—requires patience, precision, and an understanding of each step’s purpose. From the quartz primer to the final wax, each layer builds towards a beautifully crafted, timeless finish.
By following this guide:
- You ensure proper adhesion and durability.
- You achieve a professional-level texture and shine.
- You create a finish tailored to your space and style.
Take your time with each step, work in manageable sections on large surfaces, and enjoy the transformation as your wall comes to life with Marmarino Medium.