Tadelakt Plaster

Being used widely in the Moroccan architecture, the word Tadelakt means “to rub in”. Tadelakt Plaster is basically a waterproof one and it is widely used in order to make waterproof containment units. Made up from polished lime plaster, Tadelakt has soap applied to it to make it resistant towards wate and this plaster is very durable. Some of the characteristics which distinguish tadelakt from other plasters include its swelling and soft character due to which it can form a seamless curve. The plaster can be pigmented with any colour of your choice but if you wish to go traditional then deep red will be the colour for you with either matte or shiny finish.

Tadelakt Plaster

Tadelakt draws inspiration from thought to have been evolved from the concepts of quad where the plasters were treated with oils, fats and calcium hydroxide but not with the soaps.

The Primary elements of Tadelakt

The most common elements which are included in the Tadelakt Plaster consist mainly of lime plaster. However, in some of the cases, elements like marble or sand of limestone but none of the other aggregates) along with nature in order to haste surface carbonation and make the component water-resistant.

The formation of lime soap occurs when lime plaster chemically combines with the natural soap. The calcium soaps, on the other hand, are basically hard and are not water soluble. However, when it comes to deposits of calcium-rich water in bathtubs and showers, the soap is generally mixed with water by dissolving the calcium carbonate, the formation of calcium soaps occurs. 

Coming to the traditional form of application, firstly a river stone is polished and then oleic acid is used to react with the stone. This allows for it to be waterproof as well as have a beautiful appearance.

Traditionally, in the Moroccan states, plaster powder was mainly used which was initially mixed into water and then left for around 15 hours before adding any pigment to it. The application of the plaster was done with a wooden float. Then a hard stone which is not only flat but also smooth is used to ice pack the plaster and then the process of final polish is completed. The result which came out after the polish was truly a smooth and shiny finish. And finally, for sealing the plaster a soap solution of olive oil was used if you wish to maintain the Tadelakt Plaster for a longer period then you should use the soap solutions in order to re-seal the surface; however, while using a quad roof, the resealing job needs to be repeated within a span of a few years.

The use of Tadelakt

In Morocco, tadelakt is basically used for covering up various architectural pieces like palaces, riad’s bathrooms and hammams.The resurrection that was led in the use was due to the refurbishment of the Moroccan riads. However, it has been put to be used outside in recent times. The hydraulic lime produced by the Berber artisans by burning the limestone which could only be found in the Moroccan region, somewhere near Marrakech formed the main base of the plaster. The natural hydraulic lime is basically made by burning the limestone in the oven made from the woods of palm or olive tree and then the same burnt limestone is varied with fine sand. A colour range can be created easily on the light coloured natural tadelakt with the help of dyes.

It can help you make your walls and ceilings waterproof and save your home from dampness and enjoy your beautiful house. So next time while looking for a plaster only uses tadelakt.