Riad Maintenance
Tadelakt Care and Repair: A Practical Guide from Morocco
How to clean and protect tadelakt, why it cracks, which cracks matter, and how tadelakt is repaired — written for owners of riads and villas in Morocco.
Published · 4 min read
Tadelakt is one of the most recognisable finishes in Moroccan houses: the soft, polished, slightly irregular plaster found on riad bathroom walls, showers, basins and hammams. It is beautiful, it can last a very long time — and it is often damaged by well-meaning cleaning or by small problems left too long.
This guide explains how tadelakt works, how to look after it and what to do when it cracks.
What tadelakt actually is
Tadelakt is a lime plaster traditionally associated with the Marrakech region. It is applied in layers, compacted and polished with smooth stones, then treated with savon noir — the black olive-oil soap sold in every souk. The soap reacts with the lime at the surface and creates a water-resistant skin.
Two things follow from this:
- Tadelakt is water-resistant, not waterproof in the way a membrane is. Its performance depends on the soap-treated surface staying intact and on the wall behind it being sound.
- It is a living, slightly soft material. It can be scratched, stained and dissolved by the wrong products — and it can also be maintained and refreshed.
Everyday care
- Clean gently. Warm water and a little black soap, or a mild pH-neutral cleaner, with a soft cloth or sponge.
- Avoid acids and harsh chemicals. Vinegar, lemon, most limescale removers, bleach and strong bathroom sprays attack lime. In hard-water areas this is the most common way tadelakt gets damaged — someone tries to remove limescale and removes the finish instead.
- No abrasives. Scouring pads and cream cleaners dull the polish.
- Dry after use where possible. Wiping or squeegeeing shower walls reduces limescale and soap build-up, which means less cleaning later.
- Re-soap periodically. Applying diluted black soap from time to time — more often in heavily used showers — refreshes the protective surface. Some installers also recommend a natural wax. Follow the advice of the person who applied your tadelakt if you know it.
For rental properties, it is worth giving housekeeping staff a short written instruction: no acid, no bleach, no scouring pads on tadelakt. Many problems start there.
Why tadelakt cracks
Some cracking is normal. Common causes include:
- Shrinkage while curing, especially if the plaster dried too quickly in heat or wind.
- Movement in the wall behind, for example at junctions between different materials or around old openings.
- Impact and wear around taps, shower trays and edges.
- Moisture behind the finish from a leaking pipe or a failing joint, which weakens the plaster from the inside.
Which cracks matter?
Not every crack needs a repair. As a rule of thumb:
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Very fine hairline cracks on a wall that stays dry behind | Often cosmetic; monitor and keep the surface soaped |
| Cracks in shower areas, around trays, niches or taps | Water can get in; repair soon |
| Cracks with dark staining, bubbling or a damp smell | Moisture behind the finish; find the cause first |
| Areas that sound hollow when tapped, or pieces coming away | The plaster has lost adhesion; needs proper repair |
If water is getting behind the tadelakt, repairing the surface alone will not last. Check the plumbing and the joints between tadelakt and other materials — shower trays, basins, tiles — first. Our plumbing team often finds the real cause behind a “tadelakt problem”.
How tadelakt is repaired
- Light surface damage and fine cracks. The area is cleaned, moistened, worked with black soap and polished again with a stone. This often closes very fine cracks and restores the sheen.
- Wider cracks and damaged patches. The damaged plaster is cut back to sound material, the edges prepared, and new tadelakt applied, compacted, polished and soaped.
- Large failures. If a whole wall has lost adhesion or the substrate is damp, the right answer is to remove the tadelakt, fix the cause and re-apply.
A repaired patch can show slightly, because tadelakt colour and texture depend on the batch, the pigment and the hand that polished it. An experienced maâlem (master craftsman) will minimise the difference — it is skilled work, and it is worth using someone who does it regularly.
How long does tadelakt last?
Well-applied tadelakt on a sound, dry wall, cleaned gently and re-soaped regularly, can last for many years. Poor application, a damp substrate or harsh cleaning can ruin it in a few seasons. Maintenance makes most of the difference.
Quick checklist for owners
- Leave written cleaning instructions for staff or cleaners.
- Re-soap showers and wet areas periodically.
- Inspect shower areas, around taps and joints every few months.
- Act quickly on cracks in wet zones, staining or hollow areas.
- Find and fix leaks before repairing the surface.
If you own a riad or villa and live abroad, send us photos of the cracks on WhatsApp. We will tell you whether it looks cosmetic or needs a repair, and quote it — see our renovation service and riad renovation in Marrakech, or request a quote.
