Tadelakt bathrooms that glow like a Moroccan hammam
Lime plaster polished by hand to a soft, satin sheen that water beads on, silky under the hand and alive in lamplight.
Talk with Greg or Gabriel now, until 10 p.m. Text us any time. Greg or Gabriel will reply first thing in the morning.
Tadelakt bathrooms for homes
Tadelakt showers, polished by hand
Tadelakt showers for homes
What is tadelakt?
Tadelakt is a Moroccan lime plaster, polished by hand to a soft sheen that resists water, the finish of hammams for centuries. We bring it to showers, bathrooms, and countertops north of Indianapolis. Tadelakt walls run $22 to $38 per square foot, and shower walls $33 to $55, more with niches and curves.
Tadelakt, up close
Our own work, in Indiana homes.
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Tadelakt bathroom, Geist
Warm, pale tadelakt wraps the walk-in shower, its bench, and the arched niche over the bathtub in one continuous surface, with no grout lines and a soft sheen that catches the light.
The shower, its bench, and the bath 
The arched niche over the bathtub 
The shower wall, one continuous surface
Tadelakt, from the hammams of Marrakech
Tadelakt comes from the region around Marrakech, in Morocco. Its lime plaster is pressed and polished with smooth stones, then sealed with a black soap made from olive oil, which helps it shed water. For centuries, it has lined hammams, riads, and palaces.
A wall no one else has
It is lime: it feels like old stone and ages gracefully, with no grout lines. Each wall carries the marks of the hand that polished it, so no two are alike.
Where tadelakt belongs
Wherever water and steam meet the walls, as they do in a hammam:
- Showers and baths: shower walls, tub surrounds, and arched niches, with no grout lines
- Steam rooms and spas: the glow of a hammam, at home or in a spa
- Sinks and vanities: a sink, a vanity top, or a niche beside the mirror
Tadelakt or microcement?
Tadelakt is softer, warmer, and more alive; microcement is harder and more even. Both make a shower with no grout lines, and you approve a sample board before we begin.
Finishes for the rest of the room
Tips from the studio
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Showers need a finish made for water
Inside a shower, we use tadelakt or microcement over a proper waterproofing layer, never limewash or unsealed clay. A splash zone by a sink is gentler: sealed clay or plaster handles it well.
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Tadelakt is polished with stone and soap
Tadelakt is pressed and polished with a smooth stone, then sealed with olive oil soap, the way Moroccan hammams have been finished for centuries.
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Carve out a lit niche
A shallow niche in a plastered wall, lit from above, gives one vase or sculpture a stage of its own. In a shower, the same niche holds bottles without breaking the surface.
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A vanity top in one piece
Microcement can cover a vanity top in one continuous surface, in a color that answers the walls, with no grout lines to scrub.
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Caring for tadelakt
Tadelakt likes gentle soap and water. Skip harsh cleaners, and it keeps the soft sheen that makes water bead on its surface.
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Plaster follows a curve
Arches, curved niches, and rounded corners are where plaster shines: it wraps a curve in one continuous skin, with no seams and no edges to hide.
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Lime breathes in a steamy bathroom
Lime lets moisture pass through instead of trapping it, which suits a bathroom. Ventilation still matters, and near the shower we seal it or switch to tadelakt or microcement.
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Warm metals with warm walls
Aged brass, bronze, and copper love clay and lime in warm tones; nickel and chrome suit cool grays and blues. Match the hardware to the wall, and the room settles.
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What lies beneath matters most
Most failures start under the surface: the wrong primer, a damp patch, a crack left open. We prepare every wall for its finish, not just for paint.
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Plants love a mineral wall
Green leaves against limewash or clay look painted by the light. Put your best plant where side light falls across a textured wall.
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Keep the air even while it dries
Keep the room at an ordinary living temperature, and keep fans and space heaters from blowing at the walls while a finish dries. Even drying gives even color.
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Pair texture with softness
Textured walls love linen, wool, and wood. Set a rough plaster beside soft fabrics, or a polished wall beside matte furniture, and the room feels layered, never busy.
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Try a bold palette in the powder room first
Love a palette that feels a little outside your comfort zone? Start in the powder room. A small room loves all the attention it can get, and you will see the colors come together at full strength. If you love it there, carry it through the house.
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Let the finish cure
A mineral finish keeps hardening for weeks after we leave. Be gentle at first, and wait a little before you hang heavy art or push furniture against the wall.
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Ask about care before we leave
Before we pack up, ask how to clean the finish, what to avoid, and how touch-ups work, and keep the answers with the leftover material.
What you can count on, in writing
- What we quote is what you pay.
- Greg or Gabriel is on every job and answers your call.
- Every project carries a five-year workmanship guarantee.
- Under our Change-of-Heart Guarantee, if you dislike a mineral finish within 30 days, we repaint the wall at no charge.
The investment in tadelakt
Your free consultation ends with one fixed quote, in writing.
| Tadelakt walls | $22–$38 per sq ft |
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| Tadelakt shower walls | $33–$55 per sq ft, more with niches and curves |
What shapes your investment
- Wall condition and repairs
- Ceiling height, ladders, and scaffolding
- Ceilings and hard-to-reach surfaces
- Outlets, crevices, and tight corners a trowel can barely reach
- Niches, curves, and returns
- Which stone we reproduce, and in how much detail
- Framing for mantels and built-ins
- Small projects, which carry a minimum
- Rush schedules and overnight work
Questions about tadelakt
Is tadelakt plaster waterproof?
It is water-resistant: polished and sealed, it sheds water, as it has in hammams for centuries. In a shower, where there is no waterproofing beneath it, or a known problem, a membrane is mandatory.
How do you care for tadelakt?
Gently. Clean it with a mild, natural soap, never harsh chemicals or abrasive pads, and refresh its seal from time to time, as you would oil a wooden table.
Is tadelakt the same as Moroccan plaster?
Usually, yes: many people call tadelakt Moroccan plaster. Moroccan clay is different, a clay finish for walls and ceilings; see Roman and Moroccan clay.
Can tadelakt go on a countertop?
Yes, and anywhere else you picture it: showers, tub surrounds, sinks, vanity tops, countertops, and walls.
Is tadelakt hard to apply?
Yes, one of the most demanding: polished by hand at exactly the right moment, coat by coat, and one rushed pass shows. See what doing it yourself takes.
Tell us about the shower you picture in tadelakt
Greg or Gabriel replies today, or by the next business day.
Prefer to talk? Call or text (317) 795-6378.
Thank you
What happens next
- We reply today, or by the next business day at the latest, to check your dates and set a time for our visit.
- We visit with samples in the colors and textures you like.
- You receive one fixed quote, in writing.
Before we visit, gather two or three photographs of looks you love, and keep any fabric, tile, or stone you want us to match nearby.
To speed things up, text us a photo of the space.
Greg and Gabriel