Stucco Italiano Tadelakt Expert installer London
Tadelakt Installers London & West London
West London's specialist Tadelakt installers. We apply authentic Stucco Italiano Tadelakt — a premium Italian-manufactured lime plaster inspired by traditional Moroccan craftsmanship — to bathrooms, wet rooms, and feature walls across Chelsea, Kensington, Richmond, Fulham, and Surrey.
How We Install tadelakt
Why West London's Most Discerning Homeowners Choose Coatable for Tadelakt
Tadelakt is not a product you can apply from a YouTube tutorial. It is a living material that demands mastery of timing, pressure, and environmental conditions. The lime must be read as it sets — the stone must be applied with precision at exactly the right moment — and the saponification must be executed correctly to develop the material’s characteristic water-resistant properties.
Our specialist team has trained extensively in authentic Tadelakt application using Stucco Italiano — one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of traditional lime-based decorative plasters. We understand the nuances of working this extraordinary material in London’s variable humidity and temperature conditions, delivering results that honour the craft’s 1,000-year Moroccan heritage.
From Grade-II listed townhouses in Kensington requiring careful substrate preparation over lath and plaster, to contemporary wet rooms in Richmond demanding careful detailing in wet environments — we deliver Tadelakt to its full potential.
Craftsmanship
Our 5-Stage Tadelakt Installation Process
Every Tadelakt installation is a multi-day craft process requiring patience, skill, and environmental control. Here’s how we deliver flawless results.
Substrate Preparation & Priming
We assess the existing surface — masonry, plasterboard, cement board, or existing plaster. Surfaces are cleaned, levelled, and primed with Stucco Italiano Quartz Primer to ensure a strong mechanical bond. For wet areas, we ensure the substrate is moisture-stable and structurally sound.
First Coat Application
Stucco Italiano Tadelakt is mixed to the precise water ratio (360 ml per kg) and allowed to hydrate for 30 minutes. The first coat is applied by hand with a steel trowel, building an even base layer. This coat is left to dry thoroughly — typically overnight — before the next layer.
Second & Third Coats
Subsequent coats are applied once the previous layer has set. Each coat refines the surface, building the characteristic depth and luminosity. Our applicators control the trowel angle and pressure to create the subtle organic movement that defines authentic Tadelakt.
Burnishing
This is the most critical stage. While the final coat is at precisely the right stage of setting — not too wet, not too dry — our craftspeople burnish the entire surface. Even pressure compresses the lime crystals, closing micro-pores and creating the iconic polished sheen.
Saponification & Sealing
Traditional Moroccan olive oil soap is rubbed into the burnished surface. The fatty acids react with the calcium hydroxide to form water-repellent calcium stearate. The surface is re-burnished to work the soap deep into the lime. For wet rooms, we apply a secondary sealer (Beeswax, Hydrocalce, or PU2C) for additional stain protection.
Typical project timeframe: 5–8 working days, depending on area size and environmental conditions.
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Applications
Where We Install Tadelakt in London
Tadelakt excels in environments where water, beauty, and authenticity converge. Here are the spaces we transform most frequently.
Bathrooms & Shower Walls
The quintessential Tadelakt application. Seamless, grout-free shower walls and bath surrounds finished using the traditional Tadelakt process. No grout lines to maintain and no tile joints to interrupt the surface. The polished surface catches light beautifully, creating a serene spa atmosphere in your West London home.
Wet Room Walls & Ceilings
Walk-in wet rooms with Tadelakt walls and ceilings create a breathtaking, monolithic bathing experience. The breathable lime surface naturally regulates moisture vapour, helping to reduce the likelihood of condensation build-up in enclosed wet areas.. Ideal for Chelsea and Kensington en-suite wet rooms.
Feature Walls & Fireplaces
Beyond wet areas, Tadelakt creates extraordinary feature walls with organic, undulating movement that is difficult to achieve with paint or wallpaper. Chimney breasts, entrance halls, and dining rooms in period London properties are transformed with this ancient craft.
Kitchen Splashbacks
A seamless Tadelakt splashback behind a hob or sink creates a stunning focal point. The saponified surface is water-resistant and easy to wipe clean. Combined with natural stone worktops, it creates a warm, artisanal kitchen aesthetic favoured by West London interior designers.
Vanity Units & Bath Surrounds
Custom-built vanity units, bath panels, and shelf niches finished in Tadelakt create a seamless integration with the surrounding walls. The material moulds around curves and recesses, producing organic shapes impossible with tiles or stone.
Home Spas & Steam Rooms
Tadelakt is the original hammam finish — traditionally used in hammams and other high-humidity environments. For luxury home spas in Surrey and West London, it provides authentic visual warmth and a long history of use in humid environments while retaining the character of a traditional mineral finish.
Expert Answers
Tadelakt Installation — Your Questions Answered
Professional Tadelakt installation in London typically costs between £120 and £200 per square metre, depending on the total area, the condition and type of the existing substrate, the number of corners, niches, and complex details, and the chosen colour.
Tadelakt is generally more labour-intensive than Venetian plaster or microcement because the application, polishing, and saponification stages require significant time, precision, and craftsmanship. Smaller areas (typically under 8m²) may be subject to a minimum project fee.
Our quotations typically include materials, surface preparation, multi-layer application, polishing, saponification, and aftercare guidance. We provide fully itemised quotations following a free site survey at your London or Surrey property.
Yes. Tadelakt is widely used on shower walls, wet room walls and ceilings, bath surrounds, and basin splashbacks. Its traditional soap-finishing process enhances the material's resistance to moisture, making it well-suited to wet environments when correctly installed and maintained.
During the saponification process, olive oil soap reacts with the lime surface to form calcium stearate — a water-repellent compound that contributes to the finish's moisture-resistant properties.
However, Tadelakt is not generally recommended for floors or areas where water may remain for prolonged periods. For seamless floor finishes in wet rooms, we typically recommend Forcrete Microcement, which is specifically designed to withstand the demands of floor applications and regular foot traffic.
Yes. Tadelakt is a popular choice for shower walls and one of the most requested applications we install across London and Surrey. When correctly installed and maintained, it performs exceptionally well in wet environments while providing a seamless, handcrafted appearance.
However, we do not generally recommend Tadelakt for shower floors. The polished surface can become slippery when wet, and floor surfaces are subjected to significantly greater abrasion and wear than walls.
For shower floors, we typically recommend Forcrete Microcement, which provides a durable, seamless surface suited to floor applications. Many clients choose Tadelakt on the walls and microcement on the floor to create a cohesive wet room design.
Tadelakt and microcement are both seamless surface finishes, but they differ in composition, appearance, and typical applications.
Tadelakt is a traditional lime-based plaster finished using a soap and polishing process that enhances its resistance to moisture. It has a warm, organic appearance with subtle movement, tonal variation, and a handcrafted character. It is particularly well-suited to bathroom walls, shower walls, bath surrounds, and interior feature surfaces where natural materials and texture are desired.
Microcement, such as Forcrete Micro-Quartz, is a cement-based decorative coating system protected using specialist sealers. It offers a more uniform, contemporary appearance and can be applied across floors, walls, worktops, and a wider range of interior and exterior surfaces.
For projects requiring seamless floors and walls within a single system, microcement is often the more practical solution. For clients seeking a natural mineral finish with artisan character and traditional craftsmanship, Tadelakt offers a distinctive alternative.
Tadelakt is relatively low-maintenance when cared for correctly. For routine cleaning, use warm water and a soft cloth or natural sponge. Avoid acidic cleaners such as vinegar, citrus-based products, and limescale removers, as these can damage the lime surface.
A mild pH-neutral soap is generally suitable for regular cleaning. In wet areas, periodic maintenance using products recommended by your installer may help preserve the appearance of the finish over time.
Upon completion, we provide all clients with a detailed aftercare guide covering cleaning, maintenance, and long-term care recommendations.
Tadelakt is available in a wide range of colours, from warm sands, soft creams, pale greys, terracottas, and deep charcoals through to more contemporary and expressive shades.
Colour is achieved by incorporating carefully selected mineral and oxide pigments into the lime plaster before application. The Stucco Italiano Tadelakt we use accepts pigmentation exceptionally well, producing rich, nuanced tones with natural depth and variation.
Because Tadelakt is a handcrafted mineral finish, colour variation is part of its character. Unlike paint, it does not produce a perfectly flat or uniform appearance. Instead, the application process and natural behaviour of lime create subtle movement and tonal variation across the surface.
We can produce bespoke sample boards in your chosen colours, allowing you to see and experience the finish before installation begins.
A typical Tadelakt bathroom installation takes between 5 and 8 working days, depending on the size and complexity of the project.
The process takes longer than standard plastering because each coat must be allowed to cure before the next stage begins, often requiring overnight drying periods. The polishing and saponification stages are also highly specialised and require careful timing and attention to detail.
The exact programme depends on factors such as area size, substrate condition, environmental conditions, and the number of detailed features, including niches, curves, and corners.
We schedule every project with appropriate curing and drying periods and keep clients informed throughout the installation process.
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Still Have Questions?
Every project is unique, and we’re here to help you understand whether Tadelakt is the right finish for your space.