Tadelakt: a bathroom without tiles. What it is, how it is applied and how much you need

Tadelakt is a Moroccan lime plaster finishing technique that lets a bathroom do without tiles. The surface is compacted, polished with a stone and saturated with soap, which combines with the lime to form a water-repellent layer. The result: a seamless wall without grout lines that still lets water vapour through. Below we explain how tadelakt works, where it works well, how much material you need and why it is not a technique for everyone.

What is tadelakt?

Tadelakt originates from Morocco and is sometimes called the oldest alternative to bathroom tiles. It is a lime plaster with an exceptionally high proportion of lime to aggregate. Traditionally it was used to finish bathhouses, fountains and water tanks.

The last two stages of the work are key: polishing with a stone, which compacts the surface, and soap. We make Decoraton soap from olive oil and potassium hydroxide. The stearic acid it contains reacts with the lime to form lime soap, a layer with strong hydrophobic properties.

A bathroom without tiles: why tadelakt?

• No grout. One continuous surface, without joints that darken over time and need scrubbing.
• Repels water, lets vapour through. Tadelakt is both hydrophobic and diffusion-open: water runs off the surface while the wall still breathes. Moisture has nowhere to condense, which inhibits mould growth.
• No modern chemicals. Lime, aggregate and olive oil soap.
• A look tiles cannot give. Soft, slightly glossy tonal variation and traces of handwork. Every wall is different.
• Curves and niches. The plaster follows arches, recesses and shelves, where tiles have to be cut and grouted.

Where can tadelakt be used?

In the shower, on bathroom walls, around the bath and washbasin. Traditionally also in bathhouses and fountains. In the wet zone, i.e. where water runs, tadelakt is applied in the full layer system.

On the other bathroom walls, out of reach of water, Muro Sano lime paint is usually enough. It copes well with damp rooms and matches the look of tadelakt.

On what surface?

Tadelakt contains no modern chemicals, so it bonds only with surfaces containing lime, clay, cement or ceramics. Bonding primers will not help here. Plasterboard requires appropriate prior treatment. If you do not know what your wall is made of, call before you buy.

How tadelakt is applied: step by step

1. Wet the surface and keep wetting it until the water stops being absorbed. This is a must, not a recommendation. The easiest way is with a garden hose with a mist setting.
2. The first coat goes on thinly over the whole surface with a sponge or sponge float. Then you wait for the wall to absorb the moisture: from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the surface. Start with the areas that dry fastest.
3. Further coats: each 2–3 mm, at least three.
4. Smoothing. On the last coat you press the surface with a trowel and fill micro-cracks. A lime-rich cream comes out from under the steel trowel, which you use to repair small defects. This is a time-sensitive moment: too early and you smear the mix, too late and you scratch it.
5. Polishing with a stone with the first coat of soap. The wall is left overnight.
6. The next day you continue applying soap and polish until glossy. Over the following few days it is worth rubbing in a thin layer of soap by hand or with a brush.

See also how we work with lime on the art of application page.

How much tadelakt do you need?

In the wet zone, consumption is about 4.5–5 kg per m². A 20 kg pack is therefore enough for roughly 4–4.5 m². Example: shower cubicle walls with a total area of 8 m² need 36–40 kg, i.e. 2 packs. This is a range, not a guarantee, because consumption depends on the absorbency of the surface and the technique.

You will also need tadelakt soap for sealing.

We calculate how much it costs for a specific area in our article how much does tadelakt in a bathroom cost.

Can I do tadelakt myself?

To be frank: it is not a technique for beginners. It requires knowledge of the process, a feel for the material and experience. If you want to try it yourself, start with a small area, for example a niche or a shelf, find a mentor or take a training course. For a whole bathroom, it is best to hire a contractor who has done tadelakt before.

Tadelakt, tiles or microcement?

Feature	Tiles	Microcement	Tadelakt
Grout	Yes	No	No
Binder	Adhesive and grout	Cement with additives, sealed with varnish	Lime, sealed with soap
Vapour permeability	Low	Depends on the sealing system	High
Appearance	Repeating pattern	Uniform, "concrete-like"	Handmade, with a soft sheen
Application	Common, many tradespeople	Requires skill	Requires a lot of skill

How to care for tadelakt?

Clean with mild products. Avoid acidic products such as vinegar or descalers, because acids dissolve lime.

Frequently asked questions

Is tadelakt waterproof?

Well-applied tadelakt sealed with soap repels water and has been used for centuries in bathhouses and showers, while still letting water vapour through. The result depends on the quality of workmanship: compaction, polishing and soap.

Can tadelakt be applied over tiles?

Ceramics are one of the surfaces tadelakt bonds with. However, every surface should be assessed before work, so call before you start.

How long is the wait for tadelakt?

We prepare tadelakt to order. You can see the lead time on the product page before adding it to your cart.

Order Decoraton tadelakt or see the full range in the decorative plasters collection.

Planning a bathroom without tiles? Call us: +48 605 642 777. We will help assess the surface and calculate the material. We advise free of charge.