Saint-Astier® Natural Hydraulic Lime

Saint-Astier® Natural Hydraulic Lime

Saint-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. Saint-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.

Why SAINT-ASTIER® NHL?

Click here to get the PDF.

Need 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.

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 reduces, if not eliminating, the requirement for weep vents in curtain or veneer walls.

• 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

• 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
• Quick Estimation Numbers

One bag of NHL 3.5 mixed with 2-1/2 parts sand will:

1. Lay about 160 standard brick
2. Repoint about 300 square feet of standard brick joints @ 3/8″ wide and 3/4″ deep
3. Repoint about 900 lineal feet of standard brick joints @ 3/8″ wide and 3/4″ deep
4. Lay about 40 standard 8″ x 8″ x 16″ block
5. Stucco about 50 square feet @ 3/4″ thick
6. Require 150 bags for 1000 square feet of mass stone wall laying at a depth of 24″
7. Repoint about 50 square feet of rubble stone wall @ 1″ wide and 1-1/4″ deep

NHL 3.5 Bag Coverage for Plaster and Stucco

• 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

Application and Product Data

• NHL 2
• NHL 3.5
• NHL 5

Technical Specifications

• Ecologic™ and Saint-Astier® Stucco and Plaster Comparison Chart
• The 5 Most Important Steps
• Los Cinco Pasos Más Importantes Para la
  Preparación del Producto
• NHL Breathability
• Physical & Mechanical Data
• NHL Reworking
• Sea Water Resistance
• 24 Month Tests

Saint-Astier Datasheets

• NHL 2
• NHL 3.5
• NHL 5
• Product Leaflet

Specifications

• Masonry Cladding

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

• NHL 2
• NHL 3.5
• NHL 5
• NHL Quality Control

General Installation Guidelines

• Guidelines
• More info at stastier.com
• Working with Mortars in Cold Weather

Reworking Lime Mortar after 24hrs

Is it Lime or Cement Mortar?

Mix Lime Mortar…Like A This!

The Impact of Natural Hydraulic Mortars

History of Lime Mortar

Lime Mortar vs Portland Cement

St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime for Historic Restoration, Conservation and New Build Projects

Another Successful Straw Bale Building with Natural Hydraulic Lime Plaster – Little Rock Arkansas

Israel Nature and Parks Authority The Conservation of the Archeological Parks The use of St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Limes

How do Natural Hydraulic Lime Mortars Compare to Common Type-O Mortars Containing Portland Cement?

Historic Brownstone Restoration With Breathable Natural Hydraulic Lime

The Mysterious Newport Tower, Restored Using Natural Hydraulic Lime

What Sand Should I Use With Natural Hydraulic Lime For Repointing My Building? FAQ Friday

One quick question on Natural Hydraulic Lime, FAQ Friday

Differences Between Repointing with Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) Mortars vs. Cement-Based Mortars FAQ

ARTisAn Objective® Workshop MAS-01 Basics of Repointing Brick & Stone Using Lime Mortar

ARTisAn Objective – Workshop MAS-02 – Repointing Special Joint Profiles Using Lime Mortar