Tag Archive: Hydraulic Limes

Limestone Plaster is it Real ?

Written on March 10, 2010 by authenticlime in Hydraulic Limes, Lime plaster, Tools and Techniques
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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 ?

arcustonecoat lintel texture 150x150 Limestone Plaster is it Real ? arcusstone texture lintel 150x150 Limestone Plaster is it Real ? 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 :P

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

lime plaster basecoat 150x150 Limestone Plaster is it Real ? Hydraulic-cement

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?

arcusplaster limestone 150x150 Limestone Plaster is it Real ?

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Trans Mineral… whats old is new again

Written on December 13, 2009 by authenticlime in Hydraulic Limes, Lime plaster
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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 escapelime plaster exterior
  • 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.

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Interior Tadelakt of the Villas of L’Amandier

Written on December 13, 2009 by authenticlime in Hydraulic Limes, Lime plaster, Tadelakt
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tadelakt finish room 150x150 Interior Tadelakt of the Villas of LAmandier 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 :P

“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”

riad el fenn bathroomRiad el Fenn Tadelakt bathroomtadelakt finish room2 150x150 Interior Tadelakt of the Villas of LAmandier

“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…

tadelakt kitchen hatch Kitchen full hatch shot (med res)Tadelakt Lime Plaster Bathroom

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

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Making lime plaster and mortar,a lost art

Written on December 13, 2009 by authenticlime in Hydraulic Limes, Lime plaster, Tools and Techniques
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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.

lime rick

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.

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Exterior Tadelakt

Written on December 13, 2009 by authenticlime in Hydraulic Limes, Lime plaster, Tadelakt
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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.

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Pozzolanic Hydraulic Lime

Written on December 13, 2009 by authenticlime in Hydraulic Limes, Lime plaster, Tools and Techniques, Venetian plaster, rain screen
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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

hydraulicity3 Pozzolanic Hydraulic Limenight shot


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.

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