About tadelakt
Tadelakt (pronounced tad-eh-lact) is a traditional waterproof and decorative plaster originally from the Marrakech region of Morocco. This plaster has recently been gaining popularity in Europe.
It is not just a polished plaster with a waterproof sealer on top!
Tadelakt has a honed, smooth marble-like surface, with a satin sheen. It has subtle nuances of colour and grain throughout it. Our product does not micro-crack or craze like some versions of tadelakt.
Tadelakt can be tinted to produce intense, deep colours, with subtle nuances. Traditional Moroccan tadelakt colours have been a range of warm, sunny and burnt brown and yellow ochre's of the deserts, the vermilion of Marrakech, cobalt blues of Essaouira coast and the saffron yellows of the souk, thus echoing the beauty of the Moroccan landscape.
We find in the UK muted stone-like taupes, warm greys and beiges are popular, along with statement blacks and charcoal greys.
We are able mix and match to almost any colour choice, from natural white to the deepest black. We will work with you, providing samples to produce your perfect, bespoke colour.
For guidance, a colour chart to what can be achieved is available here
If tadelakt is to be applied in an area which will get regularly wet such as a shower cubicle, tadelakt needs to be applied to a waterproof substrate, which we can install or advise on. We recommend the use of the Wedi system or Bluclad board. Onto this we are able to apply our plasters.
Please ensure substrates are built solidly. Any defects in substrate will be difficult to resolve once the area is plastered. Wedi provide comprehensive fixing instructions which should be followed.
Wetroom construction should be carefully planned. Our recommended suppliers TradSol are very knowledgeable and can advise and supply all the substrate materials for you or your builder to construct a successful wet room
Before we are scheduled on site the flooring needs to be laid and all plumbing elements such as sanitary ware and showerheads need to be dry fitted in their correct positions and then removed.
The total thickness of our tadelakt system from the board upwards is around 2mm.
Although based Bristol, we also have applicators in London. In fact around half of our tadelakt work is in the capital. We are happy to travel through out the UK to work and will consider projects throughout the world.
For us to give you an accurate quotation we require some information about your project.
We generally work at a square metre rate, so the first thing to do is to accurately measure the space you would like covered. Please do not omit doors and windows from the measurements if they involve any wall surfaces which need to be plastered.
A sketch of any design features would be useful for accurate pricing, such as vanity units, architectural niches etc.
It would also be useful to know whereabouts in the country or world the job is!
This information can be phoned, emailed or posted to us. We will quickly get back to you with an accurate quotation for the work based on this information.
The tadelakt surface is sealed with a soap solution.
Over months of regular use in a shower cubicle the tadelakt surface may need cleaning or you may notice more water being absorbed into the plaster surface. In these cases it is prudent to reapply a coat or two of soap. The soap is very easy to apply and completely non toxic.
Harsh cleaning chemicals such as bleach should be avoided.
We will present you with a large tub of soap solution and thorough care and maintenance instructions on job completion.
Tadelakt is a complex plaster to master, especially when ensuring a surface is watertight. We consider it unsuitable for use by inexperienced applicators. We have a talented team of applicators who can expertly plaster your project.