"Tadelakt" Hand crafted Limeplaster Bathrooms and kitchens
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The "Tadelakt" process below creates a water resistant lime plaster for interior and exterior use.
This unique Moroccan lime plaster that I use, has been sourced by Carl Giskes of Tierrifino, who spent his youth working and travelling, spending almost seven years of it in Africa learning about the skills of the local artisans. They were turning clay mud and lime into dwellings the most outstanding of these products was the Lime from the Marrakesh plateau ( previously an ocean bed ) which they still today burn in fire pits for days then soak and use to create the polished walls, bath houses and columns of the ancient buildings in the cities.

It can only be applied to sufficiently load bearing walls, floors and ceilings. It is suitable for wet and dry rooms and decorative columns sculptures etc. Suitable for table tops when not used industrially. Suitable for plastering at a thickness of 5-6 mm onto stable, rough, mineral substrates like lime-cement plasters and base clay plaster.
 
Tadelakt is lime and is classified as irritating to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes
  • For use by Professional / very experienced DIY. 
  • Water resistant yet vapour permeable. 
  • Applied with hand tools.
  • Usable after 2-4 weeks. Hardened out after 3-4 months. 
  • Requires a high level of skill to repair. 
  • Shows beautiful micro fissures, hairline cracks in almost all cases.
  • Maintenance only possible with pure olive oil soap ( tadelakt soap). 
  • Only suitable for floors when walked on with bare feet or soft shoes. 
  • Never use masking tape on fresh/old Tadelakt.
  • Do not apply where water will form puddles on or against surface to avoid stains.

​
​Application 

The air and substrate temperature must be at least 5°C.
The substrate must be load bearing, stable, continuously dry, absorbing and sufficiently rough to provide a mechanical key. It should be free of dust and grease. Remove any sealing coatings. 

In wet areas a waterproof substrate is necessary. Substrates may not warp/bend under any circumstances, to avoid structural cracks.

Add 5 litres of water to 12,5 kg of the product (0,4 l/1 kg). Close the bucket and let rest for 2-15 days. Just before application, empty the contents of the bucket into a plasterer’s tub and add a small quantity of water. Mix to a homogeneous paste. If possible save some dry material for repairs in the future. 

Lime resistant oxides can be used to colour the mix with the exception of Pigment Ultramarine Blue in wet areas.

The drying times will vary due to various substrates. Air humidity and temperature are conditions that make the application difficult.

Pre moisten the substrate using a mist spray bottle, or if externally a hose on mist. Apply the mix 5-6 or 6-8mm  depending on the level of undulation you require. A minium finished thickness of 4-5 mm after compressing is required to create the hydrophobic layer. 

The product should resemble wet weetabix when applied. After some setting, when the shine of water has disappeared from the surface, float the plaster with a wooden float to create the desired shape. If floating is done too early, the adhesion will be disturbed.

When you feel it is hard enough smooth the surface with a plastic trowel to push the fine lime particles to the surface however not too much or you will close the surface and push the water to the base. This overworking will cause air bubbles which will disturb the adhesion and show larger cracks after drying. When only a very thin film of lime is left wet on the surface ( the fat of the lime ) is still workable, polish with a polishing stone. 

The polishing stone will distribute the lime, close the surface and create the design. Shine will appear when polishing with the stone is continued, however, polishing with a plastic trowel or a thin plastic bag shaped into a ball can enhance the shine considerably.

After time, depending on the circumstances between 1 and 12 hours, mix the olive soap with water (1:50 parts), apply this mixture with a soft brush. Always start at the bottom of your object to avoid white marks that may remain visible indefinitely. 

Repeat until the surface is saturated and will not absorb the mixture anymore. Gently wipe the surface dry with your hand or with a thin plastic bag shaped into a ball. Do not let the soap mixture dry by itself, always wipe it dry. 

Wait again, between 1 to 6 hours and apply a new mixture of Soap and water (1:25 parts) and polish the surface carefully with the stone. Use the Soap mixture as a thin film between the stone and the surface on which it will glide. Repeat to create a higher shine.

Treat showers and baths a minimum of  seven times with Soap, with or without polishing with a stone.
Clean Stone only with pure olive oil soap ( Tadelakt olive Soap ) and water.

The more the surface is treated with Soap, the more resistant it will be to water. Never let Soap dry by itself, always wipe it dry with your hand or a soft cloth.

Under normal circumstances (+20°C and 60% relative air humidity), the limestone is dry between 2-6 days. Hardened out after 4 months. Never accelerate drying. Use showers after 1 week, walk on floors after 4 weeks.

Repairs of are possible but will always remain visible. Apply the lime on the pre-moistened damaged area, avoid applying it onto the parts around it that are intact. Finish according to the instructions above.

TADELAKT PRODUCT SHEET

The lime is irritating to the skin so avoid contact with skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Keep away from children. Always wear gloves, safety goggles and dust mask. Rinse eyes well with water after contact.
For further information request the Material Safety Data Sheet.

Once fully dried out it can be protected with Tadelakt Wax and other types of wax. 
Untreated surfaces are vulnerable to stains.

Tools required

Safety goggles, dust mask, protective gloves, plasterer’s tub, mixer, water spray, hawk, laying on trowel, wooden float, plastic trowel, polishing stone, soft brush, masking tape.

Substrates
Concrete, bricks and other building blocks, Suitably secure cement sheeting, doubles lined as below.

PREPARATION 1, (non wet areas)
Absorbent brick ,concrete etc - Level with a cement render suitable for the substrate with full surface reinforcement mesh and roughen to a 2-3 mm relief.
For fibre cement sheeting
First layer : Screw to construction and glue seams. Second layer: Full surface glued and screwed onto the first. stagger over- lapped joints and glue seams. Coat with minimum 15 mm absorbent sand / cement lime mortar with full surface reinforcement mesh and roughen to a 2-3 mm relief

PREPARATION 2 ( suitable for bathrooms ) European materials 
Apply 12,5 mm Fermacell as written above.  Ardex P51 + 10 mm Ardex A950, full surface rein- forcement mesh and roughen to a 2-3 mm relief. 

DISCLAIMER
Although this description has been put together with utmost precision, "Tadelakt Sydney" or "Tierrafino" will not be liable for any indirect or direct damage that may occur, by using the information offered in this product description.

Tierrafino B.V. - Archangelkade 23 - 1013 BE Amsterdam - The Netherlands - www.tierrafino.nl

What my Clients Are Saying

Peter’s goal is to provide you with an end result that makes you happy. He was able to work with us to create a steam room that met our vision of feeling like you were in a cave. He was totally committed to providing an end product that not only looks great but more importantly will last. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him for any project.
Jeff & Fiona”​

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  • Tadelakt
  • IN THE MEDIA
  • Contacts
  • Workshops
    • process slideshow and other finishes
  • Application/Tech.info