Decorative coatings such as marmorino, stucco, micro-cement floor coverings, or resin-based coatings are valued for their elegant aesthetics and smooth finish. However, applying these materials on white or very light surfaces can sometimes lead to black marks or trowel marks, mainly caused by the tools used. Here’s how to avoid these unsightly marks and ensure a flawless finish for your decorative projects.
Understanding the Problem: Where Do Black Marks on Light Decorative Coatings Come From (Stucco, Micro-Cement, Micropox, etc.)?
Black marks on light decorative coatings can have two origins :
- the marks left by stainless steel during smoothing and
- the marks caused by rubber from shoes or tool cables (like vacuum cleaners and sanders) on white floors.
It is therefore essential to first identify the source to choose the appropriate equipment to prevent these marks and ensure a flawless result for your clients.
The origin of black markings during the troweling of the material.
When applying materials such as marmorino, stucco, or microcement, using specific tools like stainless steel trowels and floats is necessary to smooth and compact the material. However, on white or very light coatings, these tools can leave black marks or burn-like marks, thus harming the aesthetics of the finish.
These marks are often due to the metal of the blade of the trowels used to apply the coating. Depending on the quality of the stainless steel, the blade can leave different marks during the compaction of the material.
This is particularly true for very fine coatings, such as Venetian stucco, which must be stretched and compacted vigorously to achieve a flawless and shiny finish.
How to prevent black marks from troweling?
To avoid unsightly black troweling marks on white and light plasters, it is advisable to select specific trowels for the application of light coatings. There are various types of trowels available on the market, each under different brands. Each trowel and each brand has its advantages and disadvantages, which are listed below.
The plastic trowels are ideal for applying light decorative coatings that should not be troweled or compacted.
There are 2 types of plastic trowels: transparent plastic trowels and white plastic trowels. There are also differences in the rigidity of the plastic blade; some are flexible (the transparent ones generally) and others are more rigid. These plastic trowels are rather recommended for light floor coatings that need to be sanded, such as micro-cement, micro-concrete, mortex, etc. These trowels allow for stretching the material without leaving marks. On the other hand, these trowels will not compact the grains of the material, which is why they are mainly used on sanding systems.
In conclusion: plastic trowels are well suited for light floor coatings. however, it is not recommended to use them on stucco because you will not be able to achieve shiny finishes.
However, while they are a bit cheaper than metal trowels, plastic trowels are more fragile and may require several replacements.
Metal trowels (X-trowel, Primes Trowel,...) specifically designed for white plasters, perfect for smoothing coatings without marking.
When you want to apply decorative plasters such as Stucco or Marmorino, using metal trowels for light shades is essential to avoid marking. The rigidity of the metal allows you to stretch and manipulate the fresh material without leaving marks, thanks to the specific treatment applied to the blade of these tools for white plasters.
Metal trowels for stucco are more expensive than those made of plastic, but they are more durable. Therefore, you will keep these trowels much longer than their plastic counterparts.
Why choose the X-trowel palettes from marmorinotools?
The X-Trowel trowels are part of the first generations of special palettes for white and light coatings. The technology used for the treatment of the steel blade has therefore existed for several years. The tools in the X-trowel range are used for applying lime-based coatings. The X-Trowel trowels from Marmorino Tools prevent and significantly reduce black marks during smoothing, but they will not completely prevent them, especially on very fine and resinous coatings.
The X-trowels are among the cheapest metal trowels for clear plaster on the market. Compared to more advanced technology equivalents, such as the Primes Trowel or the Anima for example, which can be very expensive, they therefore offer excellent value for money for those who do not wish to exceed their budget for a tool of this type, while benefiting from a neat design.
Why choose the Primes Trowel from Marmorinotools?
The Prime trowels from Marmorino Tools represent the latest generation of trowels for white plaster, ideal for use on resinous and epoxy coatings. These trowels allow you to scrape the material without leaving unsightly marks, which can occur with silica or small grains.
The blade of this range of trowels is covered with a very durable film that prevents marks. Although these trowels are an investment due to their cost, this aspect is quickly forgotten when you see their effectiveness. If you frequently work on clear floors, this tool becomes almost indispensable for achieving a neat result and optimal working comfort.