KALAMUA – the simple one
100% pure natural hydraulic lime NHL 5 from Saint-Astier®
Binding agent for high demands
Saint-Astier Kalamua – The special plaster for hemp blocks and hemp lime
Saint-Astier Kalamua was specifically designed for the special requirements of hemp bricks and hemp lime. As a modern single-layer plaster based on natural hydraulic lime (NHL), it combines traditional diffusion openness with the reliability of modern construction site management. It offers excellent moisture management and is perfectly suited to the capillarity of bio-based wall structures.
Why Kalamua is the right choice for hemp:
Hemp substrates are highly capillary-active and place special demands on the adhesion and drying speed of a plaster. In order to ensure the necessary initial strength and crack-resistant hardening in thick layers (up to 20 mm) for this base coat plaster, the current formula contains a small functional amount of cement in addition to high-quality NHL. This serves purely for technical stabilization during the processing phase so that the product functions reliably as a “single-layer system” (wet-on-wet).
We value maximum transparency:
Saint-Astier is already working on a completely cement-free formula for Kalamua in order to better meet our high environmental standards in the future. Until then, the current composition offers the most reliable technical solution for permanently and safely plastering hemp lime projects.
Pure aesthetics: natural Kalamua white
A particular highlight of Saint-Astier Kalamua is its visual brilliance. While many conventional lime plasters tend to appear grayish or beige, Kalamua captivates with its elegant, warm white tone. This comes directly from the high purity of the shell limestone used from Saint-Astier.
This means for you:
Das bedeutet für dich:
No painting required – after felting, the surface looks so high-quality and even that you don't necessarily have to paint the walls. The pure materiality of the lime gives the wall a calm, mineral appearance.
Maximum breathability:
Maximale Atmungsaktivität:
If you simply leave the plaster “bare,” the wall will remain as open-pored as possible. This is the optimal building physics solution for your hemp blocks.
Save time and money: You not only save the cost of paint, but also the time needed for priming and two coats of paint.
Processing instructions for perfect results
Surface preparation
The hemp substrates must be thoroughly moistened the day before and immediately before application. Make sure that the surface has already absorbed the water before applying the plaster.
Mixing and mortar preparation
Mix a 25 kg bag of Kalamua with approx. 4.5 to 5.5 liters of clean water. The mixing time in a concrete mixer or paddle mixer (450–500 rpm) should be between 3 and 5 minutes. Avoid high-speed mixers or manual mixing so as not to negatively affect product performance.
Step-by-step application
The plaster is applied as a single-layer plaster in two steps:
- First coat: Apply a layer 0.3 to 0.4 inches thick. Embed a 0.4 x 0.4 inch reinforcement mesh with at least 4 inches of overlap.
- Second coat: Apply the second coat (also 8 to 12 mm thick) after approx. 2 to 6 hours, once the first coat has set.
- Finishing: The total thickness should be between 15 and 20 mm. The surface can be refined with a scratch or sponge finish.
Technical specifications
- Composition: Hydraulic lime (Saint-Astier®), mineral fillers, pigments
- Area of application: Interior and exterior use on hemp blocks/hemp lime
- Consumption: approx. 1.5 to 1.7 kg/m² per mm layer thickness
- Processing temperature: +8 °C to +30 °C Layer thickness (total) 15 mm to 20 mm
- Water requirement: 4.5 to 5.5 liters per 25 kg bag
- Shelf life: 12 months (dry & in original packaging)
Trademark Address
Chaux & Enduits de Saint-Astier®28, bis route de Montanceix, 24110 Saint-Astier, Frankreich
+33 5 53 54 11 25
Contact_export@saint-astier.com