Klondike Classic — Frequently Asked Questions

Klondike Classic is a water‑borne textured metallic coating for interiors. It is applied with a brush and refined with a plastic trowel to create metallic grain, patina and movement. It is not a plaster; it is a decorative coating that gives you a metallic surface without panels or metal sheets.

Klondike Classic creates a brushed metallic surface with texture and soft movement. Under grazing light, the finish can resemble metallic fabric or a hand‑finished patina, rather than a flat paint.

No. Klondike Classic is a decorative metallic coating, not a plaster. Plasters like Meteore 10 build mineral thickness; Klondike Classic stays much thinner and relies on brush and trowel movement to build the metallic effect.

In broad terms:

• Klondike Classic — stronger texture, more grain and patina, more dramatic movement.
• Klondike Light — finer grain, softer shimmer, more minimal texture.

Classic is usually chosen for architectural statements; Light for more subtle, calm metallic walls.

They are three different families within the Klondike range:

• Klondike Classic — brushed, textured metallic coating (no real oxidation).
• Klondike Ferro — a true oxidised iron / rust effect system.
• Klondike Corten — Corten steel effect for interior and façade surfaces.

Classic is the universal metallic system for interior feature walls; Ferro and Corten are specialist rusted‑steel effects.

We regularly specify Klondike Classic for:

• Residential feature walls in living rooms, bedrooms and hallways
• Restaurant and hotel backdrops
• Retail brand walls and displays
• Show homes, marketing suites and studios
• Design‑led offices and galleries

It’s often chosen as a premium alternative to flat metallic paints, where designers want depth and character.

Yes — Klondike Classic can be used on bathroom and kitchen walls that are not in direct, continuous contact with water, especially if sealed with a suitable protective finish. It is not suitable alone for shower interiors or constantly wet zones.

For genuine wet areas and floors, we recommend systems such as E‑VOLUTION PLUS or I‑BETON PLUS, or the broader Waterproof Artistic Walls framework.

Klondike Classic is primarily designed for interior use. Exterior use is limited to very sheltered or decorative elements and should only be undertaken following specific advice from Italian Surface Finishes. For robust exterior rust or Corten effects, Klondike Ferro or Klondike Corten TOP are more appropriate.

Yes — provided the existing paint is sound, stable and clean. Glossy surfaces should be lightly sanded or de‑glossed, then primed with the specified Valpaint primer/basecoat before applying Klondike. Loose or flaking coatings must be removed and repairs carried out before priming.

In summary:

• Prepare and repair the substrate; sand and clean.
• Apply the specified Valpaint primer or tinted basecoat and allow to dry.
• Apply a first, thin coat of Klondike Classic for coverage.
• Apply a second coat of Klondike Classic and immediately work it with brush and plastic trowel to create texture and patina.
• Optionally finish with a clear protective sealer in higher‑wear areas.

The full method is described in the Klondike Classic Application Guide.

As an overall guide, allow around 4–6 m² per litre per coat on smooth, primed walls. Higher texture levels and rougher substrates will reduce coverage; always verify on a sample first.

For most effects you will need:

• Soft synthetic brush or spalter for spreading and initial movement
• Plastic trowel / spatula for compression and highlight
• Roller for the basecoat/primer layer

Tools are available through the ISF Tools & Accessories page.

For a typical feature wall, an experienced applicator can usually complete the Klondike Classic system in 1–2 days, including basecoat and two effect coats, depending on drying conditions and wall size.

Once fully cured, Klondike Classic offers good resistance to everyday contact on vertical surfaces. Where a compatible clear sealer is used, the finish becomes easier to wipe with a soft cloth and neutral detergent. Avoid aggressive scrubbing or harsh chemicals that may dull the metallic effect.

Lighting is critical. Klondike Classic is designed to respond to directional and grazing light. Downlights, wall washers and natural light can dramatically change the appearance of the metallic movement. We always recommend reviewing sample boards under the actual project lighting before finalising colour and effect.

Klondike Classic is a water‑based, low‑VOC decorative coating and is suitable for use in homes, hotels and other occupied interiors when applied according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. For sensitive projects, refer to the official Valpaint documentation for specific emission classifications.

In many cases, yes. Small damaged areas can often be repaired and blended by a skilled applicator using the same brush and trowel choreography. However, as with all decorative finishes, larger repairs may require working to natural breaks or refinishing full panels for an invisible result.

The Klondike Classic palette includes golds, silvers, bronzes, steel tones, graphite and a range of neutral and mixed‑metal shades. All colours are tinted in the UK by Italian Surface Finishes using Valpaint’s tinting system, so catalogue boards, sample panels and site batches align.

Klondike Classic is supplied, tinted and technically supported in the UK by Italian Surface Finishes, the authorised Valpaint UK distributor. All colour calibration for the UK market is carried out at the London Studio.

Yes. Klondike Classic is included in our Valpaint London Academy training modules, where applicators learn surface preparation, system build, application choreography and how to adapt the finish to different lighting and design briefs.

Because it offers strong visual impact and a repeatable system. Designers can create bespoke metallic looks that still sit within a documented, professional specification — ideal for bars, restaurants, boutique hotels and branded retail environments.

Klondike Classic often sits alongside other finishes from the Italian Surface Finishes portfolio, such as:

• Meteore 10 Cemento — concrete effect plaster for contrast.
• Meteore 8 Lamé — metallic stone / lamé finishes.
• Valsetin 2 — silk / satin walls.
• Valrenna — suede/buckskin textures.

Yes. Within the tinting and system limits, colours, texture strength and patina intensity can all be customised. Italian Surface Finishes can help develop project‑specific samples and mock‑ups from the London Studio.

A typical short‑form specification might read:

“Decorative metallic wall finish to interior walls shall be Valpaint Klondike Classic, applied in accordance with Italian Surface Finishes’ written specification: suitable primer/basecoat and two coats of Klondike Classic metallic coating in selected colour and effect, to approved sample, on prepared substrate.”

Klondike Classic is relevant for searches such as:

• textured metallic wall paint UK
• decorative metallic wall coating
• Italian metallic paint for walls
• luxury metallic feature wall
• Valpaint Klondike Classic London
• metallic effect wall coating

Within the Italian Surface Finishes framework, Klondike Classic is the primary answer to those design briefs in the UK.