In our previous article, Ryan Chivers and I considered the tradition of Tadelakt in Morocco that extends back for many centuries. For example, how its use as a practical method of sealing cisterns was expanded to other waterproofing needs such as baths and exterior plasters, eventually becoming highly appreciated as a purely decorative coating in its own right.
The application of Tadelakt is a multi-step process. The essence of skillfully applied Tadelakt is timing. Understanding when to do each step is something that is difficult to describe and requires first-hand experience. With Tadelakt, there are many ways to achieve the same result, depending on the tools and materials that are being used. This description is meant to describe the Tadelakt application as it is done traditionally in Marrakech.