Our interior Fresco and Sgraffito panels are crafted from high grade birch plywood and pine.
An isolating coat of low VOC water-based enamel paint is applied over the raw wood surface and coated with a single or double coat of Gray Fresco plasterGrip Mix or Sgraffito Grip-and-Base.
Shop Single Base Panels and Double Base Panels.
Single Base Fresco Sgraffito Panels:
a) An isolating paint coat (Isolating Primer*)
b) 1 coat of Gray Fresco plasterGrip Mix (fine) or Sgraffito Grip-and-Base
Double Base Fresco Sgraffito Panels:
a) An isolating paint coat (Isolating Primer*)
b) 1 coat of Gray Fresco plasterGrip Mix (regular) or Sgraffito Grip-and-Base
c) 1 additional coat of Sgraffito Grip-and-Base (Classic Gray for fresco)
What is the difference?
Single Base FS panels.
PROS: Light weight (arguably be the lightest in the “fresco market”)
CONS: Since the base plaster layer is very thin it will not absorb much water from the freshly applied fresco or sgraffito plaster. That will result in extended setting time, because the water will only be able to evaporate “outwards”. As a result, waiting time before the work can begin could extend from 20-30 minutes (as it is on porous ceramic tile) to a few hours.
NOTE: Setting delay can be ignored for Sgraffito applications – just be careful working on soft, not fully set plaster. However for Fresco Painting it is Essential Not to start until intonaco is fully set and ready.
Double Base FS panels.
PROS: Thicker base plaster will absorb some water from the fresh coat (fresco intonaco or sgraffito roman marmorino) hence setting time will be shorter and could be as short as 30-40 min. Although setting time on a double based board is not as short as on porous ceramic tile, however it will set a lot faster then on a FS Single Base Panel
CONS: Higher cost and Panel is heavier – extra layer adds about 1/2LB per square foot.
DISCLAIMER: Fresco and Sgraffito are traditionally used on exterior. Fresco/Sgraffito Plaster and colors used are not affected by weather or other exterior conditions. However, since panels are constructed from wood (plywood) they are NOT intended for the exterior installation.
For Exterior installation we use Ceramic Tiles or a traditional “stucco wall base” with metal lath and underlying plaster coats.
Isolating Primer:
For Isolating Primer Coat (...more details) use any thick commercial water based paint, preferably exterior (creates softer, flexible paint layer).Isolating Primer is used to seal wooden (plywood) fresco sgraffito panel prior to application of base plasters (Fresco plasterGrip or Sgraffito Base and Grip, Arriccio Plaster with Fresco Plaster Weld).
To fortify the adhesion of the base plasters, Isolating Primer can be textured. Texturing helps to mitigate possible adhesion inconsistencies caused by the use of random paint.
Textured Isolating Primer (Rough Textured + Fine Textured) is also used to add texture to previously painted or non porous surfaces (drywall, previously painted stucco and plaster walls, etc.)
Rough Textured Isolating Primer Coat, must be followed with Fine Textured Isolating Primer Coat!
Shop Single Base and Double Base Fresco Sgraffito Panels.
Visit Above The Clouds Icon Studio to see examples of Fresco Sgraffito Panels.
