Sabulador Lux & Matt — Frequently Asked Questions

Sabulador is a water‑based sandy decorative wall coating for interior walls and ceilings. The finish is created by organising a fine mineral body with the PV76 artistic brush, so that light moves across the grains, creating shimmer and soft movement.

They share the same sandy body but behave differently under light:

• Lux — more crystalline highlights, ideal for feature walls and directional lighting.
• Matt — a softer, velvety mineral reading, suited to corridors, long runs and calm spaces.

Many projects mix the two: Lux on key feature elevations, Matt on surrounding walls for a quieter continuation.

No. Although it catches light, Sabulador is not a glitter product. The effect comes from fine mineral grains and pearlescent pigments in a sandy matrix, organised by hand with PV76. The result is a controlled shimmer, more architectural than decorative “sparkle”.

No. Sabulador is a decorative coating, not a thick plaster. Systems like Meteore 10 build more mineral thickness; Sabulador forms a sandy decorative film over a prepared, primed substrate.

We regularly specify Sabulador Lux & Matt for:

• Residential feature walls in living rooms, bedrooms and entrance halls
• Boutique retail and hospitality backdrops
• Show homes, marketing suites and galleries
• Design studios and sample rooms

It’s often chosen as a premium alternative to flat metallic or glitter paints where a more sophisticated sandy shimmer is required.

Yes — Sabulador can be used on dry and occasional splash zones in kitchens and bathrooms, especially when over the correct primer and, where appropriate, sealed with a compatible clear protective finish.

For constantly wet areas and showers, Sabulador should be treated as the visible finish over a fully specified Waterproof Artistic Walls build‑up, typically using E‑VOLUTION PLUS as the waterproof body. This is designed project‑by‑project with Italian Surface Finishes.

Sabulador is designed for interior walls and ceilings on substrates such as:

• New or existing plaster and skimmed plasterboard (fully cured, smooth and dry)
• Sound, previously painted surfaces that are clean and non‑chalky
• Stable mineral substrates free from rising damp and efflorescence

All must be correctly prepared and primed with PRIMART 600.

Sabulador Lux & Matt are primarily designed for smooth substrates. For shimmer over textured plasters (e.g. Meteore 10, Meteore 12, Evolution Plus bodies), we may instead specify Sabulador Soft or a project‑specific overlay. Italian Surface Finishes can advise and sample for these combinations.

In summary:

• Prepare and repair the substrate; sand and de‑dust.
• Prime with PRIMART 600 (1–2 coats, dilution by substrate).
• Apply a first coat of Sabulador Lux or Matt with PV76 for full sandy coverage.
• Apply a second coat with PV76 and keep a wet edge.
• After 5–10 minutes, re‑brush with clean PV76 to organise grains and create the characteristic dunes/ripples.
• Optionally protect with a compatible clear finish in higher‑wear areas.

The full method is described in the Application Guide.

Typical values at 20 °C and 60 % RH:

• Coverage: approx. 8–9 m²/L (two coats) on smooth, primed walls.
• Touch dry: ~1 hour.
• Recoat: ~3–4 hours between coats.
• Through dry: ~24 hours.
• Full performance / washability: after approx. 15 days.

For a standard Sabulador Lux or Matt effect you need:

• PRIMART 600 — the specified primer.
• PV76 artistic brush — for both coats and re‑brushing.
• Rollers/brushes for primer, masking tapes and sheeting.

Tools are listed on the ISF Tools & Accessories page.

Once fully cured, Sabulador provides a washable decorative film on interior walls:

• Dust with a soft cloth, microfibre or feather duster.
• Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild neutral detergent.
• Avoid abrasive pads, strong solvents or aggressive scrubbing which can burnish the grains.

Lighting is critical. Sabulador responds to grazing and directional light; downlights, wall washers and daylight can significantly alter how Lux or Matt reads. We always recommend agreeing sample boards viewed under project lighting before finalising finishes.

Sabulador Lux & Matt are available in a broad palette of neutrals, warm and cool sandy tones and more expressive colours. All are tinted in the UK by Italian Surface Finishes so catalogue boards, studio samples and site batches remain aligned.

Sabulador Lux & Matt are supplied, tinted and technically supported in the UK by Italian Surface Finishes — the authorised Valpaint UK distributor. All colour calibration is carried out at the London Studio.

Yes. Sabulador features in the Valpaint London Academy modules, where applicators learn preparation, system build, PV76 choreography and how to adjust the finish for different briefs and lighting.

A typical short‑form specification might read:

“Decorative sandy luminescent wall finish to interior walls shall be Valpaint Sabulador Lux/Matt, applied in accordance with Italian Surface Finishes’ written specification: substrate prepared and primed with PRIMART 600, two coats of Sabulador Lux/Matt applied with PV76 artistic brush and re‑brushed to approved sample.”