How to Faux Marble
Eager to have a beautiful look in your home? Marble is the most sophisticated option, but because of its expensive nature, not many people can afford it. The best alternative is to just do a faux marble finish. With the right materials and some patience, you’ll be able to do this.
What You’ll Need:
Latex satin paint
Polyacrylic gloss
Tarp drop cloth
Sandpaper
Sea sponge
Feather
Paint palette
Foam brush
Painter’s tape
Spackle
Procedure:
Determine which surface you’re going to faux marble. Afterwards, cover the work area, putting tarp cloths and old newspapers under the surface. If necessary, tape off the areas where you don’t want paint to get on.
Take away all installations that might cause hindrance as you paint. For example, if you;re working on a wall, remove light switches and hanging decorations. If you’re working on a furniture, take off the hardware and handles. If there are glass or mirror surfaces, tape over them. Fill in small holes with a filler material and large holes using spackle. You need an even surface. If you’re painting over wood, spray the surface with water, to make the grain fibers rise. Allow it to dry for 30 minutes.
Use an 180 grit sandpaper to sand the surface. Make sure you remove errant marks from it.
Apply the base coat with a foam brush. You’ll need at least two layers. Carefully apply them, then allow to dry for a couple of hours.
Using a second coat of paint, create the veins. Get the feather and use it to draw on the surface, like a makeshift brush. Be creative as you use the feather and see if you can make beautiful patterns. When you’re done, let the veins dry for ten minutes.
Get some of your base paint, then mix it with a polyacrylic gloss, in a ratio equal to each other. Do this on the palette. Afterwards, put a damp sea sponge on your palate, then blot the excess. Using a varying pattern of movements, run the sponge on the veins on the surface. This will give the lines a softened look. Wait for five minutes.
Use a clean white cloth to blot the surface gently. This will blend the colors. Allow it to dry for 30 minutes.
If you want to emphasize the veining, repeat the feather tactic, then let dry for two more hours.
Use a fine grit sandpaper to buff the topcoat, then dust. Add a second layer of finish. After a couple of hours, repeat this process and add a third topcoat layer. Let dry for three hours.
Lightly buff the surface again, then clean the dust. You’re done! If the piece is a furniture, wait for a week before using it.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different hues, finished and vein patterns. Remember these easy steps and you’ll end up with a lovely faux marble surface.