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 Contents
Introduction 3

What is Tadelakt and why do I need it? 4

Tadelakt history 5

What is Tadelakt made from? 6

Advantages of lime plasters 7

What gives Tadelakt its lustre and shine? 8

Tadelakt soap 9

The Tadelakt stone 10

Tadelakt colours 11

How does Tadelakt work? 12

Application 13

Tools 14

Green credentials 15

Tadelakt today 15

Top 10 uses for Tadelakt 17

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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
 Thanks for your interest in
Tadelakt. Render It Oz have
put together this beginners
guide so you can make an
informed decision about
whether to use this stunning
product in your next project.

This guide has been developed

for home builders and
renovators, interior
designers, architects and
artists looking for something
different in their wall finishes
that adds instant wow factor
and luxe.

3
Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
 WHAT IS TADELAKT AND
WHY DO I NEED IT?
ESSENTIALLY, TADELAKT IS A PLASTER PRODUCT MADE FROM
LIMESTONE THAT IS APPLIED BY HAND TO A SURFACE, COMPRESSED
AND SET WITH SPECIAL PLASTERING TOOLS THEN BURNISHED BY A
ARTISAN TO CREATE A ONE-OF-A KIND FINISH.

Designers, artists and builders have been

using this finish for centuries and it has stood
the test of time thanks to the extraordinary
surface finish it produces.

Tadelakt is water repellent and is naturally

resistant to mould and mildew, which is why
it is widely used in bathroom and wet areas
around the globe.

Because of the basic composition of the

product, amazingly, Tadelakt is a completely
natural finish. Aside from its aesthetic beauty,
Tadelakt is 100% natural and has no artificial
materials meaning it is not a burden to the
environment like its competitors, tiles and
other cement based finishes.

Used to create a seamless, luxurious alternative to standard bathroom tiles,

Tadelakt is desirable for those seeking something a little different in their
home.

Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

4
TADELAKT of the earth that posses more magic
than others, and one of those places is
HISTORY Paul Bowles

ORIGINATING AROUND 2,000 YEARS AGO, THE HISTORY OF TADELAKT

CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE NORTH AFRICAN COUNTRY OF MOROCCO.

In his book titled Tadelakt, Michael Johannes Ochs says Tadelakt, which roughly
translates to ‘kneaded plaster’ was being used on house facades and interiors in the
old city between the Koutoubia Mosque and the Bahia Palace around 2,000 years
ago. It is thought the Tadelakt technique originated here. (Ochs, 2007)

Defined by rounded curves and simple lines, Moroccan architecture clearly defines
the smooth lines and curved finishes that Tadelakt is known for.

Thanks to its water repellent properties, Tadelakt was known to be used to

waterproof traditional Moroccan water jugs or cisterns and later used in traditional
public bath houses. (Bryce, 2008). The finish was then seen to be more widely used
on the interior and exterior of Moroccan housing and continues to make an
appearance in modern Moroccan architecture today.

Traditional Moroccan Bathroom Koutoubia Mosque The colours of Morocco

5
Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
 WHAT IS TADELAKT
MADE FROM?
LIMESTONE IS THE CORE BASE MATERIAL IN
TADELAKT.

Typically, Tadelakt is approximately 95%

burnt limestone and the other five
percent is from sand and ash resulting
from the burning process. (Ochs, 2007).

The Tadelakt product Render it Oz use in

their work is a fine grained lime plaster
which is perfectly suited to the
Australian environment and completely
natural.

Render it Oz Tadelakt products

(Technical Specifications) include a
natural hydrated lime for better
efficiencies in the curing time of the
product.

Title of the book 6

WHAT GIVES TADELAKT ITS
LUSTRE AND SHINE?
BLACK SOAP
A Tadelakt finish does not become a
true Tadelakt finish without this
vital ingredient in the process. Black
soap or savon noire is traditionally
made out of olive oil and fish bone
and originally produced in a
Moroccan town called Safi.

The black soap is applied after the Tadelakt is installed

and is said to work in conjunction with the lime to
produce the iridescent, lustrous shine Tadelakt is
famous for. At a chemical level, black soap has a
profound effect on the product as it deeply penetrates
the plaster and reacts with it to create the water
repellent layer Tadelakt is known for.

It is applied lightly with a sponge or polishing cloth and

finished with a special Tadelakt stone

SAVON NOIR – BLACK SOAP

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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
THE TADELAKT STONE
AN ARTISANS PRIDE AND JOY
It might seem silly to some but
most artisans take enormous
pride in the quality of their
Tadelakt stone.

After the Tadelakt product and

black soap are applied, this little
piece of earth goes to work.

Sized to fit in the artisans hand neatly, the stone is then rubbed along
the surface to further help compact the finish - again adding to its water
repellent powers and give the surface a unique character and depth.
The stone also expedites the process that helps the soap and lime
marry.

The actual type of stone is not entirely important but it must be a very
hard stone like river stone, agate, granite or semi precious so it doesn't
deteriorate during the tiresome and deliberate polishing process.

The stone chosen essentially depends on the artisans preference and

some stones will stay with an artisan for many years. Artisans who
have been applying Tadelakt for many years will most will have an
collection of stones which hold special importance to them and more
often than not, a story to tell.

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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
ADVANTAGES OF USING LIME PLASTERS
WHEN SET, LIME PLASTER BECOMES AN EXTREMELY HARD AND
SOLID MASS THAT IS VERY DURABLE.

Lime-plastered walls have lasted for thousands of years, are

unaffected by water and will not soften or dissolve like gypsum
plaster or drywall.

Unlike gypsum plaster or drywall, lime plaster is sufficiently

durable and resistant to the elements to be used for exterior
plastering.

Compared to cement plaster, lime plaster is less brittle and

cracks much less, requiring no expansion joints as a result.

The elevated pH of the lime in the plaster will also act as a

fungicide; mold will not grow in lime plaster or on nearby wood.
(Lime Plaster, n.d.) 9

Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

 COLOURS…
WHAT COLOURS DOES TADELAKT COME IN?

Tadelakt in its natural Moroccan form is

usually an earthy red. The colours of
Tadelakt today are vast giving home
builders and renovators an array of
design choices when it comes to installing
this amazing plaster.

A colour is as strong as
the impression it
Ivan Albright
Whites and charcoals are becoming
increasingly popular throughout Australia
but the colour really making a statement
is a concrete look which gives a wet room
an instant industrial look. Teamed with
copper fixtures and a matte black bath,
concrete look Tadelakt is quickly
becoming a design sensation.

Aqua marine adds a touch of eccentric

luxe to any bathroom and those wanting a
clean stone look finish are spoilt for
choice with sandy beiges.

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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
HOW DOES TAKELAKT WORK?
TADELAKT IS A SPECIALIST
PLASTER TECHNIQUE WHICH
time you put into it and the SHOULD BE APPLIED BY A TRAINED
passionate nature of the
ARTISAN. TRYING TO APPLY A
TADELAKT PLASTER WITH NO
Malam Said Chaarawi, Morrocco
TRAINING COULD SPELL DISASTER
FOR YOUR WALL SO TAKE THE TIME
TO SOURCE A SUITABLE ARTISAN
APPLICATION TO HELP YOU.

The artisan will apply a minimum of two coats of Tadelakt before

eliminating any high spots or uneven spots so the surface is smooth.

After the artisan is happy the surface has been applied

properly the arduous task of polishing begins. The artisan will
polish every centimetre of the wall with a small polishing
trowel, usually made of extremely thin plastic material.

After the surface has been ‘hit’ with the polishing

trowel, the surface dried and the artisan happy
with the finish, the black soap is then applied.

After the black soap application is when

the small Tadelakt stone comes into
play and the artisan goes about
compressing the plaster with the stone
to create the burn and shine. 11

Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

TOOLS
Hawk – is the artisan’s shaping trowels and
primary tool for applying spatulas can be used to
Tadelakt. It is the square achieve unusual shapes
plate like tool with a handle and curved edges and
that fits nicely into the hand polishing trowels to give it
and holds the Tadelakt before a lustre or shine.
it is scraped off with a trowel
Japanese detail trowels
and placed on the wall.
allow the artisan to access
Trowels, spatulas and hand tight spaces and joins and
tools – As you can imagine, corner trowels can be used
the application of Tadelakt to create sharp corners.
requires some specialist tools
but in essence, an artisan will
usually use a laying-on trowel
to get the product from the Japanese trowel

hawk to the wall,

A man and his tools, make

Vita Sackville West

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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

Green Credentials
TADELAKT IS TOTALLY NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Astonishingly, Tadelakt is a finish that is completely natural. Being a

pure, natural product with no chemical additives means Tadelakt has
some seriously good green credentials.

Thanks to its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, (mould and mildew

resistant) Tadelakt is great for bathrooms with poor ventilation.

At Render it Oz, we believe Tadelakt will continue to become more

mainstream as the population realises that sustainable building is the way of
the future.

Rockcote Australia, who have an amazing range of natural materials,

including the Tadelakt, Render it Oz use, explain all their products in the
Natural Finishes range are “free of dangerous chemicals and produce no
odours or residual off-gassing”. They go on to say their natural materials
range have low embodied energy and are fully recyclable which means they
can be returned to the earth after use. (Rockcote, p. 8) 13

Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

Green Credentials continued…
TADELAKT IS TOTALLY NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

In our interview with Tony Thorogood, Rockcote’s Natural

Materials Manager, Tony explains his top three reasons why
people looking to build in a more environmentally friendly
manner prefer Tadelakt over other surfaces:

1. Tadelakt is a product that comes from the earth and can go

back into it.

2. Being a breathable product it helps with Mould as mould

does not grow on Tadelakt.

3. Using a natural product, means the home you live in is not

suffering from toxic poisoning.

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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

TADELAKT TODAY

With more choices than ever, builders, renovators

and designers are spoilt for choice when it comes to
unique finishes.

Tadelakt hasn’t gone mainstream yet, but we believe

this will change and Australians will catch on just as
the Europeans have.

Tiles and other finishes have taken centre stage for

far too long. The benefits to the environment and to
seekers of ‘something different’ are far too great to
resist it for long.

Today, Australian’s are using Tadelakt mostly in

bathrooms and wet areas. We have also seen
Tadelakt finishes on fireplaces, in kitchens and in
outdoor entertaining areas – it’s uses are limitless.

Whether it is a contemporary finish or a traditional

finish you are after, Tadelakt should be given special
consideration.
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

TOP USES FOR TADELAKT
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE MANY SURFACES
AND AREAS TADELAKT CAN BE APPLIED, WE’VE
CREATED OUR TOP 10 USES FOR TADELAKT.
1. SHOWERS
2. BATHTUBS
3. FEATURE WALLS
4. COMMERCIALLY – IN RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES AND RETAIL
SHOPS

5. VANITIES, BASINS AND SINKS

6. VASES
7. EXTERNAL WALLS, BBQ AREAS
8. FIREPLACES
9. SHELVING
10.ARTWORK

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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

 THE EXPERT INTERVIEW
WE SPOKE WITH NATURAL MATERIALS
EXPERT, TONY THOROGOOD FROM
ROCKCOTE AUSTRALIA ABOUT ALL THINGS
LIME PLASTER AND TADELAKT.

WHY NATURAL MATERIALS AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK AT
ROCKCOTE? Working with Bob Cameron, (the founder of Rockcote) who is the ethos of the
company.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER TADELAKT AND WHAT INTERESTED YOU ABOUT IT?
I have been working with non-toxic products now for over 15 years. By using these types
of products it makes the homes we live in a lot healthier.

WHAT MAKES THIS PRODUCT SO APPEALING TO BUILDERS, RENOVATORS AND DESIGNERS?

The unique look that it gives as well as the feel of the product. It truly gives you the feel of
stone.

YOU OFFER WORKSHOPS IN THE APPLICATION OF THE PRODUCT, CAN ANYONE COME OR
DO YOU ONLY SEE THOSE WITH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ATTEND? I run two types of
workshops, one is for the applicator wanting to become an Artisan and the other is for
Building Professionals to allow them to understand the products better when specifying.

GIVEN THE PROCESS OF APPLICATION AND THE COST SUPPLYING AND APPLYING THE
PRODUCT, DO YOU THINK THIS FINISH IS OUT OF REACH FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET? AND IF
CUSTOMERS REALLY WANTED A TADELAKT FINISH BUT COULDN’T AFFORD TO DO THEIR
ENTIRE ROOM, WHAT WOULD BE SOME ALTERNATIVES? I truly do not believe the product is
expensive at all, for example, in your bathroom the cost of a quality tile and the
application works out to be very close in price. If you cannot afford to do the full room you
can switch to something like Venetian Plaster or Otsumigaki for parts.

WHAT’S YOUR TOP BIT OF ADVICE FOR PEOPLE CONSIDERING USING TADELAKT IN THEIR
NEXT PROJECT? My best advise would be to make sure you use a trained Artisan to do the
application as it is not something that any solid plasterer can do, and not something a DIY
should try.
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers