The Lime Green Plaster Blog

Limestone Plaster is it Real ?

authenticlime — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:32:17 +0000

This is the first of a two part series, of two projects we completed recently……

One of my contractors was faced with the challenge of having a Limestone or Travertine lintel fabricated and installed.So like any good contractor does when he does not already have the resource in place, he asks his best trades the ultimate question ” Do you know someone capable of doing this limestone header for me” he asks,as he is showing me the elevations. Not one to ever back away from a plastering challenge, I offered my further services and took on the job myself. Authentic Plaster FX was already fully involved in this extensive interior and exterior venetian plaster project…so why not add some more of our expertise to the project ?

The question is …is it real? and if no, how did we do it? Well the ins and outs of how it is done I will keep to myself ,and some applicators may offer there insight into how it is done ….but I’ll leave em guessing I’m afraid in this case

Here’s 2 shots of the start of the process,the rest stays under my hat!

So what makes this so important you may ask?…..

Well with this system we can create Limestone details at a fraction of the cost of real limestone or travertine….in this particular case we saved the home owner approximately $8000.00 as compared to having a real limestone header fabricated ,on top of that we did it in a matter of days as compared to weeks for actual real stone,and we are able to get over any building imperfections because the process is done in-situ.

So you tell me does it look real?

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.

Trans Mineral… whats old is new again

authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:13 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting Michel Couvreux from ST. Astier natural hydraulic limes and Trans Mineral USA today in downtown Vancouver. This guy is passionate about his lime products! We discussed the use of natural hydraulic lime base coats and finishes being used here in beautiful British Columbia. There have been a few exteriors done with the product, mostely in the interior and mostly I believe on strawbale homes, looks like he is working hard to make the hydraulic limes become more mainstream,and he has promised to help in any way he can to make an upcoming hydraulic lime exterior I have in the works, actually come to fruition.

Natural Hydraulic lime exteriors are the way to go,they provide a far better exterior cladding than any portland cement possibly could. Here are just a few reasons.

Walls breath better and moisture can escape
Mortars and stuccos do not set too hard they remain flexable
Thermal movement can be accommodated without damage
Expansion joints can be somewhat avoided
Insulation is improved and cold bridging reduced
There is a reduced risk of condensation

The hydraulic lime material has been seeing a revival over the past few years lets hope Michel’s work in the industry pays off !

Originally posted 2009-06-19 05:58:25.

Authentic Intonachino Exterior Lime Plaster

authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:12 +0000

Pools done and the landscaping is finished ! a private residence in Vancouver BC. was completed with Intonachino and Tadelakt lime based plaster columns, on the exterior of this Langley BC home. An 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.

Originally posted 2009-07-25 17:00:16.

Interior Tadelakt of the Villas of L’Amandier

authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:11 +0000

Check out this web blog about the Villas at L’Amandier in Marrakech there are plenty of photos with Tadelakt lime plaster either being applied,or already finished in the background. Personally I find it interesting to see the Tadelakt being applied in its native setting,all of the interior walls are finished with Tadelakt lime,and then protected using “savon noir” (black olive soap) Apparently there are more photos on the way, as some of the Villa’s have been completed ….if your looking for ideas for your interior, you like Moroccan architecture,or you want to buy a villa in Marrakech! …check out this blog!

Mikaela Fenton-Jones sent me this email of her personal account of Tadelakt lime plaster in Marrakech, and included updated shots of the interior of the Villa’s.

Thank’s Mikaela!

The lucky new buyers of these villa’s should give Maryam a shout from My Marrakech Lifestyle and interior design Blog, for some inspiration in furnishing there newly acquired abode

“The Moroccan art of Tadelakt plaster is one of those building traditions that has thankfully survived the test of time and is not, as so many other traditional trades and skilled practices are, dying out with a reduction in the knowledge pool. It is alive and kicking in Morocco. Now, I am by no means an expert in tadelakt, but I love that fact that it is ubiquitous here in Marrakech; it’s historical ‘ birthplace’ . I also love the fact that it transcends the luxury décor/functional divide and is just as widely used in public hammams (steamy bath houses) as the most trendy of boutique hotels The beautiful rounded edges and curves achieved on showers and bathubs, allow for the most indulgent of designs and the natural pigments used produce a wide variety of colours. See for example a couple of the bathrooms at the fabulously bohemiem Riad El Fenn in Marrakech”

“We are in the process of building an exclusive villa community, L’Amandier, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains . Our British architect set out to blend a contemporary design with the traditional Moroccan materials and he chose Tadelakt for all the interior walls. He was absolutely right, because in my opinion, Tadelakt gives an overall impression of depth and warmth. It seems to both reflect and absorb the light and gives the feeling that the walls have somehow organically grown into the design of the house”

Assuming it is skillfully applied, Tadelakt is durable (although be careful of corners; rounded edges advised), waterproof, and stunningly beautiful…

Originally posted 2009-09-27 15:04:49.

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

Originally posted 2009-06-17 15:27:01.

Making lime plaster and mortar,a lost art

authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:07 +0000

The World is our Oyster

Check out this video from the Colonial Williamsburg video library showing the building and history behind a lime rick .

As the rick burned, temperatures of at least 1800 F were were obtained. This is essential if the conversion from calcium carbonate to calcium oxide is going to occur. Ricks were constructed with several tiers of logs supporting layers of smaller logs then covered with the oyster shells.

There are worldwide examples of historic Lime ricks, these were found in close association to shell middens, which are strewn along the eastern seaboard of the USA, with some examples here in western Canada,with further examples worlwide.

The world-over you will see the use of the sir name “Lime-burner” or points of interest called “Limeburner point” “Lime burner bay” or pubs called “The lime burner” or “Limeburners Arms” these are all in reference of the old trade of burning limestone or in this case oyster shells to make lime plaster, mortars, tabby cement and concrete.

Shell or lime middens are a whole different topic to which I am no expert,but I find the subject interesting none the less.

Shikkui Plaster ( Shirokabe) the traditional Japanese lime plaster, is manufactured in much the same way, from the millions of pounds of oyster shell produced from the consumption of oysters in Japan….albeit in a more modern type of lime kiln.

Shikkui Plaster is made of slaked lime , seaweed extracts and natural plant fibers and other aggregates. Has been widely used throughout Japan for both internal and external wall and ceiling finishes of houses, temples and castles, for over one thousand years.

The hydraulic lime used in the technique of Tadelakt plaster was/is manufactured in much the same way ,in ground pits or pit kilns, with palm fronds as fuel to burn the limestone local to Marrakesh.

The renewed interest in the use of Lime Plasters,Venetian plasters and lime based mortars and paints is beginning a revolution.

Lime Plaster, high in alkalinity and very breathable provides healthy environments, excellent luminescent, reflective light, and simply a beautiful surface wall finish for any home.

Originally posted 2009-12-09 21:53:52.

Exterior Tadelakt

authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:05 +0000

A sneak peak of an exterior Tadelakt plaster finish, before we are fully complete, had to leave the project for awhile due to the weather…close to finished here are a few of photo’s….tough tough job …not for the faint of heart

Originally posted 2009-07-07 02:16:28.

Pozzolanic Hydraulic Lime

authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:04 +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.

Originally posted 2009-07-25 19:06:59.

Exterior Vancouver Tadelakt Plaster project complete!

authenticlime — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:24:03 +0000

Landscaping is almost complete, this private residence in West Vancouver BC has the best of the best in contemporary finishes including an exterior Lime Plaster Tadelakt finish …there is no other house like it in the lower mainland of British Columbia.

Ryan Chivers of Artesano in Boulder county Colorado seems to think this is the only, if not the biggest exterior ever done in north America with Tadelakt lime plaster …if you know of another …drop me a line.

For a smooth stucco finish there is no better finish then Tadelakt ,this Vancouver exterior Venetian Plaster, also incorporates a rain screen cavity system,usually associated with leaky condos here in Vancouver,but which became part of the BC building code approximately 2-3 years ago.

Originally posted 2009-08-04 21:18:49.