05/04/2026
THE TADELAKT PROCESS
In a world that moves quickly, choosing Tadelakt invites us to slow down. To appreciate process, value the human hand, and create spaces that don’t just look beautiful, but feel meaningful.
Tadelakt is an ancient plastering art originating in Morocco, prized for both its beauty and natural waterproofing properties. Created through a chemical reaction between olive oil soap and curing lime plaster, Tadelakt forms a durable, breathable, antimicrobial surface once sealed with soap and beeswax.
The process begins with a properly waterproofed substrate. The first step is a thin-set scratch coat designed to maximize adhesion for the lime plaster system. Two floated base coats follow, creating a smooth, textured foundation and bringing up the grain of the plaster. Once cured, custom pigments are blended into the finish coat and the Tadelakt application begins.
Tadelakt is applied in thin, even layers, each one carefully floated before the next is added. On the final coat, the surface is compressed and troweled smooth to achieve its signature movement and depth.
Several hours after the last pass, olive oil soap is brushed onto the surface with a block brush, worked in with a trowel and hand polished with a river stone. As the lime reacts with the soap, it forms insoluble calcium stearate and a natural seal is created. This reaction waterproofs the surface while preserving the plaster’s breathability.
The finish is completed with two coats of Punic wax, a beeswax solution, and buffed to achieve a soft, luminous sheen.