Paintzone offers tadelakt, the Moroccan lime plaster polished with olive oil soap until it repels water. It gives a wall one seamless, softly polished surface with no grout lines, which is why it is used in bathrooms and showers.
Working with Paintzone
Owner-run
Paintzone is owned and run by Andrei Danu and Dorin Sirbu, who came to painting from architecture and mural work.
Specialty finishes in house
We offer specialty finishes, including limewash, Roman clay and tadelakt, for anything from one accent wall to a whole room.
Free written estimates
We are happy to walk the property with you and put the whole job in writing, at no charge, covering surfaces, preparation, products and price.
What tadelakt is
Tadelakt comes from Morocco, and the word means "to rub in". Lime plaster is troweled on in thin coats, burnished and rubbed with olive oil soap, which reacts with the lime to form a water-repellent seal, as Earthaus, a US maker of tadelakt plaster, explains it.
The finished surface is smooth, with no grain and a low luster. It darkens when it gets wet and lightens again as it dries, and fine surface lines called microfissures are a normal part of the material.
Where tadelakt works
Tadelakt suits upright surfaces. Walls shed water, while flat surfaces hold it.
Showers and bathrooms
Shower and steam shower walls, tub surrounds and bathroom walls are the traditional use, always over a waterproofed wall.
Dry walls
Accent walls, fireplace surrounds, range hoods and kitchen backsplashes take it as well, over sound drywall or a primed painted wall.
Floors, benches and tubs
Floors, benches, shelves, niches and countertops are higher risk, and Earthaus recommends tile or stone for flat surfaces in a shower. It rules out the inside of a bathtub, where water sits.
How tadelakt is built
Tadelakt is built up in stages, and the timing of each stage matters. The soap has to go on while the plaster is still damp. Too early leaves cloudy marks and too late weakens the seal, according to Earthaus's application guide.
The wall behind it
In a shower, a waterproofing contractor installs the tile backer board and membrane first, then a key coat goes on. A dry wall needs sound drywall or a primed painted surface.
Base and finish coats
Base coats of lime plaster are followed by several very thin finish coats, troweled one into the next and burnished smooth.
Olive oil soap
Olive oil soap is rubbed into the damp plaster section by section.
Wax and joints
A beeswax sealer goes over the soap seal, and clear silicone fills the joints where the plaster meets tile, glass or fixtures.
Caring for tadelakt
Tadelakt needs gentle care rather than none. The soap seal is what repels water. A gentle, plant-based soap diluted in warm water is enough, and acidic or chemical cleaners stay out of a tadelakt shower because they dissolve the seal.
Upkeep
Earthaus recommends a coat of beeswax sealer at least once a year, and the silicone joints where tadelakt meets tile or glass should be kept intact.
Tadelakt or tile
Tile is the tougher surface for floors and benches. On walls, tadelakt gives one continuous surface with no grout lines.
What affects the price of tadelakt
We price tadelakt after seeing the space, and the estimate is free. In a shower, the wall needs the same preparation as for tile, a backer board and a waterproof membrane, and a qualified waterproofing contractor builds it first. We coordinate with them so the wall suits the plaster. The size of the area, the number of walls and corners, and whether it is a wet or a dry wall set the price.
Tadelakt FAQs
Is tadelakt waterproof?
Not by itself. The olive oil soap makes the surface water-repellent, and in a shower it goes over a waterproof membrane, which is what keeps water out of the wall.
Does tadelakt crack?
Fine surface microfissures are normal and, according to Earthaus, do not affect water repellency. A hairline crack can point to movement in the wall behind it and should be checked.
Can tadelakt be repaired?
Yes. Chips and etched spots can be patched. As Earthaus notes, a patch may show.
Is tadelakt the same as lime plaster?
Tadelakt is a lime plaster finished in a particular way. It is burnished and rubbed with olive oil soap, which an ordinary lime plaster wall is not.
Can tadelakt be used outdoors?
Only in limited cases. Earthaus allows outdoor showers in temperate climates when they are under a roof, and Novacolor rates its tadelakt for interiors.
Who applies tadelakt in Seattle?
Paintzone does, in Seattle and across the Eastside, as one of its specialty finishes alongside others such as limewash, Roman clay and Venetian plaster. Call (206) 899-5154 to arrange a visit, or send us the details through the estimate form.
Painting Across Seattle & the Eastside
Paintzone works in Seattle and across the Eastside, in Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Kirkland, Magnolia, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Queen Anne, Redmond, Renton and Sammamish.
To get started, request a painting quote or call (206) 899-5154. We are at 600 W Olympic Pl #503, Seattle, WA 98119.