LIME MORTARS
Roman and Venetian lime plasters, being specifically designed for old buildings, are also useful in modern ecological construction, as they are breathable, resistant and durable.
Reasons to choose our MGN brand products:
- All products are manufactured using selected natural raw materials and traditional techniques.
- The formulas combine research, technology and craftsmanship.
- All raw materials and final products are certified according to one or more EU standards.
- No cement or chemicals are used in any of the plasters.
- Application is simple: most plasters are supplied in a pre-mixed, ready-to-use blend with all ingredients included – just add water.
- With over 40 years of experience, MGN plasters have been used in thousands of buildings and heritage sites around the world for demanding conservation work.
Discover the wide range of MGN eco-friendly products:
- High-performance, breathable lime-based Roman mortars offer solutions for moisture and salinity problems in the categories of waterproofing or dehumidification (I), thermal insulation (T) and structural reinforcement.
- Decorative finishing mortars (D) are based on high-quality lime and provide breathability and durability. They are applied in layers over rough coatings using various techniques (smooth steel trowel, sponge for rough/washed finishes or polishing for Marmorino/Veneziano) to achieve specific textures, such as smooth, rough or marble-like effects. Natural materials are used for this purpose to provide an authentic finish.
If your project is complex, our team can help you choose the right materials.
We also offer training for architects, surveyors, and professionals.
Waterproofing (I)
The right waterproofing solution for existing buildings with damp problems.
Rinzaffo MGN é adequado para qualquer alvenaria húmida, exposta ou saturada sujeita a humidade, sais ou chuva forte. As aplicações típicas incluem:
- Rising or penetrating damp: as a breathable base coat for walls affected by ground or lateral damp.
- Wind-driven rain: as a protective external render for exposed façades.
Exposure to water splashes: as a skirting render to protect the base of walls from continuous damp. - Exposure to water splashes: as skirting plaster to protect the base of walls from continuous moisture.
- Cellars: as a vapour-permeable waterproof coating (lime tank) against damp and lateral water pressure.
- Flood-prone areas: as a flood barrier, creating a strong, pressure-resistant and waterproof bond capable of withstanding hydrostatic pressure.
- Exposed wall tops and roofless ruins: as a protective lime coating to protect saturated masonry from continuous weathering and water infiltration.
- Floors in areas with high water tables: as a waterproof base for lime-based floors, protecting against rising water levels or flooding conditions.
A practical waterproofing solution for stone masonry walls with lime, which ‘ticks all the boxes’ – breathability, water and salt resistance, moisture control, long service life – consists of applying the following 3 layers of plaster:
- Base: Rinzaffo MGN waterproofing lime base;
- Main layer: a main layer of lime plaster, which can be a regular or thermal lime layer
- Finish (optional): good quality lime finish
The recommended materials are listed below in the images. This concept can replace modern waterproofing materials and non-breathable waterproofing.
Thermal insulation (T)
MGN Aerogel Skim Coat is a super insulating thermal plaster that corrects thermal bridges, prevents condensation and mould growth, and is highly breathable, based on lime and aerogel. Due to its high aerogel content, it provides excellent insulation performance in a thin format.
This means saving valuable space and greater efficiency in its execution!
Silica aerogel in plaster form not only matches the performance of other forms of aerogel, such as thermal blankets, but can also surpass it. This is due to the Knudsen effect, which causes the thermal conductivity of aerogel to decrease significantly in environments with small pores, where nano cavities restrict the free movement of gas particles, resulting in better thermal insulation from aerogel plaster than from thin sheets of aerogel surrounded by large masses of free air.
Applying a layer of plaster just 5 to 10 millimetres thick can increase the surface temperature of old or new walls by 3 °C to 5 °C, eliminating condensation and mould. Applying plaster also provides greater airtightness than other forms of insulation, helping to reduce overall heat loss.
This lime-aerogel plaster combines several mechanisms — excellent thermal performance, high solar reflectance and infrared emissivity (the ability to reflect existing heat back into the interior) — that work together, resulting in an exceptionally low equivalent thermal conductivity of λ_(eq) = 0.010 W/m*K, outperforming commercial expanded polystyrene foams with reflective coatings, while also being highly breathable.
This thermal coating can be used in any type of building, new or old, making it a suitable solution for the renovation and refurbishment of old buildings with solid walls.
Decorative (D)
Pastellone MGN is a type of ancient Venetian flooring. It is composed of slaked lime, pozzolan and cocciopesto powder (crushed tiles and bricks), a highly breathable lime mixture that is strong enough to last for many decades. The use of natural materials keeps the floor structure breathable.
The flooring remains very elastic and can even be applied to wooden beams without cracking. Pastellone lime floors are used in eco-friendly buildings and are compatible with underfloor heating. They can be used in a variety of flooring areas, including bathrooms, kitchens, staircases, corridors, bedrooms and even shower walls and saunas.
