Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
THE
COVER
PAGE
Contents
Introduction 3
Tadelakt history 5
Tadelakt soap 9
Tadelakt colours 11
Application 13
Tools 14
Green credentials 15
Tadelakt today 15
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
Thanks for your interest in
Tadelakt. Render It Oz have
put together this beginners
guide so you can make an
informed decision about
whether to use this stunning
product in your next project.
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
WHAT IS TADELAKT AND
WHY DO I NEED IT?
ESSENTIALLY, TADELAKT IS A PLASTER PRODUCT MADE FROM
LIMESTONE THAT IS APPLIED BY HAND TO A SURFACE, COMPRESSED
AND SET WITH SPECIAL PLASTERING TOOLS THEN BURNISHED BY A
ARTISAN TO CREATE A ONE-OF-A KIND FINISH.
In his book titled Tadelakt, Michael Johannes Ochs says Tadelakt, which roughly
translates to ‘kneaded plaster’ was being used on house facades and interiors in the
old city between the Koutoubia Mosque and the Bahia Palace around 2,000 years
ago. It is thought the Tadelakt technique originated here. (Ochs, 2007)
Defined by rounded curves and simple lines, Moroccan architecture clearly defines
the smooth lines and curved finishes that Tadelakt is known for.
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
WHAT IS TADELAKT
MADE FROM?
LIMESTONE IS THE CORE BASE MATERIAL IN
TADELAKT.
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
THE TADELAKT STONE
AN ARTISANS PRIDE AND JOY
It might seem silly to some but
most artisans take enormous
pride in the quality of their
Tadelakt stone.
Sized to fit in the artisans hand neatly, the stone is then rubbed along
the surface to further help compact the finish - again adding to its water
repellent powers and give the surface a unique character and depth.
The stone also expedites the process that helps the soap and lime
marry.
The actual type of stone is not entirely important but it must be a very
hard stone like river stone, agate, granite or semi precious so it doesn't
deteriorate during the tiresome and deliberate polishing process.
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
ADVANTAGES OF USING LIME PLASTERS
WHEN SET, LIME PLASTER BECOMES AN EXTREMELY HARD AND
SOLID MASS THAT IS VERY DURABLE.
A colour is as strong as
the impression it
Ivan Albright
Whites and charcoals are becoming
increasingly popular throughout Australia
but the colour really making a statement
is a concrete look which gives a wet room
an instant industrial look. Teamed with
copper fixtures and a matte black bath,
concrete look Tadelakt is quickly
becoming a design sensation.
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Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers
HOW DOES TAKELAKT WORK?
TADELAKT IS A SPECIALIST
PLASTER TECHNIQUE WHICH
time you put into it and the SHOULD BE APPLIED BY A TRAINED
passionate nature of the
ARTISAN. TRYING TO APPLY A
TADELAKT PLASTER WITH NO
Malam Said Chaarawi, Morrocco
TRAINING COULD SPELL DISASTER
FOR YOUR WALL SO TAKE THE TIME
TO SOURCE A SUITABLE ARTISAN
APPLICATION TO HELP YOU.
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WHY NATURAL MATERIALS AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK AT
ROCKCOTE? Working with Bob Cameron, (the founder of Rockcote) who is the ethos of the
company.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER TADELAKT AND WHAT INTERESTED YOU ABOUT IT?
I have been working with non-toxic products now for over 15 years. By using these types
of products it makes the homes we live in a lot healthier.
YOU OFFER WORKSHOPS IN THE APPLICATION OF THE PRODUCT, CAN ANYONE COME OR
DO YOU ONLY SEE THOSE WITH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ATTEND? I run two types of
workshops, one is for the applicator wanting to become an Artisan and the other is for
Building Professionals to allow them to understand the products better when specifying.
GIVEN THE PROCESS OF APPLICATION AND THE COST SUPPLYING AND APPLYING THE
PRODUCT, DO YOU THINK THIS FINISH IS OUT OF REACH FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET? AND IF
CUSTOMERS REALLY WANTED A TADELAKT FINISH BUT COULDN’T AFFORD TO DO THEIR
ENTIRE ROOM, WHAT WOULD BE SOME ALTERNATIVES? I truly do not believe the product is
expensive at all, for example, in your bathroom the cost of a quality tile and the
application works out to be very close in price. If you cannot afford to do the full room you
can switch to something like Venetian Plaster or Otsumigaki for parts.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP BIT OF ADVICE FOR PEOPLE CONSIDERING USING TADELAKT IN THEIR
NEXT PROJECT? My best advise would be to make sure you use a trained Artisan to do the
application as it is not something that any solid plasterer can do, and not something a DIY
should try.
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