Tadelakt or Tadellakt is a bright, nearly waterproof lime plaster which can be used on the inside of buildings and on the outside. It is the traditional coating of the palaces, hammams and bathrooms of the riads in Morocco. Its traditional application includes being polished with a river stone and treated with a soft soap to acquire its final appearance and water resistance. Tadelakt has a luxurious, soft aspect with undulations due to the work of the artisans who finish it; in certain installations, it is suitable for making bathtubs, showers, and washbasins and confers great decorative capacities. Traditionally, tadelakt is produced with the lime of the area of Marrakech. Tadelakt is a Berber word meaning to rub.
The restoration of the riads of Morocco has focused attention on this ancient technique.
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Tadelakt generally refers to any lime plaster applied according to the principles and techniques of Moroccan tadelakt, but using the lime bodies available in places other than Marrakech.
The basic characteristics of a tadelakt plaster are these:
Basically the plaster powder has to be blended with water for 12 to 15 hours prior of the pigment mix. The walls where the plaster paste will be applied are prepared with cement. A simple machine then spits the plaster to the wall. After the first paste coat on the wall, there are two smoothing techniques, one made with a normal wooden shovel, and afterward one made with a small, smooth stone that eliminates surface imperfections.