Questions, answered.

Coverage and quantities

How much material a wall actually takes, and why the number on the pack is not the number you plan with.

How does coverage work?

Coverage is 3 m² per litre, per coat. That rate is the same across both plasters and it does not change with the finish you choose.

The words "per coat" are the whole point. A finished wall takes more than one coat, so the litres you need are always the wall area multiplied by the number of coats, then divided by 3.

How do I work out how much I need?

Litres = wall area in m², multiplied by the number of coats, divided by 3.

A 15 m² feature wall in MABTerra DanaLux at two coats: 15 x 2 = 30, divided by 3 = 10 litres. The same wall in MABCalce Venetian at three coats: 15 x 3 = 45, divided by 3 = 15 litres, which is exactly one 15 L pack.

The calculator above does this for you and converts the answer into packs.

How many coats does a wall take?

MABCalce Venetian is typically three coats, each one trowelled and burnished to build the depth and sheen.

MABTerra DanaLux is two to three. Two gives full depth. Three suits heavier textures and the rustic finish.

Why can't I just read the coverage off the pack?

Because the per-litre figure is per coat, and no wall is finished in one coat.

If you size an order from the per-coat rate you will order between a half and a third of what the wall needs. Always multiply by your coat count first.

Does priming come out of the same pack?

No. Absorbent walls are primed first, separately, so the plaster bonds properly. Priming does not consume any of the plaster you have ordered, and it is not included in the coverage figures.

Do textured or rustic finishes need more material?

The coverage rate never changes: it is always 3 m² per litre, per coat.

What changes is the number of coats. A heavier or more textured design takes more coats, so more material for the same wall. The finish is a technique, not a different product.

What if I run short halfway through a wall?

Add another pack. Both plasters are mineral finishes that re-bond to themselves, so a later pack works into the same wall.

For a whole house, or several houses, ask about trade packs and we will quote the material for the full project rather than pack by pack.

The finishes

Interior or exterior?

Both plasters are made for interior walls. MABBOND+ is different: it is an additive that goes into cement plaster, and it is used wherever that plaster is used. For a specific area or project, send us the details and we will advise.

What surfaces can they go on?

Sound, dry, primed interior surfaces: plasterboard, brick, cement and lime. Absorbent walls are primed first so the bond lasts.

Can I get a specific colour?

MABTerra DanaLux comes in a range of earthy tones drawn from the natural mineral spectrum, with bespoke tinting available on request.

MABCalce Venetian is tintable to a custom colour.

What is MABBOND+ for?

It is not a decorative finish. It is a polymer additive for cement-based plaster and repair mortars, at 5 kg of MABBOND+ to one 50 kg bag of cement.

It improves adhesion, water resistance and flexibility in the mix you already use, so the coverage maths above does not apply to it. One bag to one bag.

Ordering and application

Do you supply the material, or apply it?

Both. Order a pack and apply it yourself or with your contractor, or we apply it for you across Zimbabwe.

Who should apply it?

MABCalce Venetian should be applied by trained applicators experienced in Venetian technique. It is a specialist finish and it shows when it is rushed.

MABTerra DanaLux is more forgiving and is supplied with full application guidance. We can also refer an applicator.

How do I get a quote?

Send your wall size, the finish you want and your town on WhatsApp, and we reply with pricing for supply or for applied installation. Measurements to the nearest half metre are close enough to quote from.