Italian Surface Finishes in UK
Mavericks — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions UK designers, installers and homeowners ask most about Mavericks — Valpaint’s wave‑effect wall finish with crystal highlights and dual‑colour movement. If you are looking for a two‑colour sea‑wave texture, an opalescent feature wall or a sculptural decorative coating for interiors, start here.
TWO‑COLOUR SEA‑WAVE SYSTEM · NAUTILUS UNDERCOAT · SUPPLIED & SUPPORTED BY ITALIAN SURFACE FINISHES IN LONDON
How to use this FAQ
Mavericks sits within the Italian Surface Finishes framework as a wave‑effect, artistic texture, alongside Meteore 10 Intonaco, Klondike Classic and Sabulador Soft. This FAQ focuses on positioning, zones, substrates, tools and specification language; for full application choreography and technical values, use it alongside the dedicated Application Guide and Technical Data Sheet.
1. Understanding Mavericks
1. What is Mavericks?
Mavericks is a two‑colour decorative wall system that creates broad, wave‑like motion with opalescent crystal highlights. It belongs to Valpaint’s Artistic Textures family and is curated, tinted and supported in the UK by Italian Surface Finishes.
It is designed for feature walls and focal zones where a simple paint or flat plaster would feel too thin.
2. What makes Mavericks different from a generic textured paint?
Mavericks is a system, not a one‑pot texture:
- A dedicated Nautilus undercoat controls absorption and open time.
- Two L50 colour packs create a coordinated duo inside the wave.
- The PV 102 Double Brush lays down both colours simultaneously.
- The PV 103 brush is used dry to refine the waves and spread crystals.
The result is a coherent, directional texture that can be repeated at scale, rather than a random or sponge‑like effect.
3. Where is Mavericks typically used in UK interiors?
Common applications include:
- Living room media walls and dining backdrops.
- Hotel lobbies, reception desks and lift cores.
- Bars, restaurants and boutique retail concept walls.
- Show flats and marketing suites where impact is essential.
It is rarely used on every wall; it works best as a single, deliberate gesture within a wider scheme.
4. Is Mavericks a DIY product or intended for professional installers?
Achieving consistent wave rhythm, colour balance and crystal distribution is demanding, especially on large walls. Mavericks is therefore strongly recommended for trained installers or highly experienced decorative painters.
Italian Surface Finishes offers demonstrations and training through the Valpaint London Academy for installers who want to add Mavericks to their portfolio.
2. Where & how Mavericks can be used
5. Is Mavericks for interiors only?
Yes. Mavericks is an interior wall system. It is not designed for external façades or floors. For façades and exterior work we usually specify other Valpaint or mineral systems.
6. Can Mavericks be used in bathrooms or wet rooms?
Mavericks is intended for dry, ventilated areas. It is suitable for feature walls in bathrooms or cloakrooms that are away from direct splash zones, but it is not a waterproof finish in its own right.
In selected, design‑led projects, Mavericks can be used as part of the Waterproof Artistic Walls framework, where it sits over a fully waterproof E‑VOLUTION PLUS body. In those cases the waterproofing comes from the underlying system, not from Mavericks itself.
7. What substrates are suitable?
Mavericks is designed for interior walls that are:
- Sound, dry and structurally stable.
- Free from dust, grease, release agents and contaminants.
- Filled, skimmed and sanded to a smooth, even plane.
The Nautilus undercoat must be applied uniformly before the Mavericks effect. Very rough or heavily textured substrates should be levelled first; the wave pattern reads best over smoother backgrounds.
8. Can Mavericks be used on ceilings?
It is technically possible but generally not recommended. The two‑colour brushwork and crystal content make overhead work demanding and labour‑intensive. Most schemes keep Mavericks to walls where the movement can be seen and read clearly.
3. Application, tools & performance
9. What is the basic Mavericks system build?
A typical UK build‑up is:
- Prime & level the substrate as required.
- Apply Nautilus undercoat (1–2 coats depending on colour and substrate).
- Mix L50 Colour 1 into Mavericks tin 1 and L50 Colour 2 into tin 2.
- Apply with the PV 102 Double Brush, carrying both colours together.
- Refine waves using PV 103 while the coating remains open.
The Technical Data Sheet and Application Guide show this in more detail.
10. Which tools are essential?
Core tools for Mavericks are:
- PV 102 Double Brush — loads and applies both colours at once.
- PV 103 Finishing Brush — used dry to spread crystals and sculpt the wave movement.
- Standard rollers/brushes for applying Nautilus.
Recommended tools are available from the ISF Tools & Accessories page.
11. What coverage and drying times should I expect?
On smooth, primed walls at approximately 20 °C:
- Coverage: about 9–10 m²/L for the Mavericks effect coat.
- Touch dry: around 1 hour.
- Ready for light handling or overpainting: approx. 3–4 hours.
- In‑depth dry: roughly 24 hours.
Always confirm coverage and drying on a project‑specific sample panel; substrate, temperature and airflow all influence the timings.
12. How do I keep the wave pattern consistent across a large wall?
We recommend:
- Working in 1–2 m² sections without extended pauses.
- Planning wave direction and amplitude in advance and testing on a sample wall.
- On large surfaces, working in pairs — one applicator lays down colour with PV 102, the other follows with PV 103.
- Stepping back regularly to review rhythm, scale and balance while the product is still workable.
13. How does lighting affect the Mavericks effect?
Lighting has a major impact on how Mavericks reads:
- Grazing light (wall washers, angled spots) emphasises relief and crystal sparkle.
- Diffuse light softens shadows and makes the waves feel calmer and more blended.
Sample boards or sample walls should always be approved under final project lighting before full roll‑out.
14. Is Mavericks washable and durable?
Once fully dry, Mavericks forms a washable decorative film suitable for normal residential and many hospitality settings. Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth or lightly damp microfibre.
It is not designed for heavy abrasion or aggressive cleaning regimes. In very high‑traffic or high‑impact areas, we may steer you towards alternative systems such as I‑BETON PLUS or other microcement‑style finishes.
15. Can damaged areas be repaired locally?
Yes, but local repairs require care and experience:
- Feather sand the damaged zone; re‑apply Nautilus if the substrate is exposed.
- Recreate the two‑colour wave using Mavericks and the PV 102 / PV 103 sequence.
- Blend gently into surrounding areas while the coating is still open.
For large or highly visible areas, it may be preferable to rework the entire wall for a perfectly seamless result.
4. Design decisions, training & next steps
16. How do I choose colour combinations for Mavericks?
Mavericks uses two coordinated tones that interact inside the wave. Italian Surface Finishes typically:
- Pairs a dominant base tone with a highlight or shadow tone.
- Tests combinations on boards under the same lighting the finished room will use.
- Reviews adjacent materials — concrete, metals, timber, fabrics — so the wall supports the wider scheme.
Viewing full panels at the London Studio is the fastest way to make confident colour decisions.
17. Can Mavericks be combined with Sabulador, Meteore 10 or Klondike?
Yes. Many projects position Mavericks as the main gesture and surround it with calmer finishes, for example:
- Sabulador Soft on adjacent walls for fine, sanded shimmer.
- Meteore 10 Intonaco concrete or stone effects for contrast between calm and dynamic surfaces.
- Klondike Classic metallics for an industrial or luxury‑metallic pairing.
The rule of thumb: use Mavericks sparingly but decisively, with other systems doing the background work.
18. Is Mavericks training available?
Yes. Mavericks is included in the Artistic Textures modules at the Valpaint London Academy. Training covers:
- Nautilus and L50 colour system logic.
- PV 102 / PV 103 wave creation and refinement.
- Scaling the effect from boards to full‑size walls.
- Troubleshooting and repair strategies.
19. Where can I see Mavericks in person?
Full‑scale Mavericks panels are displayed at the Italian Surface Finishes London Studio, alongside Meteore 10, Klondike, Sabulador and other Valpaint families. Visits are by appointment so we can run through your drawings and technical requirements in detail.
20. How do I purchase Mavericks or specify it in a project?
Mavericks is supplied in the UK exclusively through Italian Surface Finishes. You can:
- Use the product page for project enquiries.
- Arrange a visit to the London Studio.
- Connect with our Approved Applicator Network.
A typical specification line might read:
“Mavericks two‑colour sea‑wave system by Valpaint, supplied and supported by Italian Surface Finishes. Substrate prepared and primed; Nautilus undercoat applied in 1–2 coats; two Mavericks colours (with L50 packs) applied via PV 102 and refined with PV 103 to approved sample; protection and maintenance as per Technical Data Sheet.”
Arrange a studio visit or explore related resources
Visit the London Studio to experience Mavericks in person, or use the links below for technical documents, tools, catalogues, waterproof systems and studio CPD as you move from research into specification.
Mavericks resources
These links sit alongside Mavericks when you move into live projects, training and partnerships.
- Application guide UK‑adapted method for Nautilus, L50 packs and PV 102 / PV 103.
- Technical Data Sheet Performance, coverage and system build‑up.
- FAQ This page — positioning, substrates and zones.
- Tools & accessories PV 102 / PV 103 and other artistic‑texture tools.
- Architectural finishes Where Mavericks sits within the wider ISF portfolio.
- London Studio Book a visit to review full panels and system combinations.
- Find an applicator Connect with experienced Mavericks installers.
- Catalogue library Download Mavericks and related catalogues.
- Waterproof Artistic Walls How decorative systems sit over Evolution bodies in wet zones.
- Studio partnerships & CPD CPD sessions and project clinics for design studios.