Going green is all the hype nowadays, and perhaps the greenest building material made of 100% organic is Terracotta! The terracotta façade panel is famous in modern architecture for its design adaptability, distinctive hues, natural textures, and, best of all, sustainability. But it is not a recent trend and has been used for cladding for decades! Read on to discover all about it!
Terracotta is a type of building material typically created using fired clay. It is available in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. Architects commonly use it to construct buildings ranging from classrooms, hospitals, police stations, and even art museums. Terracotta cladding is an excellent option for adding color to a building’s exterior without painting.
If you are looking for a Terracotta panel to build your new projects, there are wide varieties of terracotta cladding available at LOPO Terracotta Corporation. But not everyone is well-informed about the different types like terracotta rainscreen, terracotta brick, and much more. To help, we will introduce you to the different types and more in the rest of the article!
A Brief Introduction to Terracotta Panel
Terracotta is a type of cladding that uses natural and uncooked clay to manufacture, then is heated to high temperatures. The material has various advantages as an architectural cladding, making it a popular choice.
Throughout the 1990s, Terracotta has progressed from standard red tiles to more contemporary options in various forms, glazes, and colors. Architects now have a new chance to play with thanks to technological advancements in the production of terracotta cladding.
You can install it in various orientations and profiles. You can also choose to glaze it or leave it as it is. There is no limit to the possible combinations and coatings. Yet terracotta cladding does more than improve a building’s visual appeal; it also has several practical advantages.
Cladding made of Terracotta can withstand the test of time. When done correctly, Terracotta has a longer lifespan than aluminum or concrete façade. Additionally, the color you choose will remain vibrant for decades. Power washing your terracotta cladding once every couple of years will quickly remove the dust buildup and return the cladding to its original color and sheen.
On top of it all, the Terracotta panel can withstand very high temperatures without ever catching fire. It makes an ideal cladding material as it is completely fireproof. Since it is constructed entirely from clay, it poses no health risks to users or the environment, and you can recycle it repeatedly with little effort.
Types of Terracotta Panels You Should Know About
Throughout history and even now, Terracotta panels remain a favorite cladding material architects use to build exterior and interior walls and roofs. They are famous for their long lifespan, adaptability, and inherent beauty, and manufacturing them requires burning clay. There are many different kinds of terracotta panels, and they all have unique uses.
Below are the most common types of Terracotta panels you should know about:
- Terracotta Rainscreen
A Terracotta Rainscreen is an exterior cladding system with terracotta panels attached to a building’s facade. The panels improve the building’s energy efficiency while shielding it from moisture and the weather.
“Rain screen” refers to the space between the terracotta panels and the building’s structural wall. This space allows air to flow freely behind the boards, reducing the likelihood of condensation and improving ventilation. The air gap also acts as insulation, which can also help keep the house warm or cool for less money.
Many architects opt for terracotta rain screens because of their wide range of surface options, such as grooves, natural plains, glazed, etc. This system’s ventilated structure also makes it lighter and helps keep the noise down and heat inside.
- Terracotta Baguette or Terracotta Louver
Architecturally, Terracotta Baguette and Terracotta Louver panels help to block the sun and add aesthetic value to building exteriors. Terracotta baguettes and louvers are different types, depending on their shape. For varied results, you can use the terracotta baguette as a sunshade or with other curtain wall materials.
Terracotta Baguettes or Louver provide a practical sun shading solution and contribute to the building’s modern aesthetic. As the position and angle of these panels can be changed, they can regulate the amount of sunshine and heat entering a structure. They also help to lower energy bills and create more pleasant indoor conditions.
- Terracotta Brick
The voids in block walls, gaps in slat walls, and roof leaks are all problems you can eliminate with Terracotta bricks! These bricks also help reduce waste and speed up the building process. It is recyclable, won’t wear out, and helps keep cities clean. Furthermore, the brick has excellent loading capacity, increased resistance to impact, and is highly resistant to folding.
Bricks made of Terracotta are formed from clay and then baked at high temperatures to firm their rectangular shapes. They are renowned for their durability, strength, resistance to decay, and capacity to keep their color and appearance over time. Moreover, terracotta bricks are fireproof, making them a more secure building material.
Colors for terracotta bricks range from the traditional reds and browns to the more subdued greys and creams. Flooring, pavement, and even outside walls are all possible uses for these versatile materials. Combining terracotta bricks with other materials, such as concrete or glass, can result in stunning new constructions.
- Long Format Bricks
Terracotta long-format bricks or Roman bricks are a narrow and long construction material manufactured from burnt clay. They are a popular choice for modern architecture due to their sleek appearance. When it comes to eco-friendly construction materials, nothing beats Long Format Bricks.
Roman bricks undergo a unique manufacturing process that involves firing them at extreme temperatures for a few hours in a tunnel kiln. Unlike traditional clay bricks, this one has a soft, delicate surface that doesn’t absorb much water. These bricks have a unique and rough rock surface texture, making them ideal for paving.
The long format bricks get such texture because of how long they stay under high heat and the hands-on manufacturing process. If you compare the time and money needed to make long thin bricks to clay-faced bricks, longer ones emerge as the winner!
- Terracotta Tile
With a warm, earthy appearance and fantastic durability, terracotta tile is the ceramic tile you get from burning clay. There is a long history of using terracotta tiles for indoor and outdoor use, particularly in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
To create terracotta tiles, clay is shaped into squares or rectangles and fired at high temperatures to solidify the clay. The color of a terracotta tile is the same on both the inside and the outside. The raw material’s color will determine the final face color. The hue and tone of each terracotta tile are typically unique.
Moreover, you can glaze Terracotta tiles to make them stain-proof. You can also choose to seal them to protect them from further harm or to leave them in their natural state. The terracotta tiles gave off an earthy, primitive vibe. It manages to be quiet and rough at the same time. You can alter the roughness level by selecting handcrafted or machine-cut components.
You can cover your roof, walls, and floors using terracotta tiles. They retain their original color and luster even after years of use, earning them a reputation for sturdiness and resilience. The insulating properties of Terracotta make it an excellent choice for construction in colder areas.
- Terracotta Jali Blocks
Terracotta Jali Blocks are decorative blocks made from fired clay. Traditional Indian buildings often feature these beautiful panels. Adding these Jali blocks allows you to add intricate and decorative patterns to the architecture of a structure. At the same time, you also get enough privacy and ventilation when using them on your windows, facades, and screens.
Manufacturers mold and fire clay into intricate lattice patterns like simple geometric shapes to more complex designs to make these blocks. You can use these Jali blocks outdoors and indoors, and architects can modify their designs to meet their needs.
Terracotta Jali Blocks offer seclusion, ventilation, and thermal insulation, which is very helpful in hot climates. The entire structure in a Terracotta Jali house helps to encourage passive ventilation and shield the occupants from the intense tropical sunlight. During the evening, your building can serve as a lantern, shining light inside through the openings in the walls.
Benefits of Using Terracotta Panels for Your Projects
Now that you understand Terracotta Panels, it’s time to learn about their many advantages. Some of the benefits of terracotta panels are listed below:
- Durability
If you are searching to clad the exterior of a building, terracotta panels are a great option because of their durability and longevity. Because they are constructed from fired clay, a material that is strong and resistant to the effects of the elements, they last for a very long time.
Terracotta panels can last long without losing their good looks or structural integrity since they are durable. They also don’t fade quickly, so you can count on them to keep looking great even after years of use. Terracotta panels are also very resistant to extreme weather conditions like wind, rain, and snow. Thus, they are the ideal choice for buildings where bad weather is typical.
Moreover, terracotta panels can withstand fire, making them a reliable and secure option for exterior walls. They won’t catch fire, give off toxic fumes, or spread flames. So you can get them for fire-resistant buildings.
- Low Maintenance
Terracotta panels require little upkeep because of their durable material and straightforward production. These panels’ superior durability and resistance to weathering are thanks to their construction from high-quality fired clay. They won’t fade, crack, or chip even if exposed to freezing temperatures, hurricane-force winds, or a pounding downpour.
Terracotta panels don’t let mold, mildew, or algae growing on them. As they have a smooth exterior, it prevents the growth of bacteria and other germs. Thus, you won’t need to clean or treat Terracotta panels regularly to prevent the growth of harmful germs.
Installation of terracotta panels is simple, cutting down on repair time and costs. The setup procedure is straightforward and requires no unique expertise or equipment. And if a panel has a crack or damage, you can replace it quickly and easily with a new Terracotta panel.
- Energy Saving Option
Terracotta panels are a popular choice for buildings that want to cut energy costs and use less energy because they have several features that save energy. Terracotta panels’ ability to insulate heat is a significant reason they effectively reduce energy use.
Due to their high thermal mass, terracotta panels collect and store heat during the day and release it gradually at night. So these panels help to control a building’s interior temperature. As a result, it takes less effort to heat or cool the building, which translates to cost savings.
Terracotta panels can also act as a barrier against wind and rain, reducing the energy needed to keep a room comfortable. They are also handy for reducing energy usage to maintain a comfortable internal temperature in buildings in locations with harsh weather.
Furthermore, Terracotta panels can reflect sunlight, which is another way to save energy. Because of their reflective surface, terracotta panels help lower the temperature inside a structure through its apertures. In warm climates, this can significantly reduce energy consumption for air conditioning.
- Aesthetic Appeal
Due to their versatility and aesthetic appeal, Terracota panels are famous among architects and designers who wish to construct eye-catching structures with individual flair. Clay is used for making terracotta panels, which gives them an earthy, natural look. So they can make for a homey and welcoming ambiance, perfect for hotels and other hospitality venues.
Terracotta panels come in various colors, textures, and styles, making them ideal for use in any construction. Terracotta panels can give a smooth, glossy finish that works wonderfully on modern structures for a more up-to-date look. Commercial and institutional spaces can benefit from a minimalist and professional design emphasizing smooth, shiny finishes and straight lines.
Furthermore, terracotta panels have a classic look, making them a go-to for enduring structures. Their innate elegance and resilience have made them a favorite building material for centuries, and they will likely remain so for many more.
LOPO: The Best Source For Terracotta Panels
LOPO Terracotta Panel Corporation is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality terracotta panels, which are an excellent choice for cladding facades, interior walls, and other building surfaces. If you’re considering ordering terracotta panels, here are a few reasons why you should choose LOPO:
Experienced Team
LOPO Terracotta Panel has a team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to providing high-quality products and excellent customer service.
They have a wealth of knowledge about terracotta panels and can help you choose the right product for your project.
International Projects
LOPO Terracotta Panel Corporation has been involved in many high-profile international projects, including the Raffles City project in Chongqing,
China, and the Dubai Mall project in the United Arab Emirates. This demonstrates their expertise and ability to deliver on large-scale projects.
History
LOPO Terracotta Panel Corporation has been in business for over 20 years, and they have built a reputation for quality and reliability.
They have a deep understanding of the terracotta industry and have consistently produced high-quality products.
Certificates
LOPO Terracotta Panel Corporation has received several certifications, including ISO9001, ISO14001, CE, and ASTM. These certifications demonstrate their commitment to quality, safety, and environmental sustainability.
Partners
LOPO Terracotta Panel Corporation has established partnerships with other leading companies in the construction industry, such as Saint-Gobain and Hunter Douglas.
These partnerships enable them to provide a wider range of products and services to their customers.
Conclusion
Terracotta panel has a natural texture, design versatility, and long lifespan, which makes them a popular choice for ages. If you wish to get this cladding option for your projects at LOPO Terracotta, choosing between Terracotta Rainscreen, Terracotta Brick, and others can be difficult.
So here, we bring you all about different types of Terracotta façade panels and their unique benefits. We hope now you can make a well-informed decision! Thanks for reading till now.
