03 Apr Creative uses of Marmorino plaster

Marmorino Veneziano is a type of plaster or stucco. Its origins are much older than you might think, dating back to ancient Roman times. Despite this, it is often referred to as an Italian decorative plaster, due to it being widely used in Italy and especially in northern Italy where its use dates back over a thousand years.

Today, Marmorino plaster is used across Europe as a finishing plaster. It can be applied using a variety of techniques to produce elegantly mottled surfaces. It is based on calcium oxide, better known as burnt lime. It dries hard and is extremely durable, but its popularity is largely down to its aesthetic. Marmorino plaster can be polished to a glossy finish with the effect being plaster that appears to be solid stone.

The reason for this is the marble dust. All Marmorino Veneziano plasters have marble dust, or an alternative stone dust, in them. When polished, the stone content shines through to give walls the appearance of a marble slab.

A newer product is Marmorino resin-based plaster which uses acrylic polymers. These are considered even more durable than the traditional product, but they are not traditional by nature, making them less popular in sympathetic applications.

It’s also important not to confuse Marmorino Veneziano, the traditional wall stucco, with Marmorino Venezia Travertino, Marmorino Venezia and Marmorino Naturale. These have a different composition which makes them better suited to wet areas. They offer the same beautiful finish but are suited to different applications. A good acrylic sealant will enhance the durability of these plasters even further.

Walls

In dry areas Marmorino Veneziano is the preferred choice. This traditional plaster offers a beautiful finish and exceptional durability. In wet areas, you want Marmorino Venezia Travertino, Marmorino Venezia or Marmorino Naturale.

A creative use of Marmorino is to use a natural pigment in the lime mix to tint the plaster a unique shade. Warm colours like reds and pinks are very popular, but so too are whites and greys to give rooms a natural look.

We can also use metallic flecks to give each wall a unique feature. Gold leaf is a brilliant material as is silver leaf. With Marmorino, you can even give freshly plastered areas the effects of natural age with mottled points, pits and fissures if desired.

Oxidation is another creative use of Marmorino. To achieve a rusted finish, we mix powdered metal with iron content into the plaster. Different application processes can be used to give different natural corrosion effects. The result is a wall that appears to be aged metal, but when touched is warm and smooth.

Floors

You might not think of Marmorino plaster as a suitable product for floors, but as ancient civilisations have shown us it is suitable for high use areas. Of course, it isn’t as durable or hardy as cement, but it is nether-the-less hardy enough.

For floors you wouldn’t use a traditional Marmorino Veneziano but rather a hardier resin-based material. Thanks to acrylic polymers, these resist foot traffic much better and will last longer. These plasters can be tinted the same as a normal plaster.

Marmorino can also be given texture to improve grip. Polished plaster isn’t as slippery as you’d think but a little texture is always better. There are nearly unlimited options when it comes to giving Marmorino plaster texture.

Should plaster be unsuitable for your floors, there’s always micro-cement. This offers an industrial look that will last a lifetime if looked after. You can combine this with Marmorino plaster walls to give you the look you are after. This is a popular choice in restaurants and other commercial buildings where a classy environment is required. Retail stores, gallerias and jewellery boutiques can also benefit from this.

Chrysalis can help you achieve the perfect finish for your next project. We are experts in specialist plaster application. Contact us today to get started.