Wall finishes in Morocco: wall tiles, zellige, stone cladding and wallcoverings

For wall finishes, only one Moroccan standard in this package is mandatory: NM ISO 13006, which covers ceramic tiles, including glazed wall tiles. Everything else is homologated and therefore contractual only through the specification: tile adhesives (NM EN 12004 and its test part), gypsum-based adhesives for plaster blocks, natural stone wall slabs (NM EN 1469) and decorative wallcoverings in rolls (NM EN 15102). Handmade zellige and tadelakt rely mostly on craft practice, so an approved sample panel and a written description in the CPS matter more than any standard reference.

Scope

The page addresses finishes fixed to internal and sheltered walls: glazed wall tiles in kitchens and bathrooms, zellige and bejmat, natural stone slabs, timber panelling, wallpaper and other decorative coverings, together with adhesives, grouts and edge trims.

It starts on a rendered or boarded wall that is plumb, sound and dry, after the pipes and cables chased into it have been tested, and it ends when the wall is grouted, cleaned and protected. External façade cladding is covered by the façade package, and painting and decorative plasters by the painting package.

Regulatory table

Reference, edition, status, the text that makes the rule mandatory and the verified source (standards catalogue 2026-10-25; NM statuses checked against the official list of the Ministry of Industry and Trade).

ReferenceEditionStatusText making it mandatorySourceNote
NM ISO 13006
Carreaux et dalles céramiques — définitions, classification, caractéristiques, marquage		NM ISO 13006:2023mandatoryDécision/arrêté d'homologation n° 1440-23, entrée en vigueur le 16/04/2026MCINET listThe only mandatory reference here: wall tiles delivered must be classified and marked according to it.
NM EN 12004
Colles à carrelage — exigences, classification ; méthodes d'essai		2013 / 2021approved—IMANORAdhesive classes for tiles; the specification should match the class to the support and to the weight of the tiles.
NM EN 12004-2
Colles a carrelage Partie 2 : Méthodes d'essai		2021approved—IMANORTest methods for tile adhesives, cited when a dispute arises over adhesive performance.
NM 10.6.192
Colles a carrelage Détermination du pouvoir mouillant		2002approved—IMANOROlder homologated method on the wetting capacity of tile adhesives.
NM EN 1469
Produits en pierre naturelle Dalles de revêtement mural Exigences		2021approved—IMANORNatural stone wall slabs; useful for stone cladding of feature walls and lobbies.
NM EN 12860
Liants colles à base de plâtre pour carreaux de plâtre Définitions, spécifications et méthodes d'essai		2013approved—IMANORGypsum-based adhesives used to bond plaster blocks, relevant where tiles go on a plaster partition.
NM EN 15102
Revêtements muraux decoratifs Rouleaux		2020approved—IMANORDecorative wallcoverings in rolls, for wallpaper and vinyl finishes in rooms and corridors.

Materials and documents to request

MaterialStandardsSupporting documentsBasis
Glazed wall tiles (faience)NM ISO 13006Classification and batch printed on the cartons; tiles from one batch per wall.Legal obligation
Tile adhesive and grout for wet roomsNM EN 12004Adhesive class shown on the bag and suitable for wet areas; epoxy grout specified where hygiene or staining is a concern.Specification (CPS) requirement
Zellige and bejmat—Sample panel made by the craftsman and approved before production; colours, pattern and joint described in the CPS.Good practice
Natural stone wall slabsNM EN 1469Stone name, finish and fixing method agreed; mechanical fixings designed where slabs are large or high up.Specification (CPS) requirement

Who does what

PartyRole
Client (owner)Selects tiles, zellige patterns and coverings, signs off the sample panel and accepts the shade variation inherent in handmade products.
ArchitectSets out the elevations with tile layouts, heights and junctions with fittings, and checks the work against the approved samples.
Tiler or zellige craftsmanPrepares the wall, cuts and fixes the finish to the layout and protects it until the end of the works.
Plumbing and electrical contractorsPosition outlets and fittings to the tiling layout so that cuts fall in sensible places.

Inspection milestones

  1. Samples and finishes approved Specification (CPS) requirement
    Sample panel of zellige or tiling built and approved, with the grout colour and the edge trim.
  2. Embedded services tested before closing up Specification (CPS) requirement
    Water supply and waste pipes in the walls pressure- and flow-tested before tiling covers them.
    Standards to check at this milestone: NM 06.6.071
  3. Floor and wall finishes, ceilings and painting Specification (CPS) requirement
    Layout respected on each elevation, joints straight and full, cuts around outlets neat, no hollow tiles.

Common non-conformities and follow-up

FindingAction
Wall tiles fixed on a render that was not yet dry or was crumbling.Removal of the tiles, repair of the support and refixing after the render has been accepted.
Tile layout starting from a corner, leaving thin slivers at a visible edge.Redo the setting-out according to the architect's elevation before the adhesive is spread on the remaining walls.
Zellige produced in a colour different from the approved panel.Rejection of the delivery and new production matched to the retained sample.

Frequently asked questions

Is zellige covered by a Moroccan standard?

No specific standard appears in the catalogue for handmade zellige. Quality is fixed by an approved sample panel and a precise description in the specification.

Which adhesive should be used in a shower?

An adhesive whose class suits wet areas and the tile format, as stated in the CPS. Ask for the data sheet and check the class on the bag.

Can tiles go on plasterboard?

Yes, on boards suited to wet rooms and with a compatible adhesive and waterproofing where water splashes. The architect confirms the build-up.

Who decides the tile layout?

The architect draws it on the elevations; the client approves it. The tiler follows it and flags any conflict with outlets before starting.

Sources, author and revisions

Written by , architect · under review · updated . Professional reading, separate from the text of the standard: each requirement is classed as a legal obligation, a specification (CPS) requirement or good practice.

Revision log

All standards for this trade (50)

In short: for the "Wall finishes (tiles, zellige)" trade, the library lists 0 Moroccan regulation(s), 1 mandatory Moroccan standard(s), 6 approved NM and 5 foreign reference(s) used as equivalents.

Mandatory Moroccan standards (NM) (1)

Approved Moroccan standards (NM, voluntary) (6)

European and French standards (EN, NF, DTU) (4)

Other jurisdictions (equivalents) (1)

Cross-cutting texts (all trades) (38)

2026 reference prices — Wall finishes (tiles, zellige)

Public reference prices from the CITURBAREA materials library (October 2026), in dirhams excluding VAT; 20% VAT on top (incl. VAT = excl. VAT × 1.2), Rabat-Salé-Kénitra base. These are benchmarks, not supplier prices.

MaterialFrom (excl. VAT)From (incl. VAT)Range excl. VATReliability
Enduit décoratif / tadelakt46,95 DH / kg56,34 DH / kg46,95 DH – 57,77 DHC (indicative)
Faïence murale91,66 DH / m²110 DH / m²91,66 DH – 275 DHC (indicative)
Faïence murale 30×60 économique55 DH / m²66 DH / m²55 DH – 58,34 DHC (indicative)
Joint ciment CG214,16 DH / kg16,99 DH / kg14,16 DH – 15,84 DHC (indicative)
Carrelage en marbre : un choix d’exception816 DH / m²979 DH / m²816 DH – 817 DHC (indicative)
Carrelage en Marbre à Motif Losange666 DH / m²799 DH / m²666 DH – 667 DHC (indicative)
Carrelage en marbre décoratif625 DH / m²750 DH / m²625 DH – 625 DHC (indicative)
Carrelage en marbre en chevron625 DH / m²750 DH / m²625 DH – 625 DHC (indicative)
Carrelage en marbre mosaïque625 DH / m²750 DH / m²625 DH – 625 DHC (indicative)
Carrelage en marbre noir et blanc : design damier541 DH / m²649 DH / m²541 DH – 542 DHC (indicative)

Detail in the estimator → · Reference prices and data sheets →

18 materials for this trade in the materials library. Carrelage & revêtements · Peinture & enduits · Marbre, pierre & zellige

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