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Resources

Product data sheets, architectural specifications and substrate preparation guides for the Arcusstone finishes — each one a PDF, one click away.

Every document for the seven products, straight from Arcusstone — open any one as a PDF.

Stepped exterior terrace walls in cream coated stone with grey caps.

Product data sheets

A product data sheet, a safety data sheet and a brochure for each finish, and a data sheet for each of the two liquids.

Tan coated-stone wall panels with fine joints.
Stonecoat
Arcus Plaster
Marblecoat
Lime Plaster Fine and Lime Plaster Medium
Bonding Agent / Primer and Penetrating Water Repellent Sealer

One document set covers both Lime Plasters; the data sheet gives a different ideal water quantity for each.

Published test results

Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster are tested for strength, freeze / thaw, water, vapour and fire, at 7 and 28 days of cure.

A storefront row with cream coated parapets between brick piers.
Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster test results
TestStandardStonecoatArcus Plaster
Compressive strengthASTM C-1094,316 psi @ 7 d · 5,805 psi @ 28 d3,659 psi @ 7 d · 4,102 psi @ 28 d
Flexural strengthASTM C-348846 psi @ 7 d · 1,043 psi @ 28 d1,100 psi @ 7 d · 988 psi @ 28 d
Tensile strengthASTM C-190409 psi @ 7 d · 561 psi @ 28 d353 psi @ 7 d · 492 psi @ 28 d
Coefficient of frictionASTM C1028Dry 0.90 · wet 0.87—
Freeze / thawICC-ES AC-11 §4.2No cracking, checking or crazing at 5×No cracking, checking or crazing at 5×
Water resistanceASTM D870-02Slight colour change; no blistering, crumbling or disintegrationSlight colour change; no blistering, crumbling or disintegration
Water vapour transmissionASTM E96-003 perms · 19 g/m²/24 h3 perms · 19 g/m²/24 h
Non-combustibilityASTM E136-04Passed — no burningPassed — no burning
Flame spread / smoke developedASTM E84-070 / 00 / 0
  1. Freeze / thaw: 10 cycles of air drying at 120 °F for 8 hours, total immersion in 70 °F water for 8 hours, then −20 °F for 16 hours.
  2. Coefficient of friction: for comparison, most dry materials fall between 0.3 and 0.6.
  3. Flame spread: tested by a procedure comparable to UL 723, ANSI/NFPA No. 255 and UBC No. 8-1.

Architectural specifications

Two three-part CSI sections — General, Products, Execution — written with specifier notes in the margin.

Cream coated-stone quoins against a red brick corner.
The finishes specification
Section
CSI 09 24 00, Portland Cement Plastering · version 1.08
Scope
Finish coatings: Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster, each made out of crushed limestone in a proprietary blend.
Installer
Installers who have attended the manufacturer's basic installation instruction session and completed a minimum of two projects of similar size and scope.
Mockup
4 ft × 4 ft at the project site, accepted by Owner and Architect for colour, texture, pattern and workmanship before the Work starts, and kept through substantial completion.
Submittals
Product data, including the manufacturer's SPEC-DATA sheet, and 12 in × 12 in samples showing texture and colour.
Temperature
Apply above 40 °F (4 °C), and hold above 40 °F for 48 hours after application.
Substitutions
No substitutions permitted.
Standards
Limestone aggregate ASTM C897 · bonding agents C932 · Portland cement C150 · accessories C1063 and D1784 · also cited C67, C926.
Weight
One psf (4.88 kg/m²) average per 1/8 in (3.2 mm) of thickness, tested per ASTM C67.
Thickness
Stonecoat nominal 3/8 in (9.5 mm) · Arcus Plaster nominal 3/16 in (4.8 mm), as specified.
Control joints
Stonecoat: exterior 6 sq ft, interior vertical 25 sq ft, interior horizontal 6 sq ft between joints; countertops may go without joints when installed per the manufacturer. Arcus Plaster: panels up to 144 sq ft, at no more than 2.5 : 1.
Warranty
The manufacturer's standard warranty document, executed by an authorized official, is submitted for the Owner's acceptance.
The foam shapes specification
Section
CSI 06 60 00 · version 1.08
Scope
Pre-coated EPS foam-core architectural shapes made to reproduce the look of cut stone in masonry applications, and full cast Arcusstone panels, pieces and shapes.
Methods
Extruded units, poured EPS mould units, and embedded or encapsulated EPS core units.
Stonecoat build
3 lb per sq ft at 3/8 in; a minimum applied thickness of 3/8 in.
Manufacturer
An Arcusstone Authorized Manufacturer with plant capacity for the schedule and a list of similar projects at least two years old.

Substrate preparation guides

Six guides, one per substrate. All substrates comply with local codes, the substrate manufacturer's installation requirements and Arcusstone's guidelines.

Modern courtyard walls in white coating with grey bands.
The essentials
EIFS and coated foam
Never over any EIFS finish coat — acrylic, elastomeric or urethane. The basecoat is stippled for tooth, cracks get detail mesh with bonder, and 30-mesh sand is broadcast into the wet bonder on vertical work.
Exterior sheathing
Cement-fibre and cementitious boards — Hardibacker 500, PermaBase, Durock — take the finish directly; fibreboard and gypsum sheathing do not. L/360, studs at 16 in on centre, 1/2 in board minimum, a secondary weather barrier required.
Interior gypsum
L/240 non-load-bearing, L/360 load-bearing. Joints finished similar to Level 3; new board primed with two coats of PVA primer; tile-backer gypsum not primed; metal lath permitted at arches and fireplace openings.
Portland cement plaster
A minimum 3/4 in over paper and metal lath. Cracks under 4-oz fibreglass mesh, 3 in beyond on all sides. The bonding agent is required over existing stucco and recommended over new brown coats.
CMU and brick
Grout and mortar struck flush; an acrylic-modified, fibre-reinforced brown coat 1/4 in to 3/8 in, cured 48 hours; retaining walls waterproofed.
Poured concrete
Form release agents removed; a basecoat is required, so form joints do not telegraph through; retaining walls waterproofed.

Technical details

The six substrate preparation guides in full — each is also a PDF above.

EIFS and other coated foam

The guide covers Arcusstone finishes over an existing EIFS assembly, and over EPS foam — coated on site in commercial work, where raw foam with a mesh back-wrap goes up in 8–10 ft lengths, or pre-coated as individual pieces before installation.

Over EIFS, the foam board and joints follow the EIFS manufacturer's instructions and the Arcusstone specification. The basecoat is an acrylic-polymer-modified, fibre-reinforced cementitious mix with alkali-resistant mesh of at least 4 oz/sq yd embedded, stippled with a green sponge float to open a rougher profile, and cleaned of contaminants including efflorescence. Cracks get detail mesh and bonder first; then a generous, uniform coat of the Arcusstone bonding agent by spray, brush or roller, with 30-mesh sand broadcast into it while wet on vertical work.

Never
Over any EIFS finish coat — acrylic, elastomeric or urethane.
Sealing on EPS
Strongly recommended for all applications; required for all horizontal surfaces.
Piece length
Arcusstone recommends coated pieces not exceed 30 to 36 inches overall, for weight and ease of installation.
Cutting
Pre-coated foam is cut with a dry-cut diamond or masonry blade in a chop saw.
Returns
Pre-formed, coated left and right returns on sills and cornices give a more realistic cut-stone look than a mitre cut.
Exterior sheathing board

The guide sorts exterior sheathing into three classes — approved for direct application, approved only with additional cladding installed, and not approved — then sets the framing, weather-barrier and reinforcement rules that go with them.

Direct application
Cement-fibre boards such as Hardibacker 500; cementitious boards such as PermaBase and Durock — completely covered with a minimum 1/8 in cementitious basecoat with embedded mesh.
Only when clad
Plywood, OSB, chipboard and waferboard — clad with Fiberock AquaTough, PermaBase, Hardibacker, or a Portland cement stucco system with metal lath, a 3/8 in scratch coat and a 3/8 in brown coat.
Not approved
Fibreboard sheathing such as Celotex, and gypsum sheathing such as DensGlas Gold.
Framing
Deflection L/360; studs no more than 16 in on centre; minimum stud depth 5-1/2 in; steel studs minimum 20 gauge; minimum board 1/2 in.
Weather barrier
A secondary weather barrier is required — paper-backed metal lath fastened through to framing, or a weather-resistive membrane over taped gypsum sheathing.
Stucco under the finish
No one-coat applications over paper-backed metal lath: a minimum 3/4 in (3/8 in scratch plus 3/8 in brown), acrylic modified and fibre reinforced.
Openings and corners
Finish frames or mouldings at every opening; metal corner reinforcement at outside corners; flashing and waterproofing installed first; all metal corrosion resistant.
Joints
Reinforced per the sheathing manufacturer; reinforcing no more than 1/8 in proud of the substrate.
Bonding agent
Required over cementitious acrylic basecoats; applied generously and uniformly and left to dry before any finish. Not necessary over new Portland-cement brown coats.
Interior gypsum board

The guide governs framing, board type, joint treatment, priming and bonding for interior gypsum substrates.

Deflection
L/240 for non-load-bearing framing, L/360 for load-bearing framing, under code loading.
Ceilings and arches
Framing at 16 in on centre or less; where wider, 5/8 in board may be used.
Board
Standard, water-resistant, tile-underlayment or fire-rated type, minimum 1/2 in (5/8 in recommended), secured per code.
Joints
Paper or fibreglass mesh tape fully embedded; metal beads at outside corners; finished similar to Level 3, with a second coat over corners, joints and fasteners.
Priming
New standard or type-X board: two coats of standard PVA primer, or one coat of high-quality flat latex. Tile-backer gypsum is not primed.
Bonding agent
30-mesh washed, graded sand broadcast into the wet bonding agent on vertical work; let it dry before the finish.
Arches and fireplaces
Galvanized diamond mesh lath over framing at 4 in on centre minimum, under a minimum 3/8 in Portland cement plaster brown coat.
Movement
Fibreglass mesh and basecoat over the entire surface first is highly recommended.
Portland cement plaster — 3-coat stucco

The guide splits into new installations and the rules common to new and existing stucco.

Framing
Deflection L/360; studs at 16 in on centre maximum.
Scratch and brown
A minimum 3/4 in over paper and metal lath per code, galvanized diamond mesh lath strongly recommended; reinforced with alkali-resistant fibres, mixed with at least 1 part liquid acrylic admix to 4 parts water.
Openings
6 in × 12 in galvanized diamond mesh lath set on a 45-degree diagonal at door and window corners; finish frames, flashing and waterproofing in place first.
Tolerance
± 1/4 in in 5 ft.
Cracks
Covered with brown coat or EIFS basecoat, 4-oz fibreglass mesh embedded the full length and at least 3 in beyond on all sides.
Bonding agent
Must be applied over existing stucco. Over new brown coats it is not necessary unless cracks were treated — but recommended, to even out suction, prevent flashing, avoid unwanted colour variation and aid bonding.
Concrete masonry (CMU) and brick

The guide prepares the masonry, applies a basecoat, and handles retaining walls.

Masonry
Units inspected for adhesion and re-secured as required; grout and mortar struck flush with the face.
Paint
Removed by mechanical abrasion to a profile like 80-grit sandpaper; complete removal usually not required. Pressure washing at about 1200 psi with a flare tip where possible.
Brown coat
Bonding agent first, then an acrylic-modified, fibre-reinforced brown coat typically 1/4 in to 3/8 in, lightly scratched horizontally, cured 48 hours.
Cracks
6 in detail mesh embedded in cementitious basecoat.
Retaining walls
Waterproofed on the back before backfill, or on the face with a non-asphalt-based material compatible with the Arcusstone finish.
Poured concrete (vertical)

The guide cleans the concrete, requires a basecoat, then handles retaining walls.

Preparation
Form release agents removed; embedded metal cut back; form-tie holes, rock pockets and depressions filled with cement grout patching compound; protrusions knocked down to within 1/8 in of the face.
Basecoat route 1
Bonding agent, then an acrylic-modified, fibre-reinforced brown coat at minimum 1/8 in, scratched lightly horizontally, cured 48 hours.
Basecoat route 2
A cementitious acrylic basecoat finished rough, then the bonding agent with 30-mesh washed, graded sand broadcast into it wet.
Retaining walls
Waterproofed on the back before backfill, or on the face with a non-asphalt-based material compatible with the basecoat and the Arcusstone finish.

What a specifier will find here

The questions a specifier brings, answered in the documents above.

An exterior passage wall in smooth coated stone beside a stair.
Answered in the documents above
  • Surface burning: ASTM E84, 0 flame spread and 0 smoke developed — Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster.
  • Non-combustibility: ASTM E136, passed — Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster.
  • Strength with its test method and cure age: ASTM C-109 at 7 and 28 days — Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster.
  • Vapour permeability: ASTM E96-00, 3 perms — Stonecoat and Arcus Plaster.
  • VOC: 0 g/L as a component and as applied — Marblecoat and Lime Plaster.
  • Two downloadable three-part CSI sections.
  • Applicator qualification, maximum areas between control joints, and weight per square foot.

Technical support: call 415-339-4060 or email info@arcusstone.com.

415-339-4060

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