Historic Terracotta Cladding

When used in relation to architecture, the term “cladding” refers to a material that simply covers something else. In other words, it is not meant to serve as a structural feature or to support substantial amounts of weight. Terra cotta is one example of a material that is frequently used as cladding. The historical terracotta found on the façades of buildings is typically installed on top of something else, while terracotta columns are often made by surrounding a structural steel support with the clay-based material.

Restoration of Terracotta Cladding

When terracotta cladding is damaged or destroyed, TerraGlas is the company that can help. In fact, our terra cotta composite is meant to be used as a cladding, not a structural material. As cladding, it has numerous advantages over traditional architectural terra cotta. Because it is much lighter, our terracotta replacement will actually reduce the load on the surrounding structure. It is easier to handle than historical terra cotta and faster to install, allowing even large projects to be completed in less time than you probably thought.

New Terracotta Cladding in TerraGlas

Although many people love the look of terra cotta cladding for façades and columns, the numerous downsides cause many people to rule it out as a potential cladding material. If you’ve always wanted terra cotta cladding for your hotel, restaurant, or home, but figured it wasn’t a realistic option, TerraGlas is a fantastic choice. Made with terra cotta clay and reinforced with astonishingly strong glass fibers, fiberglass reinforced terra cotta:

  • Is lightweight, making fiberglass reinforced terracotta cladding easy to transport and relatively straightforward to install
  • Is strong, durable, and weather-resistant, making fiberglass reinforced terracotta cladding suitable for use in hurricane and earthquake-prone regions
  • Can be produced in panel sizes of up to 8'6" x 14', which often means that surfaces can be covered with a relatively small number of fiberglass reinforced terra cotta cladding panels

TerraGlas Color and Texture Options

TerraGlas is an advantageous replacement for traditional terra cotta because of its low weight, its strength, and its weather-resistant properties. Just as important is the versatility of glass fiber reinforced terra cotta. The colors, textures, and finishes we offer allow us to perfectly recreate or restore historical terra cotta cladding and manufacture new terra cotta cladding that meets all of our clients’ specifications. We offer:

  • Glass fiber reinforced terra cotta cladding in a number of textures, including smooth, lined, tooled, and heavy or light irregular drag
  • Unglazed TerraGlas cladding in gray, red, brown, and buff finishes
  • Glazed TerraGlas cladding in an array of colors
  • Fiberglass reinforced terra cotta cladding finished to resemble polished or unpolished granite
  • Polychrome glass fiber reinforced terra cotta cladding

TerraGlas: A Green Choice for Cladding

The construction industry has just recently started to recognize that building decisions have a direct impact on the environment. Because of this, there has been a shift in recent years towards minimizing waste and making greener choices. If you are striving to make environmentally-conscious decisions, TerraGlas is a wonderful choice. Because TerraGlas can be used to restore terracotta cladding, which can eliminate the need for total replacement in many cases, construction waste can be reduced. Restoring historic terra cotta cladding with TerraGlas can also help you obtain LEED credits in several categories since the vast majority of existing wall systems can often remain intact and relatively little waste is generated. To find out more about why TerraGlas is a great choice if you need new terra cotta cladding or would like your historical terra cotta cladding repaired or restored, contact us.