Mas Maya Coating shares some techniques with traditional lime plaster and microcement, but it is installed as a complete system. Surface preparation, primer, reinforcement, finishing and sealing all vary according to the substrate and how the finished surface will be used.
The process is careful and considered, allowing the natural movement, tonal variation and tactile character of the material to come through.
Unlike a conventional decorative plaster, Mas Maya Coating can be used across walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, facades, bathrooms and pools when the correct preparation and protective system are followed.
Its lime-based composition is breathable, flexible and free from VOCs. It also offers strong adhesion and natural water resistance. However, the coating is not a substitute for waterproofing: showers, pools, wet-room floors and other constantly wet areas require an intact waterproof membrane beneath the Mas Maya system.
Mas Maya Coating uses some familiar plastering techniques, but its application is shaped by the surface, the setting and the finish you want to create. From careful preparation to the final protective layers, each stage works together to achieve a durable, breathable and naturally expressive surface.
Before starting your project, refer to our latest technical documents and installation guides to confirm the correct system for your surface.
Here is a summary of the application process:
Mas Maya Coating is a thin, expressive material, so imperfections beneath it may remain visible. Before installation, the surface should be:
Remove flaking paint, loose tiles, weak plaster and other unstable material. Fill cracks, joints and imperfections deeper than 3 mm with Mas Maya Prep, then allow the repaired surface to dry.
Tile joints, deep textures and uneven finishes should also be levelled before priming. Glossy tiles need to be cleaned and lightly sanded, while wood must be stable, clean and free from varnish or other coatings.
In wet areas, confirm that the waterproof membrane is continuous, intact and fully cured before continuing.
Use low-adhesive masking tape around frames, corners, ceilings and adjoining surfaces. Leave approximately 4 mm between the tape and the working surface so the coating can settle neatly into the edge.
Protect floors, fittings and nearby surfaces before mixing or applying the material.
Stir Mas Maya Primer thoroughly and apply one thin, even coat using a 4 mm short-pile roller or brush. Avoid puddles and heavy build-up.
On highly absorbent surfaces, lightly mist the substrate with clean water before priming.
Allow the Primer to set for at least 30 minutes. It should remain slightly tacky when the coating is applied, and Mas Maya Coating should be installed within 24 hours of priming.
Pools and certain permanently wet areas require Mas Maya Pool Primer rather than the standard Primer.
Use the following water ratios:
Pour the measured water into a clean bucket first. When using pigment, dissolve it completely in the water before adding the coating powder.
Slowly add Mas Maya Coating to the water and mix gently with a handheld plaster mixer until the consistency is smooth, creamy and similar to yoghurt. Avoid high-speed mixing, as this can introduce excess air.
Leave the mixture to rest for 15 minutes, then mix it once more before application. Keep batch sizes and mixing ratios consistent across continuous surfaces to minimise colour variation.
Mas Maya Mesh
The standard and most reliable installation method uses two layers with Mas Maya Mesh embedded into the first layer.
Mesh is required on:
Apply a 2 mm base layer using the toothed side of a 5 mm trowel. Lay the Mesh onto the fresh coating, keeping it approximately 1 cm away from edges and overlapping adjoining sheets by at least 10 cm.
Press the Mesh into the coating with a flexible or steel trowel, then smooth the surface until the Mesh is just covered. Allow the layer to become firm and resistant to light finger pressure before applying the finishing layer.
A two-layer system without Mesh may be used on a stable textured interior wall that has no cracks, joints or structural weakness.
A single 3 mm layer may be used only on a flawless interior wall or ceiling that is flat, smooth and completely stable. This method should not be used on floors, exteriors, wet areas, tiles or wood.
Apply a fresh 2 mm layer with a clean steel trowel, using smooth, overlapping movements.
Work wet-into-wet and keep the edge of the trowel clean. Once an edge begins to dry, continuing over it may create a visible join line.
Plan the installation so work can finish at a natural break, such as a corner, doorway or edge. Wherever possible, complete each uninterrupted wall, ceiling or floor section in one session.
Begin refining the finish when the coating is firm but not fully dry. It should no longer move or indent under light finger pressure.
When using a moisture meter, the suggested moisture level is approximately 15–20%.
Lightly mist the working area with clean water, then move the Mas Maya Foam Float over the surface in circular strokes. This brings a fine surface cream to the top.
Use a flat steel or plastic trowel to compress and spread this cream, filling small pores and refining the finish. Continue until the surface feels even, soft and polished.
The pressure, trowel movement and amount of reworking will influence the final appearance—from calm and consistent to more organic and cloudy.
Sanding is not part of the standard finishing process. It is mainly used for small repairs after the material has dried.
Sealing is required on floors, bathrooms, wet areas, furniture, countertops, exterior surfaces and other areas exposed to staining, moisture or frequent use.
Dry, decorative interior walls and ceilings do not normally require sealing.
Once the coating is completely dry, apply two thin coats of Mas Maya Presealer using a 4 mm short-pile roller. Allow the first coat to dry for approximately two hours, then apply the second. Let it dry fully before continuing.
Presealer preserves the natural colour, closes remaining pores and promotes even absorption. Applying Sealer directly onto the coating may make the finish significantly darker or uneven.
Mix Mas Maya Sealer at a ratio of five parts Component A to one part Component B. Stir slowly, allow the mixture to rest for five minutes and apply a thin, even coat.
Immediately pass a separate clean, dry roller over the surface to remove excess material. Allow the first coat to dry for at least eight hours, then prepare a fresh batch and apply the second coat in the same way.
Allow 72 hours for the completed sealer system to cure before exposing it to water, cleaning or heavy use.
For floors, steps, commercial spaces and other demanding surfaces, two additional coats of Mas Maya Heavy-Duty Sealer may be applied over the standard Presealer and Sealer system.
Pools follow a dedicated system using Pool Primer, Mesh, Presealer and Heavy-Duty Sealer rather than the standard Sealer arrangement.
Mas Maya Coating should be installed in suitable ambient conditions and protected from direct sunlight, strong airflow and rapid drying.
Underfloor heating must be switched off at least 48 hours before installation. After the complete coating and sealing system has been installed, allow it to cure for at least seven days before gradually reintroducing the heating.
Mas Maya Coating is installed with many of the familiar tools used for plastering, but the system itself is distinct. Correct preparation, measured mixing, appropriate Mesh reinforcement and carefully applied protection are what allow the material to perform across such a wide range of surfaces.
The result is a breathable, tactile finish with the quiet variation of a natural material—created not by painting over the surface, but through the application itself.
