Saint-Astier launches Novaskin, a new range of high-performance insulating coating mortars

SAINT-ASTIER® continues its product innovation and presents, from March 2024 on the French market, a new range of insulating coatings to meet the current challenges of thermal improvement of buildings.

The NOVASKIN® range was born, offering a “new skin” to housing to be renovated, mainly in the heart of city centers, on facades whose supports must be preserved. This range provides thermal performance while ensuring the hygrometric exchange of coatings, essential for maintaining healthy building supports.

Innovative, aesthetic, 100% mineral and with measured performance, this range of insulating coating mortars is made up of hydraulic lime and mineral fillers 100% from recycled materials (expanded glass bead). Four solutions make up the NOVASKIN® range, including two insulating mortars. These mortars have been the subject of Thermal Conductivity (ʎ) reports by a COFRAC accredited testing laboratory. Ready to use, non-combustible (A1), ensuring water vapor permeability, rot-proof, VOC-free and classified A+, the range works in systems, through the combination of product pairs:

• Machine application: NOVASKIN® THERMO undercoat and its NOVASKIN® FINISH finish
• Manual application: NOVASKIN® THERMO PLUS undercoat and its NOVASKIN® COATING finish

NOVASKIN®, mineral coating the result of finely matured R&D development

The DNA of SAINT-ASTIER® is to protect and enhance historic facades while respecting their original support, without ever distorting them. The family business, labeled “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” in 2022, is based in the town of Saint-Astier in Dordogne where it produces Pure Natural Hydraulic Lime for which the “Origine France Guaranteed” label was obtained in 2023. Its unique know-how perpetuated for 5 generations is recognized in France and internationally.

Aware of environmental issues, SAINT-ASTIER® asserts its role in the transition and energy efficiency of buildings by deploying its strategy focused on product innovation to adapt to major market developments. This approach commits the brand to designing increasingly efficient solutions, to controlling the environmental footprint and to combining lime with biosourced materials. The teams of technicians and researchers faced a major challenge, being able to offer a ready-to-use thermally insulating coating, respecting old supports. Numerous internal laboratory tests have made it possible to find the best insulating aggregate compatible with hydraulic lime, to ensure a balance between mechanical performance and lightness.

This product development has led the company to carry out numerous tests on construction sites with expert renovation companies for manual and machine-operated applications. The projects carried out also provide tangible feedback on the behavior of the solutions applied.

This is how NOVASKIN® was born, straight out of its integrated R&D laboratory, SAINT-ASTIER® further enhances lime, combining it with high-performance mineral technology, to offer a solution particularly suited to old facades.

NOVASKIN® consists of 4 products: 2 undercoats and 2 finishing coats working in pairs

NOVASKIN® THERMO AND NOVASKIN® THERMO PLUS are the 2 ready-to-use thermal insulation undercoating mortars.

These mortars have been the subject of Thermal Conductivity (ʎ) reports by a COFRAC accredited testing laboratory.

NOVASKIN® FINISH and NOVASKIN® COATING, colored finishing coatings, ready to use. Available in 6 shades.

The systems operate by produced torque. All 4 have a common brand root, NOVASKIN®, which is broken down into descriptions according to their function. They are made from SAINT-ASTIER® hydraulic lime and 100% mineral filler made from recycled materials: an ideal combination for an insulating coating that respects the original supports and is healthy for the home.

NOVASKIN®, up to 15 times more insulating than a traditional mortar and easy to apply

NOVASKIN® systems provide insulation and comfort within existing homes, without changing their nature or reducing interior living space.

The NOVASKIN® THERMO + NOVASKIN® FINISH couple

NOVASKIN® THERMO is an undercoat (T2) with a thermal conductivity equal to 0,129 W/mK, a value measured in real application conditions* by a COFRAC accredited testing laboratory.

Its application by machine is carried out in passes of 3 to 5 cm as soon as the previous pass has firmed up to a maximum final thickness of 10 cm and stopped at 15 cm from the finished floor. The drying time to be respected is 7 days minimum.

For this application, the SAINT-ASTIER® teams support their customers and are at their disposal to guide them in the implementation if necessary.

Machine or manual application – 15 kg bag.

The NOVASKIN® THERMO PLUS + NOVASKIN® COATING couple

NOVASKIN® THERMO PLUS is an undercoat whose thermal insulation (T1) is 15 times more insulating than a traditional mortar of the same thickness. It displays a thermal conductivity equal to 0,0793 W/mK, a value measured in real application conditions* by a COFRAC accredited testing laboratory.

Its implementation is carried out manually in passes of 3 to 5 cm from the firming of the previous pass up to a maximum final thickness of 10 cm and stopped at 15 cm from the finished floor.

The drying time to be respected is 7 days minimum.

Manual application – 12kg bag.

A creamy consistency for easy application

The application of NOVASKIN® is identical to an application of traditional mortar.
Its creamy consistency makes it easy to apply, its composition and excellent adhesion are compatible with all old supports (wooden frames, rubble, bricks, etc.).

Its application requires 4 times less material than a traditional mortar and rapid drying in less than 10 days. NOVASKIN® is highly appreciated for its manageability, smoothness and comfort during application. Light and easy to shape, NOVASKIN® coatings adapt to all “skin” types!