The Lime Green Plaster Blog » Venetian plaster

Pozzolanic Hydraulic Lime

Authenticlime — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:40:18 +0000

A type of lime that has been used in construction since ancient Roman times is now covered by an ASTM International standard. ASTM International Committee C07 on Lime has approved ASTM C1707, Specification for Pozzolanic Hydraulic Lime for Structural Purposes. The new standard is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee C07.02 on Specifications and Guidelines.

Read more here ASTM International Standards

Greening of Mortars with Pozzolans

Quote from ASTM.org

“Growing interest in sustainable building has created a strong interest in fly ash and other coal combustion products (CCPs). Emergence of agencies like the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) of the USEPA has accelerated this trend. Their primary goal is sustainable development, focusing on environmental and social concerns. More than 30% of the 100 million tons of coal combustion products produced in the U.S. annually are being beneficially used in such things as manufactured stone, ceramic tile, shingles, concrete, aerated cellular concrete blocks, concrete blocks, stuccos, and mortars. The use of CCPs positively impacts the environment. Specifiers, contractors, and industry need to recognize that environmental stewardship today affects our children tomorrow. The features and benefits recognized in pozzolanic mortars reach beyond the technical, environmental, social, and sustainable aspects of this mortar. They signal future generations to track, improve, and develop mortars beyond any of our current technology”

Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) is seeing a worldwide comeback

Hydraulicity & Properties

Hydraulicity is the property of a binder to harden in contact with water.

Hydraulicity is produced by burning a limestone containing silica, alumina and iron oxides which above certain temperatures combine, totally or partially, with the Calcium Oxide. The resulting silicates, aluminates and ferrites give hydraulic properties to the product. Today as in the past, natural building limes are obtained by burning and slaking limestone and the more or less hydraulic character of the finished product is directly related to the percentage of calcium silicates, aluminates and ferrites formed during burning. The composition of the Earth crust shows the predominance of silica and its presence is almost inevitable in all limestone deposits.

Read the rest of the article here ST. Astier Lime mortars

Cement Stucco’s are Evil !

There I said it….but until the majority of home buyers and builders realize the benefits of hydraulic lime base coats and finishes we will be stuck with cement and acrylic stucco in North America…where time is money friends!

Evidence shows that lime has always been and will remain a practical, sustainable, healthier and greener alternative to cement, worthy of far more widespread use across the building industry.

Until the time the consumers realize these benefits, the ST. Astier NHL will remain relatively expensive,and cement will continue to be used as base coats for exterior stucco’s,which is a shame

Authentic Plaster FX from Vancouver BC. is working hard, exposing local builders to Natural hydraulic lime stucco’s, and venetian plaster finish coats such as Intonachino and Tadelakt. Discerning homeowners, architects and the exterior envelope engineers will look closely at the beauty and functionality of Hydraulic Lime plaster exteriors.

Limestone Plaster Arch

Authenticlime — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:40:18 +0000

We can create the durability and look of cut limestone with substantial weight and cost savings. Utilizing a proprietary decorative crushed limestone plaster. The limestone coating can be placed on vertical or horizontal surfaces in-situ, and finished to your specifications by our trained plaster artisans. We have full control over color, texture, finish (distressed, polished, honed, sandstone,tumbled, travertine effects etc.) to any customers specifications, creating virtually any architectural elements desired

The mixture is sprayed or troweled over any type of interior and exterior substrates (i.e., drywall, brick, tile, concrete, brown coat, foam) We then work the stone plaster by hand to achieve the desired pattern and texture.

Here’s the final look, completely done by hand, 2 days from conception to completion.

This particular project we were asked to create a tumbled and aged limestone effect, here’s a sampling of some of the processes involved ,the final outcome is completely in the hands of the skilled artisan plasterer.

First we confirmed the profile required with the Architect and designers , and constructed a template to suit there needs. The template is mounted to the horse and we then proceeded with the layout and finally the formation of the arch molding itself.

A snippet of lime plaster History:
Since Roman times, lime putty mortars and plasters have been used widely for internal ( today, venetian plaster and marmorino’s are still being made from this same lime putty )and external plastering and stonework. For external rendering and stucco, greater compressive and tensile strengths were achieved by adding various forms of pozzolans to lime based mortars.. burnt clay, volcanic ash, ( tuff ) brick dust, all such additives react with lime putty’s to form cementitous “mortars”

Limestone containing clay were also burnt to produce hydraulic limes (NHL) these set by reaction with water and by carbonisation of the lime.

Hydraulic Limestone Veneers

Using hydraulic lime in the above project we saved the owners time, which equates to money

Using hydraulic lime in the above project we saved the owners time, which equates to money …and we all like saving money …right?

Producing details in-situ such as the archway described on this Vancouver plaster project… is versatile, adaptable and flexible! Giving the Architect,the Designer and the homeowner design freedom,with both color and texture, with large pieces or building facades there is a further cost savings on engineering and construction costs associated with weight.

Compare this to having the architectural detail cast in cement or concrete,making molds, trucking and other logistics…or having the detail carved,which is the smarter alternative? Id say hiring a knowledgeable plaster and stucco contractor is the right move.

Authentic Intonachino Exterior Lime Plaster

Authenticlime — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:40:17 +0000

Pools done and the landscaping is finished ! a private residence in Vancouver BC. was completed with Intonachino Italian lime stucco and Tadelakt lime based plaster columns, on the exterior of this Langley BC home. A Authentic lime plaster exterior with a heavy Spanish architectural influence, the Intonachino lime plaster glows…you should see this place in the golden hour…what a sight!! More shots to come as I have time.

Intonachino Lime exterior

Authenticlime — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:40:15 +0000

An extremely versatile lime plaster finish, usable for interior and exterior applications. Intonachino lime plaster literally glows,yet is a matte lime plaster wall finish. Authentic Plaster FX has completed several interior and exterior Intonachino projects in the Vancouver BC. area.

Interior Vancouver Tadelakt Wall Finish

Authenticlime — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:40:06 +0000

So after 3 months of collaboration with Francois Naudi of Mainland exteriors,a week ago today the largest Tadelakt project ever to be tendered in Vancouver was secured …phase 1 will be a whopping 25,000 + square feet of Stucco Italiano’s Tadelakt lime plaster .Watch this blog for video and photo updates of this exclusive residence receiving the wall finishing treatment of Tadelakt .

Now the real reason for this boring blog post…..We will be offering 3-5 positions of real hands on, on site Tadelakt training ,this will comprise finishing of actual wall surfaces, you will learn the process of installing Tadelakt lime plaster,you will learn tricks of the trade in running a decorative plastering crew. Add to this, we will teach you the concepts behind the estimating side of the venetian plaster business, you will complete a portfolio of 8 finished Tadelakt samples to show your clients.

"Tadelakt Training Course"

This on-site Tadelakt class will encompass 3 1/2 days of intense job site training

This on-site Tadelakt class will encompass 3 1/2 days of intense job site training,with the last half day being a discussion hosted by Aaron Cohen of Stucco Italiano inc. from Seattle, the focus of the discussion will be on real-life installation situations and color theory, helping you to progress beyond the sample board and into the successful completion of the most challenging Tadelakt projects.

You will then be well on your way with your new business venture, installing Stucco Italiano Tadelakt lime plaster.

This Tadelakt application course is open to all levels of plastering skill including the DIY’ER… for more information please use my contact page for email, or leave a comment below to be contacted with details.

Marmorino Venetian Plaster

Authenticlime — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:03:23 +0000

If Authentic Plaster FX mentions Venetian Plaster to a designer,architect or builder in Vancouver, they all seem to equate the term to old world wall finishes, I’m trying to change that. In fact I am trying to change the misnomer that venetian plaster is only used for interior wall finishes….simply not true!

What is true mind you, is that there is no better suited texture medium then Lime based Venetian Plaster for interior and exterior stucco finishing. Now I used the word “texture” but in the case I show you here, there is no texture….yet it is a Marmorino Venetian Plaster we used on this exterior.

Authentic Plaster FX used Venetian Plaster,in this example, a Marmorino Lime Putty,to create a mix of contemporary west coast with West Coast Salish and Japanese influenced architecture .

Most onlookers think that this exterior stucco is polished and acid stained concrete,when I inform them that in fact it is a hand troweled lime based Venetian Plaster…there eyes open wide! What further blows them away is the fact that this particular project is in fact an E.I.F.S wall system….4 inches thick to be exact,using STO’S Gold Guard rainscreen technology.

Architects, Designers….think outside the box !

Carlos Scarpa did…..bringing back the technique, and re-popularizing the use of Marmorino Lime Plaster in the 1950′s namely with the Olivetti showroom and the Castelvecchio Museum in Verona Italy.

Now what does the reference to Scarpa have to do with my little marmorino venetian plaster project here in Vancouver? Well not much really but it proves that thinking outside the box you can come up with some really impressive designs which I feel is what happened with this architect/home owner driven designed exterior.

They asked Authentic Plaster FX for a smooth hand troweled plaster finish,and I gave it to them …the walls have so much depth ,which as usual does not depict properly in these photos…you have to touch and feel it to appreciate its elegance.

Stucco Italiano Tadelakt Photo OP

Authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:09 +0000

Aaron cohen from Stucco Italiano in Seattle stopped by one of my exterior Tadelakt lime plaster projects in Vancouver BC today …the big ham seized
the opportunity for a photo op…couldn’t keep his hands off the walls either. We then shot off to the sushi restaurant for some sea urchin ..mmmmmm