Waterproof Artistic Walls — Frequently Asked Questions

Waterproof Artistic Walls is an ISF category created in the UK. It describes rooms where a continuous E‑VOLUTION PLUS waterproof body runs behind Italian decorative finishes — concrete, marble, stone, silk, suede, sand, patina, metal — so the whole space reads as part of the architecture rather than as separate bits of tiling and paint.

The chemistry is Italian; the way it is named, specified, taught and installed in the UK is an Italian Surface Finishes decision built around real projects and British expectations for bathrooms, hotels and spa spaces.

E‑VOLUTION PLUS is the wet‑area body system that sits underneath Waterproof Artistic Walls. It is a combination of primers, epoxy–mineral body coats, smoothing layers and polyurethane top coats that together form a fully bonded waterproof structure.

Once that body exists, Italian Surface Finishes can choose from the Valpaint decorative library — concrete, stone, marble, silk, suede, metallic, patina — knowing the technical backbone is consistent across the room.

Many microcement kits in the UK are essentially a thin cement coat plus a clear sealer. They look good at first but can struggle with movement, joint ghosting, cleaning chemicals and continuous water.

With E‑VOLUTION PLUS, Waterproof Artistic Walls are built as a multi‑layer system:

• Primers matched to the substrate (tiles, screeds, boards, renders).
• Resin–mineral body coats that create the waterproof structure.
• Smoothing and pore‑sealing steps to refine the surface.
• Professional polyurethane top coats designed for repeated cleaning and wet use.
• Decorative finishes applied inside that framework rather than instead of it.

It is best understood as a system rather than a single material. The E‑VOLUTION PLUS body is a resin–mineral cycle, while the decorative layer may behave more like a plaster or a coating depending on the chosen finish (concrete‑look, marble, silk, metallic, etc.).

Waterproof Artistic Walls is the combination of that body and the chosen visible language, specified together.

Bathrooms and wet rooms are a major part of the category, but not the only use. We regularly specify Waterproof Artistic Walls in:

• En suites, family bathrooms and walk‑in showers.
• Spa and wellness suites, relaxation areas and treatment spaces.
• Hotel guest bathrooms and public washrooms.
• Kitchen splash zones and utility rooms.
• Feature walls where occasional water is present (behind a freestanding bath, for example).

Yes. When the full E‑VOLUTION PLUS cycle and detailing are used, the system is designed for areas in permanent water contact — including shower interiors and wet‑room walls. The visual language (concrete, marble, silk, metallic, etc.) can then be chosen on top of that.

E‑VOLUTION PLUS can be used on floors, particularly for wet‑room trays where a continuous wall‑to‑floor junction is needed. For larger floor areas and staircases we often pair it with I‑BETON PLUS, which is optimised for concrete‑style floors and stairs.

In many projects: walls and critical wet zones are E‑VOLUTION PLUS; main floors and stairs are I‑BETON PLUS, all inside one coordinated ISF Framework.

E‑VOLUTION PLUS is primarily an interior wet‑area system. External use is only considered in very specific circumstances and always on the basis of a project‑specific specification. If you are thinking about external walls, Italian Surface Finishes will need to review exposure, movement and detailing before committing.

Often yes — this is one of the most common scenarios when refurbishing a bathroom. However we do not simply skim a decorative layer over shiny tiles.

A typical “over tiles” approach includes:

• Survey and replacement of cracked, hollow or loose tiles.
• Mechanical preparation (e.g. grinding) and deep cleaning.
• Adhesion primer and joint treatment where specified.
• Full E‑VOLUTION PLUS body coats, smoothing and top coats over that prepared surface.

Waterproof Artistic Walls can be used over suitable cement boards and appropriate plasterboards when:

• The build‑up and fixing comply with wet‑room guidelines.
• Joints are taped, reinforced and levelled correctly.
• Board manufacturer guidance and ISF primers are followed.

Board selection and build‑up should always be confirmed with Italian Surface Finishes before finalising the specification.

Yes, provided the screed and heating system have been designed and commissioned correctly. All warm‑up and cool‑down cycles must be completed before the E‑VOLUTION PLUS cycle starts, and movement joints must be respected.

For heated floors we often review both E‑VOLUTION PLUS and I‑BETON PLUS so that performance, appearance and cleaning requirements align.

E‑VOLUTION PLUS is a thin‑build multi‑layer system. Total thickness varies with substrate, exposure and decorative language but is generally several millimetres rather than a paint film.

The Technical Data Sheet and project specification set out the expected thickness for each build‑up.

Timings depend on area, complexity and site conditions, but broadly:

• Compact bathroom walls only — several days on site across multiple visits.
• Full wet room (walls + floor) — typically one to two weeks including curing, depending on programme and sequencing.
• Hotel or spa schemes — phased programmes agreed individually.

Because several coats and curing stages are involved, Waterproof Artistic Walls must be treated as a dedicated trade in the programme, not as a last‑minute decorative layer.

No — the whole point of Waterproof Artistic Walls is that the waterproof body is separate from the visible language. Once the E‑VOLUTION PLUS body is in place, the room can read as:

• Concrete or stone in various tonal ranges.
• Marble‑inspired surfaces, including Meteore‑style readings.
• Silk or satin (Valsetin / Valsetin 2) around basins and in powder rooms.
• Suede and soft‑touch walls (Valrenna / Valrenna 2).
• Metallic or oxidised surfaces (Klondike family, Valmetal, etc.).
• Patina, sand and wave effects for hospitality and wellness spaces.

Yes. Meteore 10 itself is a lime‑based designer plaster, but visually it is a very strong library for concrete and marble readings. In wet zones we treat Meteore 10 as a design reference and deliver similar reads within Waterproof Artistic Walls using E‑VOLUTION PLUS‑compatible cycles (for example Meteore 12 or other approved finishes).

Absolutely. Common combinations include:

• Concrete‑reading shower with silk walls around the vanity.
• Stone‑like wet area with a metallic feature wall behind a freestanding bath.
• Bathroom in a concrete / stone language flowing to silk or suede finishes in the bedroom.

Because the body system is coherent, you can move between these finishes without juggling multiple waterproofing systems.

The normal route is:

• Visit the Italian Surface Finishes London Studio.
• See concrete, stone, marble, silk, suede, metallic and patina boards at full scale under realistic lighting.
• Discuss zones (direct wet, splash, dry) and how the material language should change around the room.
• Let ISF translate that into an E‑VOLUTION PLUS build‑up and finish specification.

When correctly designed and installed, the E‑VOLUTION PLUS body is intended as a waterproof system for wet walls and selected floors. Waterproofing comes from the combination of body coats, pore sealing, joints detailing and polyurethane top coats — not from a single thin sealer.

As with any wet‑room system, correct build‑up, falls, drainage and movement control are essential and are addressed in the project design and specification.

Once fully cured, day‑to‑day cleaning is usually:

• Soft cloths or sponges.
• Neutral detergents.
• Rinsing with clean water.

Aggressive chemicals, steam cleaning and mechanical scrubbers can be possible in some commercial settings but must be agreed with ISF in advance as part of the specification.

Local repairs are often possible, particularly when the original specification and batch details are available. Depending on the finish, this might involve:

• Rebuilding part of the E‑VOLUTION PLUS body.
• Re‑applying decorative coats and top coats in a controlled area.
• Occasionally re‑working a complete wall or plane for visual consistency.

As with any specialist surface, early involvement of Italian Surface Finishes leads to better repair outcomes.

The system is designed as a long‑term architectural finish rather than a short‑term decorative coating. Longevity depends on:

• Substrate quality and movement control.
• Correct design of falls, drainage and junctions.
• Exposure (private home vs hotel vs spa).
• Cleaning products and maintenance regimes.

In heavy‑use environments, re‑topcoating or targeted maintenance may be recommended after a number of years.

Slip performance is influenced by:

• The texture left at the body / smoothing stages.
• The type of polyurethane top coat and any anti‑slip measures.
• The cleaning regime (build‑up of soaps, conditioners, etc.).

For main floor zones, especially where underfloor heating and higher traffic are involved, we often specify I‑BETON PLUS alongside or instead of Evolution. Slip requirements are discussed as part of the technical specification.

Italian Surface Finishes holds the chain together:

• We curate cycles and finishes in the London Studio.
• We train installers through the Valpaint London Academy.
• We manage the Approved Applicator Network.
• We write UK‑specific specifications and support design teams.

That means Waterproof Artistic Walls is not just a set of tins — it is a framework with people, training and feedback around it.

We strongly recommend using trained applicators familiar with the E‑VOLUTION PLUS body cycle and the decorative finishes being used. The system involves multiple coats, timings and detailing steps; it is not a casual repainting product.

Italian Surface Finishes runs training at the Valpaint London Academy and maintains an applicator network for specification projects.

A typical route looks like this:

• Send drawings, photos and notes to Italian Surface Finishes.
• Identify zones (direct wet, splash, dry), substrates, heating and cleaning expectations.
• Visit the London Studio to select a finishes palette.
• Receive an E‑VOLUTION PLUS / Waterproof Artistic Walls specification for the project.
• Align programme and installer, agree mock‑ups where helpful.

Within the ISF Framework:

• E‑VOLUTION PLUS is the wet‑area body for walls and selected floors, underpinning Waterproof Artistic Walls.
• I‑BETON PLUS is the concrete‑style system for main floors and stairs.

Used together they allow bathrooms, living spaces and circulation areas to share a coherent material language — with the appropriate technical system behind each surface.