Specialty Lime-Based Plaster Design Styles

Over the last few years, demand has dictated some variations of plaster application requirements to meet the high-end designer market. Here are some examples of these lime plaster design styles.

Calcite

Calcite is a coarse lime plaster that is useful when adding aggregates such as reflective mica as well as other aggregates such as glass and colored sands. The final result takes on the aspect of concrete or limestone.

Calcite is an eco-friendly, high-grain, trowel-applied wall-coating obtained from selected marble powders and genuine slaked-lime CL 90-S, baked in wood-fire kilns and aged for 8-10 months. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor applications and has a velvet touch and natural-stone aspect.

Application cycle: A correct preparation of the substrate is of utmost importance for an optimal result. Protek Sharktooth Primer, applied by roller or brush, our primer is a white, water-based primer containing extra-fine blown glass to create bond.

• Apply the first coat of Calcite with a stainless-steel plastering trowel as smoothly as possible. The yield should be around 2 kg. for 10/15 sq. ft.
• When the first coat is dry (approx.10-12 hours), apply a second coat homogeneously second coat yield is about the same.

During the drying stage, compact the surface until the desired effect has been reached. If the plaster is too dry spritz with water to compress the plaster.

Tadelakt

Tadelakt Powder plaster, a fashion statement for inside showers. Though not in itself waterproof, it can be treated in many ways to achieve the result required to function in a shower.

It is available in 2 forms fine and medium, creating a Moroccan spa aspect. We have various options for protection including:

• Olive oil soap
• Marseilles soap
• Masonry Sealer
• 2 Part Acrylic urethane flat sealer

After one day or more, when the Tadelakt is completely dry, protect it with Moroccan Olive Oil Soap.

This product requires special attention to create a waterproof backing inside the shower see our technical data sheet.

Travertino Roma

Travertino Roma lime plaster allows you to create stone or marble effects. On the final coat, a striee horizontal texture can be easily created.

The colored veining is created with the use of colored, natural liquid wax. To help control the application, first coat the surface with untinted wax, followed by the colored wax in one or two colors, applying in horizontal veins.

Travertino AKA Roma lime plaster has two things going for it: the colored integrated marble grains and the capacity to tear into the surface once set, this happens when a scraper is pulled across the surface vertically, creating strata like travertino stone.

To create veins on the finished plaster, colored liquid wax is applied using an artists brush. The coating remains soft enough to put in joint lines during application by applying pressure using a roller frame.

Overall Lime Plaster Application Comments

Some of these lime-based specialty plasters come as powders in a bag, just needing water. After mixing they can be used as pastes.

Cover any mixed product with water to prevent oxidation. Before reuse, pour the water off and stir. It will keep 3 days.

Premixed paste is more expensive but more practical for custom matching colours.

For use on New Surfaces as traditional concrete, concrete-based plasters, gypsum and plasterboard, always apply a coat of Protek Sharktooth Primer.

For use on Old Surfaces such as plaster, tempera paint and breathable paint in good conditions, it is necessary to brush the surface before applying a coat of Protek Primer. On old surfaces presenting powdery surface conditions, or surfaces that are coated with wax or soap, it is also necessary to sandpaper the surface before applying a coat of primer maybe two.