The Last Straw, No. 62 featured an article by Michel Couvreux called “Selecting a Natural Hydraulic Lime: What to Look For”
In the article, Michel discusses the following:
- Definitions
- Norms and Standards
- Misleading Information
subsidiary of Saint-Astier®
Source: SABMag
Excerpt:
Even in the innovative and rapidly changing world of green building, some of the old ways and traditional materials are often the best. For thousands of years, natural clay and lime plasters have been used to create beautiful and long-lasting interior and exterior finishes. While these materials continue to be used extensively throughout the world, they have been largely replaced in North America by cement and acrylic stuccos.
Source: Green Building Product Dealer, Jan/Feb 2010
“One of the strongest markets for lime plaster is in restoration. ‘The reason for that,’ says Michel Couvreux of TransMineral USA, ‘is that we have a real material.'”
San Francisco Bay Area Media
Today “green” construction comes in many different colors and flavors, depending on the style, need, material, criteria, architect, contractor, designer, environment, and much more. Two very different green homes in the San Francisco Bay Area were recently highlighted in detailed profiles, both finding Saint Astier® Lime Plaster to be the ideal solution for their exterior finishes.
Source: Fine Homebuilding
“What makes TransMineral USA’s lime-based plaster, mortar, and paint green? Most notably, their products contain no VOCs and no polymers, so there’s no off-gassing. The plaster Fine Homebuilding editor Chris Ermides reports on comes premixed (just add color) and applies in two coats. The result is a durable, smooth wall finish sealed with an olive-based sealant. The cost is $1 per sq. ft. for materials or $8 per sq. ft. for materials and application by a contractor-well worth it if you’re one of the millions of Americans with chemical sensitivities.”
Source: Green Building Product Dealer, February 2007
“Today, there’s a big trend of using finishes from Tuscany, and all these faux finishes. Well, faux in French, means fake. Why would you want a fake finish when you can have a real finish,” asks Michel Couvreux.
Read the article from Green Building Product Dealer, February 2007
TransMineral, USA was established in 1997 by Michel Couvreux, an architect in France and the U.S. His familiarity with traditional “old world” building techniques and materials have been instrumental in their revitalization in the U.S. along with his stewardship of implanting Saint Astier® Natural Hydraulic Lime in the North American building sector.