MGN Plasters Reviews in the Media

MGN lime plasters are very highly regarded in Italian building conservation for their uncompromised outstanding quality.

MGN is the largest conservation material supplier to Venice, a well-known World Heritage Site, MGN lime plasters being used on thousands of building sites throughout Venice.

Here is an article published in the CasAntica (Old House) magazine - the oldest Italian conservation publication started in 1996, dedicated to the renovation of old houses, listed buildings and the reinstatement of traditional renovation techniques and materials.

Here is the English translation of the original Italian article.

History in a Magic Formula

FROM THE STUDY OF ANCIENT MORTARS, PLASTERS AND LATEST GENERATION PAINTS

Natural air lime, natural hydraulic lime, natural ground terracotta in selected grain size, natural sands in selected grain size, natural pozzolans, natural marble powders or granules in selected grain size and natural coloured earths: these are the high-quality raw ingredients with which the entire range of MGN products were created.

Craftsman, restorer and decorator, Naldo Busato founded MGN in 1980 and began producing the mortars that he applied in the villas and churches of the Venetian Lagoon. Thanks to an artisanal structure, continuous research and ongoing comparison with the ancient, he offers solutions to restore and consolidate walls, perfect for guaranteeing maximum living comfort even in new buildings.

In the early 1980s, the disastrous effects of many restorations carried out with cement mortars and synthetic additives pushed the most attentive professionals to study the behaviour of mortars used in ancient times in the Venetian Lagoon, still in excellent condition after centuries of life, despite a particularly aggressive environment. Fortunately, in Venice and in the Vicenza area there were still active artisans who had not abandoned the ancient techniques and ancient materials: this was the "school" of Naldo Busato, craftsman, restorer and decorator, who had already taken his first steps in the world of restoration, guided by his father's teachings, starting to work alongside him in villas and churches.

He then learns to mix the mortar with a hoe, to prepare a pit of aerial lime, the fresco and dusting techniques. It is a real apprenticeship from times gone by, which pushes him to research and absorb techniques that are in danger of extinction, as well as the "secrets" of ancient materials and formulas, now supplanted by the new way of building construction during the economic boom. This philosophy will characterize the entire career of Naldo Busato from now on, who founded MGN in 1980 and began producing the mortars that he applied and tested in various restorations, with the scientific support of the Superintendence (note: the Italian “Historic England”). “Natural and biocompatible materials are not a rediscovery for us – Busato tells us – but they have been our tools of the trade for generations”.

Today MGN is a cutting-edge artisan company that produces quality plasters and paints based on natural lime. It is specialized in the production and reproduction on samples of different types of mortars and plasters, heirs of the ancient formulas of the Roman era and today made infallible thanks to important professional collaborations and innovative technologies: suitable both for renovation, restoration and consolidation works of walls, and to new buildings, guarantee a high standard of living. “The daily comparison with the ancient and with the problems of the restoration site – he adds – together with the research and development processes and the modern systems at our disposal, allow us to formulate products with a richness and quality of raw materials similar to original historical plasters”.

In the showroom of over 700 m² in Schio (Veneto), in addition to the entire range of products and the various technical-aesthetic solutions, which can be created with both base and finishing natural lime plaster, we were also able to appreciate the customer assistance service in the choice phase. “We are used to measuring the effectiveness of our products with facts, on site,” concludes Busato. “Our technicians work alongside experts in the construction world every day, offering assistance and timely solutions to the various needs that may arise during the restoration of ancient buildings, construction of valuable buildings and green building. We like to think we can respond to any request. As in the case of customized solutions, for which we study unique formulations."

Original plasters or finishes to be reproduced? MGN was born with the purpose of knowing how to reproduce existing plasters by obtaining their composition from analysing a sample. But the solutions it offers in the field of restoration and consolidation are many, thanks in particular to its certified pre-packaged mortars. In the case of detached plaster, for example, here is its Calce F2 for making decisive injections (even in frescoed walls). Betoncino Consolidante, based on natural lime and natural pozzolan, is the product that allows the consolidation of walls while maintaining their breathability and thus guaranteeing excellent living comfort. Dehumidifying and thermal plasters, even coloured entirely in the mass, fine finishes such as natural marmorino, bedding and styling mortars are just some of the other products in the company's rich catalogue.