Lime plaser begins as limestone which begins as sea shells.
Lime plaster has been used to coat walls and floors for at least 11,000 years. Neolithic plaster masons began by burning limestone (calcium carbonate -- fossilized sea shells) to a dust called "quicklime." When quicklime (calcium oxide) is mixed with a little water it becomes fine crystals of slaked lime or calcium hydroxide. Lime plaster, lime mortar and old-fashioned whitewash are all preparations of calcium hydroxide. When any of these are exposed to the atmosphere, they chemically transform back into a coating of calcium carbonate or limestone which, archaeological evidence indicates, lasts for at least 11,000 years.
Instructions
1. Pour 6 cups of water into a large bucket. Put on a dust filter face mask.
2. Pour 5 lbs. of hydrated lime into the bucket. Many gardening supply stores sell hydrated lime in bags as small as 5 lbs. and sacks as large as 100 lbs..
3. Pour 12.5 lbs. of coarse sand into the bucket. Chuck a paint mixer attachment into an electric drill.
4. Mix the plaster with the paint mixer attachment for about three minutes before you start to sprinkle animal hair into the mix. Animal hair is a traditional ingredient in lime plaster although some plaster masons report success with other fibers, including cellulose, when plastering straw bale homes.
5. Continue to mix the plaster and add animal hair until the plaster mix incorporates 8 oz. of hair.
6. Apply the plaster using common plastering methods holding a trowel at a 75 degree angle. Lime plaster sets more slowly than gypsum plaster.
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