St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime
St.-Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) is an industry-standard used for historic restoration mortar, stucco, and Plaster with no harmful portland cement present or required. St. Astier NHL is pure and natural, free of additives, and has been in use throughout the world for over 150 years. To learn more about Saint-Astier visit StAstier.com.
NHL 2 (Natural Hydraulic Lime) |
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- Feebly Hydraulic lime is used where the highest amount of “free lime” is desired along with the greatest modulus of elasticity, low strength or high vapor exchange. It sets with air and water and cures in about four days
- Very soft pointing mortars used for repairing around friable historic masonry
NHL 2 Bag Coverage for Plaster and Stucco |
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| Thickness | 1/8″ | 1/4″ | 3/8″ | 1/2″ | 3/4″ | 1″ | |
| Ratio | |||||||
| ft2 | 1:2 | 305 | 152 | 102 | 76 | 51 | 38 |
| 1:2.5 | 451 | 226 | 150 | 113 | 75 | 56 | |
NHL 3.5 (Natural Hydraulic Lime) |
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- Moderately Hydraulic lime is recommended for use when moderate strengths and better freeze-thaw resistance is required.
- Used for applications such as laying or repointing brick, stone and terra cotta units even in extreme freeze-thaw climate cycles.
- It can be used to make scratch, brown and finish coats of exterior stucco
NHL 3.5 Bag Coverage for Plaster and Stucco |
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| Thickness | 1/8″ | 1/4″ | 3/8″ | 1/2″ | 3/4″ | 1″ | |
| Ratio | |||||||
| ft2 | 1:2 | 305 | 152 | 102 | 76 | 51 | 38 |
| 1:2.5 | 347 | 174 | 116 | 87 | 58 | 43 | |
NHL 5 (Natural Hydraulic Lime) |
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- Eminently Hydraulic lime is specified when strength and high freeze-thaw resistance are necessary.
- Used for applications such as building or repairing wall head copings, pointing and parging the water table or foundation of a building and making lime concrete. Sea-bearing walls can be built and repaired with NHL 5 since it has only trace amounts of soluble salts.
NHL 5 Bag Coverage for Plaster and Stucco |
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| Thickness | 1/8″ | 1/4″ | 3/8″ | 1/2″ | 3/4″ | 1″ | |
| Ratio | |||||||
| ft2 | 1:2 | 339 | 169 | 113 | 85 | 56 | 42 |
| 1:2.5 | 387 | 193 | 129 | 97 | 64 | 48 | |
Benefits
Maintaining good vapor permeability in the exterior envelope of an historic building will allow the historic masonry units themselves to have an even longer service life thus keeping them in a better state of conservation. Vapor permeability is also key to the longevity of new sustainable construction projects. Saint- Astier NHL has low capillarity and high vapor permeability. Independent studies have shown Saint- Astier NHL to have a higher level of vapor permeability than all mortar mixes containing any amount of Portland cement. This remains true while achieving comparable strengths for many applications without the need to add Portland cement or a Pozzolan to achieve proper and effective mix designs.
Immune to Salts and Sulfates
Saint-Astier NHL is completely immune to sulfates and salts. Alkali-silica reactions, common with Portland cement mortars do not take place with Saint-Astier Natural Hydraulic Limes. This is due to the absence of tri-calcium aluminates only created in high temperature fired kilns which are required for the production of Portland Cement.
Modulus of Elasticity
Saint-Astier NHL has an excellent modulus of elasticity. Unlike Portland cement-based mortars, Saint-Astier NHL mortars limit the requirements for strategically placed control joints in walls. The breathability of mortars made with Saint-Astier NHL also reduce, if not eliminate, the requirement for weep vents in curtain or veneer walls.
Pre-mixed material
Check out our premixed Ecologic Mortar, based on Saint Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime.
Need something more custom?
We do custom simulations for mortar, brick, stone, terracotta, and paint. Visit “Ordering a Custom Formulated Simulation” to learn more.
chosenb4fndtn –
This NHL stuff works very well. So far the 66lb bag I got has outlasted 300 lbs of sand. I had a tough basement job, and the mix ratio I used was this: 1- 1/2 can of quickrete play sand 1-1/2 can of quickrete all purpose sand, and 1 can of the St. Astier NHL 5 and 1 can water. Though be advised that the 1 can of water NEVER GETS FULLY USED so it is really a bit less than that.
The above is a basic table that I varied. At times I went 3 cans of fine play sand 3 cans of all purpose sand and 2 cans lime with maybe 1&1/2 can water. Other times I bumped it up to 4.5 4.5 cans of each sand to 3 cans lime and maybe 2 cans water.
The can size doesn’t matter, but I used larger tomato soup type cans…I mean probably 3 times the size of Campbell’s. I dry mixed everything in a large portable tub…then I slowly added water. Again be very careful when adding water…even my formula here is more by eye and feel as far as the water, but the dry ingredient is spot on.
And I got the basic mix formula off of you tube, but tweaked it slightly.
Now the nightmare of the wall in the basement is looking very good now, and I have attached before and after photos of this great product result.
I will definitely be buying more St. Astiers.
Always wear gloves, respiratory, and eye protection when working with this stuff.
Nabil Aidoud (verified owner) –
I’m having great results with the NHL 3.5. I’m also a big fan of Limeworks. These guys absolutely stand behind their products and continue to answer my questions as I get more proficient with this product. As a homeowner of an 1850’s Victorian, the benefits of using this product are 1). it’s better for the health of the foundation 2). it’s set time is perfect for someone who isn’t a professional who needs more time to get the mortar in, and 3). you can use it in small batches (perfect for weekend warriors). If you plan on doing a lot of repointing, get a good paddle mixer (i.e. Collomix) and mix your batches small. I make it in 2 to 3 buckets at a time. You get a more even mix and it’s easier to adjust if you make a mistake on the water.