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Acian
BUILDING MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTIONbeginner
Definition
A skim coat of pure cement paste or fine cement-lime mix applied over plesteran to produce a smooth, paintable surface. Acian is typically 2–4 mm thick and applied by hand using a steel float, creating the characteristic white-grey surface of Indonesian interior walls before painting. The quality of the acian finish directly determines the smoothness and uniformity of the paint finish applied above it.
Example
On a typical Indonesian housing project, the finishing sequence progresses: pasangan bata (brickwork) → plesteran (render) → acian (skim) → cat (paint). Painting directly over plesteran without acian results in a visibly uneven texture that no amount of paint fully conceals.