Renderitoz Tadelakt eBook

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THE COVER

PAGE

Contents Introduction

3

What is Tadelakt and why do I need it?

4

Tadelakt history

5

What is Tadelakt made from?

6

Advantages of lime plasters

7

What gives Tadelakt its lustre and shine?

8

Tadelakt soap

9

The Tadelakt stone

10

Tadelakt colours

11

How does Tadelakt work?

12

Application

13

Tools

14

Green credentials

15

Tadelakt today

15

Top 10 uses for Tadelakt

17

2 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. This guide has been developed for

home

renovators, designers,

builders

and

interior architects

and

artists looking for something different in their wall finishes that adds instant wow factor and luxe.


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. Designers, artists and builders have been using this finish for centuries and it has stood the test of time thanks to the extraordinary surface finish it produces. Tadelakt is water repellent and is naturally resistant to mould and mildew, which is why it is widely used in bathroom and wet areas around the globe. Because of the basic composition of the product, amazingly, Tadelakt is a completely natural finish. Aside from its aesthetic beauty, Tadelakt is 100% natural and has no artificial materials meaning it is not a burden to the environment like its competitors, tiles and other cement based finishes. Used to create a seamless, luxurious alternative to standard bathroom tiles, Tadelakt is desirable for those seeking something a little different in their home.

Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers 4

TADELAKT HISTORY

of theearth that posses moremagic than others, and oneof thoseplaces is Paul Bowles

ORIGINATING AROUND 2,000 YEARS AGO, THE HISTORY OF TADELAKT

CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE NORTH AFRICAN COUNTRY OF MOROCCO. 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. Thanks to its water repellent properties, Tadelakt was known to be used to waterproof traditional Moroccan water jugs or cisterns and later used in traditional public bath houses. (Bryce, 2008). The finish was then seen to be more widely used on the interior and exterior of Moroccan housing and continues to make an appearance in modern Moroccan architecture today.

Traditional Moroccan Bathroom

Koutoubia Mosque

The colours of Morocco

5

Tadelakt – A beginners Guide for builders, renovators and designers

WHAT IS TADELAKT MADE FROM? LIMESTONE IS THE CORE BASE MATERIAL IN TADELAKT. Typically, Tadelakt is approximately 95% burnt

limestone

and

the

other

five

percent is from sand and ash resulting from the burning process. (Ochs, 2007). The Tadelakt product Render it Oz use in their work is a fine grained lime plaster which

is

perfectly

suited

to

the

Australian environment and completely natural. Render

it

(Technical natural

Oz

Tadelakt

Specifications)

hydrated

lime

products include for

a

better

efficiencies in the curing time of the product.

Title of the book

6

WHAT GIVES TADELAKT ITS LUSTRE AND SHINE? BLACK SOAP A Tadelakt finish does not become a true Tadelakt finish without this vital ingredient in the process. Black soap or savon

noire is

traditionally

made out of olive oil and fish bone and

originally

produced

in

a

Moroccan town called Safi. The black soap is applied after the Tadelakt is installed and is said to work in conjunction with the lime to produce the iridescent, lustrous shine Tadelakt is famous for. At a chemical level, black soap has a profound effect on the product as it deeply penetrates the plaster and reacts with it to create the water repellent layer Tadelakt is known for. It is applied lightly with a sponge or polishing cloth and finished with a special Tadelakt stone

SAVON NOIR – BLACK SOAP

7


It might seem silly to some but most

artisans

pride

in

the

take

enormous

quality of

their

Tadelakt stone. After the Tadelakt product and black soap are applied, this little piece of earth goes to work. 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. The stone chosen essentially depends on the artisans preference and some stones will stay with an artisan for many years. Artisans who have been applying Tadelakt for many years will most will have an collection of stones which hold special importance to them and more often than not, a story to tell.


ADVANTAGES OF USING LIME PLASTERS WHEN SET, LIME PLASTER BECOMES AN EXTREMELY HARD AND SOLID MASS THAT IS VERY DURABLE.

Lime-plastered walls have lasted for thousands of years, are unaffected by water and will not soften or dissolve like gypsum plaster or drywall. Unlike gypsum plaster or drywall, lime plaster is sufficiently durable and resistant to the elements to be used for exterior plastering. Compared to cement plaster, lime plaster is less brittle and cracks much less, requiring no expansion joints as a result. The elevated pH of the lime in the plaster will also act as a fungicide; mold will not grow in lime plaster or on nearby wood. (Lime Plaster, n.d.)

9


COLOURS… WHAT COLOURS DOES TADELAKT COME IN? Tadelakt in its natural Moroccan form is usually an earthy red. The colours of Tadelakt today are vast giving home builders

and

renovators

an

array of

design choices when it comes to installing this amazing plaster.

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. Aqua marine adds a touch of eccentric luxe to any bathroom and those wanting a clean stone look finish are spoilt for choice with sandy beiges. 10


HOW DOES TAKELAKT WORK? TADELAKT PLASTER

timeyouput intoit andthe passionatenatureof the MalamSaidChaarawi,Morrocco

IS

A

SPECIALIST

TECHNIQUE

WHICH

SHOULD BE APPLIED BY A TRAINED ARTISAN. TRYING TO APPLY A TADELAKT

PLASTER

WITH

NO

TRAINING COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR YOUR WALL SO TAKE THE TIME TO SOURCE A SUITABLE ARTISAN

APPLICATION

TO HELP YOU.

The artisan will apply a minimum of two coats of Tadelakt before eliminating any high spots or uneven spots so the surface is smooth. After the artisan is happy the surface has been applied properly the arduous task of polishing begins. The artisan will polish every centimetre of the wall with a small polishing trowel, usually made of extremely thin plastic material. After the surface has been ‘hit’ with the polishing trowel, the surface dried and the artisan happy with the finish, the black soap is then applied. After the black soap application is when the small Tadelakt stone comes into play

and

the

artisan

goes

about

compressing the plaster with the stone to create the burn and shine.

11


TOOLS Hawk

– is

primary

tool

the artisan’s

shaping

for

spatulas can be used to

applying

trowels

and

Tadelakt. It is the square

achieve

plate like tool with a handle

and

that fits nicely into the hand

polishing trowels to give it

and holds the Tadelakt before

a lustre or shine.

it is scraped off with a trowel and placed on the wall.

unusual

curved

Japanese

shapes

edges

detail

and

trowels

allow the artisan to access

Trowels, spatulas and hand

tight spaces and joins and

tools – As you can imagine,

corner trowels can be used

the application of Tadelakt

to create sharp corners.

requires some specialist tools but in essence, an artisan will usually use a laying-on trowel to get the product from the

Japanese trowel

hawk to the wall,

A man and his tools, make Vita Sackville West

12


Green Credentials TADELAKT IS TOTALLY NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY Astonishingly, Tadelakt is a finish that is completely natural. Being a pure, natural product with no chemical additives means Tadelakt has some seriously good green credentials. Thanks to its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, (mould and mildew resistant) Tadelakt is great for bathrooms with poor ventilation. At Render it Oz, we believe Tadelakt will continue to become more mainstream as the population realises that sustainable building is the way of the future. Rockcote Australia, who have an amazing range of natural materials, including the Tadelakt, Render it Oz use, explain all their products in the Natural Finishes range are “free of dangerous chemicals and produce no odours or residual off-gassing”. They go on to say their natural materials range have low embodied energy and are fully recyclable which means they can be returned to the earth after use. (Rockcote, p. 8)

13


Green Credentials continued… TADELAKT IS TOTALLY NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY In our interview with Tony Thorogood, Rockcote’s Natural Materials Manager, Tony explains his top three reasons why people looking to build in a more environmentally friendly manner prefer Tadelakt over other surfaces: 1.

Tadelakt is a product that comes from the earth and can go back into it.

2. Being a breathable product it helps with Mould as mould does not grow on Tadelakt. 3. Using a natural product, means the home you live in is not suffering from toxic poisoning.

14


TADELAKT TODAY

With more choices than ever, builders, renovators and designers are spoilt for choice when it comes to unique finishes. Tadelakt hasn’t gone mainstream yet, but we believe this will change and Australians will catch on just as the Europeans have. Tiles and other finishes have taken centre stage for far too long. The benefits to the environment and to seekers of ‘something different’ are far too great to resist it for long. Today, Australian’s are using Tadelakt mostly in bathrooms and wet areas. We have also seen Tadelakt finishes on fireplaces, in kitchens and in outdoor entertaining areas – it’s uses are limitless. Whether it is a contemporary finish or a traditional finish you are after, Tadelakt should be given special consideration. 15


TOP

USES FOR TADELAKT

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE MANY SURFACES AND AREAS TADELAKT CAN BE APPLIED, WE’VE CREATED OUR TOP 10 USES FOR TADELAKT.

1. SHOWERS 2. BATHTUBS 3. FEATURE WALLS 4. COMMERCIALLY – IN RESTAURANTS, BAKERIES AND RETAIL SHOPS

5. VANITIES, BASINS AND SINKS 6. VASES 7. EXTERNAL WALLS, BBQ AREAS 8. FIREPLACES 9. SHELVING 10.ARTWORK

16


THE EXPERT INTERVIEW WE SPOKE WITH NATURAL MATERIALS EXPERT, TONY THOROGOOD FROM ROCKCOTE AUSTRALIA ABOUT ALL THINGS LIME PLASTER AND TADELAKT. 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.

WHAT MAKES THIS PRODUCT SO APPEALING TO BUILDERS, RENOVATORS AND DESIGNERS? The unique look that it gives as well as the feel of the product. It truly gives you the feel of stone.

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. 17


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