Bagged finish
Arcus Plaster
Mottled, aged plaster with a rich, warm patina and a timeless appeal.
A proprietary blend built on quarried limestone aggregates — made out of stone.
The naturally coarser rounds of limestone aggregate reflect light differently than the finer aggregate, producing elegant color shifts instead of a single hue — a naturally occurring, subtle movement in coloration, infinitely variable in texture.
Uncommonly strong, with a compressive strength rivaling concrete. Often specified with Stonecoat, on projects calling for a natural product with a look compatible with cut stone. Manufactured in the United States; installed by trained applicators.
- Made out of
- Crushed limestone · proprietary blend
- Compressive strength
- 4,200 PSITested at 4,102 psi at 28 days, ASTM C-109 — see the test results.
- Nominal thickness
- 3/16″ – 1/4″
- Coverage
- 20 – 25 sq ft per 50-lb bag at 3/16″ – 1/4″
- Standard colors
- 12
Features and benefits
- Authentic limestone plaster — not a faux finish
- A natural patina that only gets better over time
- Earns LEED points for ingredients and sustainability
- Superior compressive, flexural and tensile strength
- High resistance to UV degradation and fading
- An extensive palette of colors, textures and finishes
- Low maintenance, with no painting necessary
Every guarantee covers the full Arcusstone system — primer, finish and sealer together.
Where it goes
- Suitable for
- Interior, exterior, vertical and overhead horizontal applications — ceilings and soffits.
- Uses
- The color coat for 3-coat plaster, or over an EIFS type basecoat · coating EPS foam shapes and panels · interior accent walls and ceilings
- Substrates
- Portland cement, cement plaster (stucco), gypsum board, poured-in-place concrete, CMU block, brick masonry, cement backer board, lightweight concrete, ceramic or natural-stone tile, and EPS foam; direct-applied over approved exterior cement boards.
Where it does not go
Do not apply Arcus Plaster to:
- Unstable or unapproved substrates such as asphalt.
- Directly over elastomeric or acrylic EIFS type finish coats.
- Directly on wood, GFRC, PVC, ABS, urethane or other plastics.
- Sheet metal or other metal or steel — metal lath, grounds and reglets are acceptable for direct contact.
- Not for
- Horizontal surfaces subject to vehicular or pedestrian traffic, water features, or wet locations such as shower surrounds.
Never apply an Arcusstone coating over any type of EIFS finish coat, including acrylic, elastomeric and urethane.
Colors
12 standard colors
- Natural
- French Cream 10
- Champagne 10
- Champagne 50
- Slate 30
- Moss 30
- Taupe 50
- Sienna 60
- Terracotta 30
- French Grey 30
- Misty Taupe 10
- Misty Taupe 50
Every finish can be custom-colored to match virtually any color — Arcusstone matches chips from paint brands and other materials, arranged in conversation.
Because the materials are natural and the application is by hand, actual colors and textures may vary from any printed reproduction.
Documents
- Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster brochurePDF · 328 KBOpen the PDF: Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster brochure
- Arcus Plaster product data sheetPDF · 170 KBOpen the PDF: Arcus Plaster product data sheet
- Arcus Plaster safety data sheetPDF · 169 KBOpen the PDF: Arcus Plaster safety data sheet
- Architectural specification — CSI 09 24 00, Portland Cement PlasteringPDF · 165 KBOpen the PDF: Architectural specification — CSI 09 24 00, Portland Cement Plastering
Technical details
For specifiers and applicators. The product data sheet above carries all of it.
The numbers
- Nominal thickness
- 3/16″ – 1/4″The architectural specification calls for 3/16″ (4.8 mm) nominal.
- Coats
- Two coats: the first approximately 1/8″, the second to a total of 3/16″ – 1/4″
- Coverage
- One 50-lb bag covers 20 – 25 sq ft at 3/16″ – 1/4″
- Packaging
- 50-lb bag
- Weight
- One psf (4.88 kg/m²), average, for each 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) of thickness — ASTM C67
- Control joints
- Maximum panel 144 ft² (13.4 m²); maximum length-to-width ratio 2.5 to 1
- Compressive strength
- 4,200 PSI · tested at 4,102 psi at 28 days, ASTM C-109
- Standard colors
- 12
| Property | Test method | 7 day | 28 day / result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compressive strength, psi | ASTM C-109 | 3659 | 4102 |
| Flexural strength, psi | ASTM C-348 | 1100 | 988 |
| Tensile strength, psi | ASTM C-190 | 353 | 492 |
| Freeze/thaw (1) | ICC-ES AC-11 Section 4.2 | — | Under 5X magnification, no indication of cracking, checking or crazing |
| Water resistance (2) | ASTM D870-02 | — | Slight color change; no blistering, crumbling or disintegration |
| Water vapor transmission (3) | ASTM E96-00 | — | 3 perms, at a rate of 19 grams/m²/24 hours |
| Non-combustibility (4) | ASTM E136-04 | — | Passed, no burning |
| Flame spread / developed smoke (5) | ASTM E84-07 | — | 0 flame, 0 developed smoke |
- (1) 10 freeze/thaw cycles, each of air drying at 120°F for 8 hours, total immersion in water at 70°F for 8 hours, then exposure to −20°F for 16 hours.
- (2) Specimens were partially immersed in 100°F water for 24 hours, and then observed.
- (3) Permeability is the rate at which water vapor passes through a material; permeance (perms) is how it is measured. The lower the number, the less vapor comes through.
- (4) Vertical tube furnace at 1382°F; no flaming from the specimens after the first 30 seconds.
- (5) The test procedure is comparable to UL 723, ANSI/NFPA No. 255 and UBC No. 8-1.
Applying it
Climate
- Temperature
- Over 40°F (4.5°C) and rising, and less than 100°F (38°C).
- Substrate
- Do not apply to frozen or thawing substrates.
- Protection
- Use sun shades and wind screens during initial cure.
- Rain
- Do not apply if precipitation is expected within 48 hours, unless the work can be adequately protected.
Mixing
- 01Place 3.5 quarts (14 cups) of cool potable water in a clean 5 or 6-gallon plastic bucket.
- 02Add the pigment to the water, before any dry material.
- 03Blend in the dry material gradually with a low-speed mixing drill, adding small amounts of clean water to the desired consistency.
- 04Let the material set about 10 minutes, then remix for 90 seconds before use.
- 05Use the same amount of water in every batch — water changes drying and curing time, and with them the final color.
Application
- 01Apply the first coat to approximately 1/8″ with moderate trowel pressure.
- 02Let it take up until firm enough not to leave a significant depression when pressed with fingertips.
- 03Apply the second coat with less pressure; after it has taken up, the material is ready for finishing.
- Method
- Usually applied by trowel in a two-coat application; it can also be sprayed and back-trowelled.
- Bonding Agent
- The Bonding Agent is required for most Arcusstone material applications.
- Clean-up
- Clean tools and inadvertent applications immediately with water and a scrub brush, rinsing with clean water; once dry, mechanical means may be needed.
Sealing and maintenance
- Seal
- Arcus Plaster must be sealed with the Arcusstone Penetrating Water Repellent.
- Exterior and interior
- Sealed inside and out — the data sheet says this finish must be sealed.
- Sealer coverage
- 125 – 150 sq ft per gallon (3.1 – 3.7 m²/L)
- Before sealing
- New coating cures a minimum of 48 hours. The sealer goes on in two applications, wet on wet, for maximum penetration, protection and warranty.
- Color and texture
- Sealing does not alter the color or texture of the coating.
- Warranty
- Arcusstone warrants every product to conform to its current published specifications at the time of shipment.
- The full system
- Every guarantee covers the full Arcusstone system — primer, finish and sealer together.
Storage and shelf life
- Store on pallets under cover, not exposed to weather.
- Do not stack more than 2 pallets high.
- Do not allow contact with liquids or precipitation.
- Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight, and rotate stock.
- Shelf life: 1 year in unopened bags from the stamped date of manufacture.
Arcusstone technical representatives and your regional distributor answer every question about the product and its use — design and detailing, job-site conditions, maintenance, restoration and repair, and LEED project certification.
Bring it to your project
Arcusstone is installed through local distributors.
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