american clay

Please call us at  877-432-6428 or visit
one of our stores for more information and to place your order.


  • An amazing, dynamic finish for interior walls.

  • The look of fine Venetian plaster, without the high expense or the need for professional application.

  • The warm, vibrant surface can be highly polished or heavily textured. 100% natural and non-toxic. Made of all-natural potter’s clay, marble dust, borax and earth pigments.

  • Durable and easy to clean. Stains just wipe off with a wet sponge. Helps regulate ambient conditions in home by absorbing excess moisture and letting walls “breathe”.

  • Easily applied by homeowners and professionals alike. Spot-repairable.


Pricing:
Loma Plaster 50 lb bag
Porcelina Plaster 50 lb bag
Marittimo Plaster 50 lb bag
American Clay Pigments
Accessories
Text Primer
Gloss Sealer
Hardening Dura-Mix
Mud Glue
Straw Additive
Mica Flakes







$43.95 gal
$45.00 gal
$45.00 gal


$69.99
$99.99
$89.99
click for pricing

$197.95 5-gal
$154.67 5-gal
$154.67 5-gal
$26.14
$15.35
$14.82

    click to return to styles and colors

  • overview

    the story

    Creating exquisite plaster-finish walls used to require professional skill and a large bank account. American Clay has changed all that. It’s not just different; it’s revolutionary.

    Traditional wall plasters are as temperamental as they are beautiful: hard to work with and prone to cracking, chipping, and flaking, they’re beyond the scope of the average do-it-yourselfer. American Clay, on the other hand, makes it possible for even a novice to achieve breathtaking results without fear of failure. American Clay is easy to apply, simple to repair, and it can be reworked again and again, even after it’s dry, until you get the result you want. Unlike old-style earthen plasters, it goes on in two coats, dries within hours instead of days, and leaves a durable, dust-free surface.

    Made from potter’s clay and marble dust, American Clay has an authentic, handmade look that adds warmth and character to any room. Design possibilities are endless: by using different tools and application techniques, you can evoke any mood from Southwestern hacienda to Venetian palazzo. There are three finishes, 35 base colors, 7 accent colors, and a variety of textures to choose from. You can also order custom colors, or create your own by mixing different pigments. All American Clay products can be troweled on like traditional plasters or sprayed on with a drywall hopper. Unsealed surfaces can be painted, stained or replastered.

    American Clay Loma
    Loma is the original plaster, Loma provides a surprising range of textures for interior walls. While always serving as a basecoat for all three of our Premier Plasters, LOMA™ as a final finish brings a finely honed polish to any wall surface.

    American Clay Porcelina
    Porcelina is our smoothest plaster provides the artisan with an opportunity to create traditional opulent Old World marble smooth surfaces. Capturing the architectural wonder and durability of Venetian lime plasters, PORCELINA™ lends a silky polished sheen to once bland wall surfaces without the laborious and hazardous sanding required of acrylic/lime and gypsum finishes.

    American Clay Marittimo
    The strongest of our three plasters, MARITTIMO™ draws its’ beauty and charm from the Mediterranean villages of Morocco and from the playfulness and color of the Caribbean islands. Crushed shell aggregate gives it strength. In addition it is the shell that provides the speckle that adds depth and subtle sheen to any interior environment.

    performance

    Because it’s an earthen plaster, American Clay has a natural resistance to pests, fire, and mold growth. Clay plaster also helps control indoor climate by absorbing and releasing moisture in response to environmental changes. As the walls “breathe” in this way, the air in the room is steeped in negatively charged ions, making it more like outdoor air. The negative charge helps neutralize the electromagnetic effect created by plastics and electrical devices, and minimizes static on the walls so they won’t attract dust.

    Living with American Clay is a pleasure. Customers have found that American Clay withstands all kinds of insults, including pet accidents, cola geysers, and even permanent marker. If stains do appear, a barely-damp sponge will lift off a tiny amount of the clay surface, taking the foreign material with it.

    Next: Health
  • health

    at home

    American Clay was created out of a commitment to the environment and to the future. It’s non-toxic, 100 percent natural, and zero-VOC.
    On the construction site, there’s no waste at all: any excess plaster can be scraped up, rehydrated and reused.

    on the planet

    Approximately 75 percent of its content is recycled or reclaimed. Other plasters take a lot of energy to manufacture, but American Clay is made in New Mexico with locally sourced materials, using a low-energy, low-waste manufacturing process. It’s packaged in flour sacks instead of plastic, and shipped in powder form to decrease weight and save fuel.

    Next: Use
  • use

    where can i use it?

    American Clay plasters can be used on a variety of surafaces from painted walls to stone.

    how much do i need?

    Loma
    Loma covers 200sf to one 50lb bag.

    Porcelina
    Poreclina covers 300sf to one 50lb bag.

    Marittimo
    Marittimo covers 150sf to one 50lb bag.

    how do i install or apply it?

    Preparation
    Maintain room temperatures between 45 and 90 degrees (F.) during application, as well as 3 days before and after it.

    Bring material into the room 24 hrs before mixing to acclimate them to the ambient temperature.

    Turn unopened containers upside down a couple of times to reduce clumping caused by settling during storage.

    Protect floors with drop cloths and plastic.

    Drywall or blueboard seams must be mudded. You can tape and mud with standard drywall compound or with American Clay Loma. Mudding with American Clay Loma is especially appropriate for chemically sensitive individuals who wish to avoid joint compound.

    Note:
    Fasteners do not need to be mudded.
    Joint compound and plaster mudding does not need to be sanded.
    Ridges and protrusions in the mudding compound up to 1/16” and depressions up to 1/16” are acceptable.

    After general preparation American Clay Sanded Primer is applied to entire wall surface. Outside corners will need to be double primed. (Sanded Primer is not needed with some application methods, see Application Instructions for details).

    Let American Clay Sanded Primer dry for 3 hours. (your wall may dry more or less quickly depending on temperature & humidity).

    MIXING PLASTER
    In general, each 50lb bag of American Clay Earth Plaster should be mixed with approximately 3 gallons of water. (Amount of water will depend on temperature &humidity). You may need a bit more or less water to bring the plaster to the correct consistency (similar to pudding).

    APPLYING PLASTER
    For most walls, the recommended application is two thin coats, a base coat 1/32” to 1/16” thick, followed by a 1/32” second coat (about the thickness of a credit card).

    Loma is always the base coat followed by Loma, Porcelina, or Marittimo as the second coat.

    Apply Loma as the first coat. Then let the first coat dry. In no case should you apply the second coat to a first coat that has not dried completely. If the first coat is not completely dry, the second coat is likely to crack.

    Make sure base coat is dry before applying the second coat.

    Using a pump-style garden sprayer, lightly mist the base coat with water. DO NOT OVER-WET.

    Trowel on the second coat (max 1/32”) rewetting area of the base coat as needed.

    Finishing an American Clay Earth Plaster wall after the second coat dries, compacts, and strengthens the surface, reduces trowel marks and prevents dusting. There are many ways to finish an American Clay wall, please see Application Instructions for details.

    Next: Colors & Styles
  • colors & styles

    Click to picture to enlarge
    styles

    American Clay Loma

    American Clay Porcelina

    American Clay Marittimo

    colors

    Acacia

    Amber Grain

    Austin Blush

    Baton Rouge

    Blue Field

    Borrego Tan

    Bryce Canyon

    Chocolatte

    Chesapeake Bay

    Chimayo

    Cimarron

    Colorado Red

    Dakota Red

    Georgia Clay

    Guadalupe Dunes

    Havasu

    Jasper

    Kentucky Moon

    Lake Tahoe

    Maunaloa

    Moab Red

    Mojave

    Nantucket Sand

    Napa Olive

    Osage

    Painted Desert

    Palomino Valley

    Powder River

    Rio Grande Pecan

    Sanibel Sunset

    Santa Fe Tan

    Savannah Moss

    Snake River

    Socorro Clay

    Sulpher Springs

    Taos

    Tucson Gold

    Verde Valley

    Wild Horse Smoke

    Fairfield Green


    • Mineral pigment blends for tinting American Clay Earth Plaster.
    • Based on natural oxides and ochres from the earth.
    • Highly resistant to fading caused by UV light.
    • Custom color-matching available for an additional fee.

    The colors shown represent the 43 hues currently available in American Clay Color Packs. They do not, however, begin to illustrate all the possible tints you can achieve with American Clay Natural Earth Plasters.

    The colors and textures displayed above are representative and are shown for comparison only. Due to variations computer monitors and individual mixing and application techniques actual on-site colors and textures may vary.All color samples represented have been mixed with Loma plaster. Colors mixed in Porcelina and Marittimo plaster have subtle variations from samples shown.

    In addition to our extensive line of 35 basic colors (“Destination Colors”) and 8 accent colors (“Natural Depths”), we will prepare custom colors to match almost any sample you provide.

    Next: Accessories
  • accessories

    Accessories

    American Clay Text Primer

    American Clay Gloss Sealer

    American Clay Penetrating Sealer

    American Clay Hardening Dura-Mix

    American Clay Mud Glue

    American Clay Straw Additive

    American Clay Small Mica Flakes

    Trowel Plastic Corner 225mm (.5mm)

    Trowel Stainless Steel Square 270mm (.4mm)

    Trowel Stainless Steel Square 300mm (.5mm)

    Trowel Stainless Steel Corner 300mm (.3mm)

    American Clay Text Primer

    • Sanded primer gives texture to drywall so earth plaster will stick.
    • New Elite formulation has improved suspension of aggregrate for even distribution through surface to be primed.
    • Zero-VOC.
    • Use to protect outside corners in our Dos Manos application system.

    the story
    A ZERO VOC primer with added aggregate serves as a prime coat for the ‘Traditional’ plaster system for our Plasters, as well as protecting outside corners for our ‘DOS MANOS’ classic and professional application system. Coverage: About 200 sq. ft. per gallon.

    where can i use it?
    Provides a uniform "toothed" surface that insures a proper bond for plasters applied over new drywall, firm paint coats, sealed masonry or plaster, and other substrates whose texture is not rough enough for plaster adhesion. Solvent-free and elastic, it is specially formulated to allow the plaster coats to remain breathable, reducing the formation of mold growth.

    how much do i need?
    Apporximately 200 square feet per gallon on new, unprimed surfaces. On previously painted or sealed surfaces, coverage is up to 300 square feet.

    how do i install or apply it?
    Surface material must be firmly bonded to substrate, dry, clean, free of grease and dust. Any loose paint or surface material must be removed prior to application. (For gloss surfaces, see instruction manual.) Stir well. Apply a thin, even coat to edges of wall with a brush, then brush or roll it with a 3/8" nap roller on the remaining wall surface.

    Dries within three to six hours depending on temperature and humidity.

    how do i maintain it?
    Clean tools and equipment immediately after use with soap and warm water.

    American Clay Gloss Sealer

    • Brings a high sheen to American Clay Earth Plaster.
    • Makes the surface more water-resistant and easy to wipe clean.
    • Low-VOC. Pre-seal surface with American Clay Penetrating Sealer.
    • Recommended for bathroom applications.

    the story
    Like our clear sealer, our gloss sealer is a very low VOC product. Its high sheen makes walls easier to clean—excellent for high-traffic areas, such as hallways, entries, stairwells, and children’s rooms. It also provides additional water-resistance to walls behind sinks and around bathtubs but should not be used on walls in constant contact with direct water sprays. Our Gloss Sealer must be applied over a coat of our Penetrating Sealer to minimize color changes. A change in color will occur with American Clay Gloss Sealer. We recommend testing a small area on your wall to see the color change.

    where can i use it?
    Use to achieve a high-gloss finish when applies over pre-seal of American Clay Penetrating Sealer.

    how much do i need?
    Available in 1- and 5-gallon containers. Coverage: 250 to 350 square feet per gallon, over a coat of American Clay Penetrating Sealer.

    how do i install or apply it?
    Surfaces must be dry, and loose material removed with a soft brush or vacuum. Stir well prior to use. Spray undiluted with airless sprayer with water at a reatio of 1:1 when using a pump-style garden sprayer. Do not apply first coat with a sponge, brush, or roller - lap marks will show. To minimize drips, spray with a sweeping side-to-side motion, overlapping the spray pattern slightly and working from the bottom of the wall to the top. Allow sealer to soak in for several minutes and lightly blot drip with a sponge. Apply second coat with a roller, brush, or spray equipment in the same manner.

    Material is dry to the touch in 30 to 60 minutes. Cure time is 72 hours.

    American Clay Penetrating Sealer

    • Spray-on sealer for American Clay Earth Plaster.
    • Provides increased hardness and sheen. Low sheen with one coat, semi-gloss finish with 2 or 3 coats.
    • Low-VOC, soy resin/acrylic base. Excellent for surfaces subject to occasional moisture, such as walls behind sinks.
    • Also functions as a pre-seal for American Clay Gloss Sealer.

    the story
    American Clay Penetrating Sealer is used as a low-sheen sealer for American Clay Earth Plasters or as a pre-seal for American Clay Gloss Sealer, our penetrating sealer is a low-VOC (25g/litre) product that increases the durability and water resistance of the final plaster. A single coat imparts a low-sheen to our plasters. Two to three coats produce a hard, semi-gloss finish that makes the surface easier to clean and more water-resistant. You can use it on surfaces subject to occasional moisture, such as walls behind sinks and around bathtubs, but not on walls in constant contact with direct water sprays. A slight change in color may occur with American Clay Penetrating Sealer. We recommend testing a small area on your wall to see the color change.

    performance
    American Clay Penetrating Sealer is a low voc soy resin/acrylic spray on sealer which provides some increased hardness and sheen to the products. Our sealers also provide additional hardness to the final surface when MUD GLUE is not used. Penetrating Sealer is always used before the Gloss Sealer, which brings a high sheen to the plaster surface.

    where can i use it?
    Use as a low gloss sealer for American Clay Original Earth Plasters or as a preseal for American Clay Gloss Sealer on plasters or other absorbent masonry surfaces.

    how much do i need?
    Available in 1- and 5-gallon containers. Coverage: First coat—150 to 200 square feet per gallon, depending on the surface texture and porosity Subsequent coats—250 to 350 square feet per gallon.

    how do i install or apply it?
    Surfaces must be dry, and loose material removed with a soft brush or vacuum. Stir well prior to use. Spray undiluted with airless sprayer or dilute with a sponge, brush, or roller - lap marks will show. To minimize drips, spray with a sweeping side-to-side motion, overlapping the spay patterns slightly and working from the bottom of the wall to the top. Allow sealer to soak in for several minutes and lightly blot drip with a sponge. Apply second coat with a roller, brush, or spray equipment in the same manner. Material is dry to the touch in 30 to 60 minutes. Recoat after 2 hours. Cure time is 72 hours. Clean tools and equipment immediately after use with soap and warm water.

    American Clay Hardening Dura-Mix

    • Acrylic-and-soy-based additive that hardens the cured plaster coat and increases its durability.
    • Degree of hardness in plaster increases with the concentration of Add-Mix.
    • Excellent for damage-prone rooms and commercial applications.
    • Add directly to the plaster as you mix it. Substitute for up to 50% of the water.
    • A slight change in color may occur. Test a small area on your wall to see the change.

    the story
    American Clay Add-Mix hardens the cured plaster coat and increases its durability. This makes it an excellent additive for plasters installed in damage-prone rooms and commercial applications. It is added directly to the plaster while you mix it—substituting it for up to 50% of the water. The degree of hardness in the plaster increases with the concentration of Add-Mix. A slight change in color may occur with American Clay Add-Mix. We recommend testing a small area on your wall to see the color change.

    how much do i need?
    Available in 1- and 5-gallon containers. Coverage: Varies with concentration. See product application label.

    how do i install or apply it?
    Used as a partial or complete substitute for water when mixing American Clay Earth Plaster to harden the cured plaster coat and increase its durability in damage-prone rooms and commercial applications. The degree of hardness in the plaster increases with the concentration of Add-mix. Thin with up to 3 parts water, stir well, and add to plaster when mixing it.

    American Clay Mud Glue

    • A non-toxic primer and binder for American Clay Earth Plaster.
    • Eliminates the need to prime surface Separately.
    • Serves as a hardening additive for finish coat of Loma, Porcelina, or Marittimo.
    • Clay with Mud Glue is best used on the same day it is mixed.

    the story
    American Clay Mud Glue is the bonding additive used in the American Clay Dos Mano Classic and Dos Manos Professional systems, to provide substrate bonding without the use of American Clay Sanded Primer and as a final surface hardener when used in the Professional system.

    American Clay’s unique binder is light years ahead of the pack! Formulated with the intention of protecting the environment AND saving time and money on jobs, MUD GLUE is both a binder AND primer for our basecoat plaster--LOMA™. It eliminates the need to prime walls separately--- whether on new or existing walls. MUD GLUE also serves as a hardening additive for the finish coats of LOMA, PORCELINA, and MARITTIMO-- increasing resistance to impact and wear.

    how much do i need?
    One bag of American Clay Mud Glue to one 50lb bag of American Clay Earth Plaster.

    how do i install or apply it?
    A clean 5 gallon container, an electric drill and mixing paddle and clean water.

    Place 1 gallon of clean water in a 5 gallon container. Whie agitating the water with the mixing utensil, add entire contents of on Mud Glue Pack. Mix thoroughly for 2-3 minutes. (Water will thicken slightly as mix and a head of foam will be created). Use Mud Glue solution for initial mixing water, adding plaster and pigment according to mixing instructions on product packaging. Add additional water, if needed, to achieve desired consistency. USING AMERICAN CLAY MUD GLUE REQUIRES LESS WATER IN EACH STAGE OF APPLICATION, PARTICULARLY DURING FINAL COMPRESSION WITH THE DOS MANOS PROFFESIONAL SYSTEM.

    Be sure all wall are dust free by washing waslls with 10 parts water and 1 part penetrating sealer. Apply plaster in accordance with American Clay Dos Manos systems. All outside corners must be coated with two coats of American Clay Sanded Primer. Mud Glue is a natural polymer and could start to spoil with two days of mixing depending on storage containers. Keeping the plaster cool and storing it with a loose lid instead of a tightly fitting lid will minimize spoilage and extend the usable life of the material. Plaster with Mud Glue is best if used the same day that it is mixed. Five day or older material and material that has started to spoil should be spread out in a thin film on a sheet of plastic to dry. The dried out material will not continue to spoil and can be re-hydrated with water for small repairs. For other way to use this material, see American Clay Dos Manos Instructions.

    Next: Video
  • video


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