Terracotta - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 11:26, 8 December 2025

2025-12-08T11:26:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:26, 8 December 2025
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	Terracotta translates from Latin as ‘burnt earth’ and is a type of clay-based ceramic or earthenware material that has been used for sculpture, pottery and architectural purposes by many civilisations, from the ancient Greeks, to the Egyptians, the Chinese and Native Americans. The Chinese and Indian cultures used terracotta as a form of elaborate roof decoration for temples and other prestigious buildings. It was also commonly used for buildings in Victorian England, and the American architect Louis Sullivan used terracotta to create ornamentation designs.		Terracotta translates from Latin as ‘burnt earth’ and is a type of clay-based ceramic or earthenware material that has been used for sculpture, pottery and architectural purposes by many civilisations, from the ancient Greeks, to the Egyptians, the Chinese and Native Americans. The Chinese and Indian cultures used terracotta as a form of elaborate roof decoration for temples and other prestigious buildings. It was also commonly used for buildings in Victorian England, and the American architect Louis Sullivan used terracotta to create ornamentation designs.

−	It is formed by a mixture of clay and water that is fired and then either be left unglazed, or painted, slip glazed or glazed. If terracotta is to be painted, gesso (a type of primer) is applied first.	+	It is formed by a mixture of clay and water that is fired and then either left unglazed, or painted, slip glazed or glazed. If terracotta is to be painted, gesso (a type of primer) is applied first.

	Terracotta can be used structurally or non-structurally on both the exterior and interior of buildings. Some of the typical uses that terracotta has had in construction include; chimney pots, air bricks, copings, planters, water and waste water pipes, roofing tiles and shingles, capitals and other architectural details and ornaments.		Terracotta can be used structurally or non-structurally on both the exterior and interior of buildings. Some of the typical uses that terracotta has had in construction include; chimney pots, air bricks, copings, planters, water and waste water pipes, roofing tiles and shingles, capitals and other architectural details and ornaments.

Designing Buildings at 06:49, 21 November 2021

2021-11-21T06:49:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:49, 21 November 2021
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	* Ceramics at The Building Centre.		* Ceramics at The Building Centre.
	* Clay.		* Clay.
		+	* Conserving terracotta.
	* Construction materials.		* Construction materials.
	* Earth building.		* Earth building.

Designing Buildings at 07:43, 20 November 2021

2021-11-20T07:43:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:43, 20 November 2021
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	By the 1920s, a process known as mechanised extrusion was capable of mass-producing terracotta blocks in standard forms for flooring, roofing and cladding applications. However, it could not compete with more modern building materials such as concrete, structural steel and plate glass, and the changing aesthetic preferences of minimalism and Modernist architecture meant that its use declined throughout the 1930s.		By the 1920s, a process known as mechanised extrusion was capable of mass-producing terracotta blocks in standard forms for flooring, roofing and cladding applications. However, it could not compete with more modern building materials such as concrete, structural steel and plate glass, and the changing aesthetic preferences of minimalism and Modernist architecture meant that its use declined throughout the 1930s.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	See also: The history and conservation of terracotta.
		+
		+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Brick.		* Brick.
Line 27:		Line 29:
	* Shelter.		* Shelter.
	* Sustainable materials.		* Sustainable materials.
		+	* The history and conservation of terracotta.
	* Terrazzo.		* Terrazzo.
	* Tessera.		* Tessera.

Designing Buildings at 07:48, 10 November 2020

2020-11-10T07:48:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:48, 10 November 2020
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	* Unfired clay masonry: An introduction to low-impact building materials.		* Unfired clay masonry: An introduction to low-impact building materials.

−	[[Category:~~Construction_techniques~~]] [[Category:~~Products_/_components~~]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]

Editor at 13:49, 24 September 2019

2019-09-24T13:49:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:49, 24 September 2019
Line 17:		Line 17:
	* Brick.		* Brick.
	* Ceramics.		* Ceramics.
		+	* Ceramics at The Building Centre.
	* Clay.		* Clay.
	* Construction materials.		* Construction materials.
Line 30:		Line 31:
	* Unfired clay masonry: An introduction to low-impact building materials.		* Unfired clay masonry: An introduction to low-impact building materials.

−	[[Category:Construction_techniques]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]	+	[[Category:Construction_techniques]] [[Category:Products_/_components]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]]

Editor at 16:55, 13 March 2019

2019-03-13T16:55:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:55, 13 March 2019
Line 13:		Line 13:
	By the 1920s, a process known as mechanised extrusion was capable of mass-producing terracotta blocks in standard forms for flooring, roofing and cladding applications. However, it could not compete with more modern building materials such as concrete, structural steel and plate glass, and the changing aesthetic preferences of minimalism and Modernist architecture meant that its use declined throughout the 1930s.		By the 1920s, a process known as mechanised extrusion was capable of mass-producing terracotta blocks in standard forms for flooring, roofing and cladding applications. However, it could not compete with more modern building materials such as concrete, structural steel and plate glass, and the changing aesthetic preferences of minimalism and Modernist architecture meant that its use declined throughout the 1930s.

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Brick.		* Brick.
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	* Practical Building Conservation: Earth, Brick and Terracotta.		* Practical Building Conservation: Earth, Brick and Terracotta.
	* Sanitaryware.		* Sanitaryware.
		+	* Shelter.
	* Sustainable materials.		* Sustainable materials.
	* Terrazzo.		* Terrazzo.

Designing Buildings at 16:53, 3 July 2018

2018-07-03T16:53:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:53, 3 July 2018
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−	Terracotta translates from Latin as ‘burnt earth’ and is a type of clay-based ceramic or earthenware material that has been used for sculpture, pottery and architectural purposes ~~throughout history. It is formed~~ from a ~~mixture~~ of ~~clay~~ and ~~water that is fired and can either be left unglazed~~, ~~painted, slip glazed or glazed~~.	+	Terracotta translates from Latin as ‘burnt earth’ and is a type of clay-based ceramic or earthenware material that has been used for sculpture, pottery and architectural purposes by many civilisations, from the ancient Greeks, to the Egyptians, the Chinese and Native Americans. The Chinese and Indian cultures used terracotta as a form of elaborate roof decoration for temples and other prestigious buildings. It was also commonly used for buildings in Victorian England, and the American architect Louis Sullivan used terracotta to create ornamentation designs.

−	~~Terracotta can be used structurally or non-structurally on both the exterior and interior of~~ a ~~building. Some~~ of ~~the typical uses~~ that ~~terracotta has had in construction include chimney pots~~, ~~air bricks~~, ~~copings~~, ~~planters, water and waste water pipes, roofing tiles and shingles, capitals and other architectural details and ornaments~~.	+	It is formed by a mixture of clay and water that is fired and then either be left unglazed, or painted, slip glazed or glazed. If terracotta is to be painted, gesso (a type of primer) is applied first.

−	Terracotta ~~is formed by moulding an appropriate refined clay to the required shape by pouring~~ or ~~pressing it into a plaster or sandstone mould and leaving to dry. It is then placed in a kiln and fired, typically at around 1,000 °C (1,830 °F). The characteristic red~~-~~brown colour of terracotta occurs as a result of~~ the ~~iron content in the clay reacting with oxygen during the firing. It is slowly cooled after firing~~ and ~~then hand-finished~~. If the terracotta ~~is to be painted~~, ~~gesso (a type of primer) is applied first. Hollow pieces are backfilled with mortar and can be placed into a wall~~, ~~suspended from metal anchors~~, ~~hung on metal shelf angles~~, and ~~so on~~.	+	Terracotta can be used structurally or non-structurally on both the exterior and interior of buildings. Some of the typical uses that terracotta has had in construction include; chimney pots, air bricks, copings, planters, water and waste water pipes, roofing tiles and shingles, capitals and other architectural details and ornaments.

−	~~The performance of terracotta~~ is ~~often influenced~~ by ~~its porosity,~~ and it is ~~also weak~~ in ~~tension and shear strength but has strong compression properties. As~~ a ~~result, terracotta often fails due to one or a combination of the following reasons: inadequate manufacturing~~ and ~~installation~~, ~~weathering~~, ~~atmospheric pollution that causes salt formation, freeze~~-~~thaw cycling, and so on. Poor installation can be due to improper loading, or~~ the ~~mortar used being too strong, which transfers stress to~~ the terracotta ~~block~~.	+	Terracotta is formed by moulding an appropriate refined clay to the required shape by pouring or pressing it into a plaster or sandstone mould and leaving to dry. It is then placed in a kiln and fired, typically at around 1,000 °C. The characteristic red-brown colour of terracotta is the result of the iron content in the clay reacting with oxygen during the firing. The terracotta is then slowly cooled and finished.

−	~~Terracotta was used for building by many different civilisations throughout history from the ancient Greeks, to the Egyptians, the Chinese and Native Americans.~~ The ~~Chinese and Indian cultures used~~ terracotta ~~as a form of elaborate roof decoration for temples and such like~~. ~~The American architect Louis Sullivan used terracotta for his ornamentation designs,~~ and ~~it was also commonly used for buildings~~ in ~~Victorian England~~.	+	The performance of terracotta is influenced by its porosity. It has poor resistance to tension and low shear strength but is strong in compression.

−	By the 1920s, a process known as mechanised extrusion was capable of mass-producing terracotta blocks in standard forms for flooring, roofing and cladding applications. However, it ~~was incapable of successfully competing~~ with more modern building materials such as concrete, structural steel and plate glass, and the changing aesthetic preferences of minimalism and Modernist architecture meant that ~~it largely~~ declined ~~in use~~ throughout the 1930s.	+	Terracotta can fail due to; poor manufacturing or installation, weathering, atmospheric pollution that causes salt formation, freeze-thaw cycling, and so on. Poor installation can be due to improper loading, or the mortar used being too strong, which transfers stress to the terracotta block.
		+
		+	By the 1920s, a process known as mechanised extrusion was capable of mass-producing terracotta blocks in standard forms for flooring, roofing and cladding applications. However, it could not compete with more modern building materials such as concrete, structural steel and plate glass, and the changing aesthetic preferences of minimalism and Modernist architecture meant that its use declined throughout the 1930s.

	= Find out more =		= Find out more =

Editor: Created page with "Terracotta translates from Latin as ‘burnt earth’ and is a type of clay-based ceramic or earthenware material that has been used for sculpture, pottery and architectural purp..."

2018-07-03T13:11:14Z

Created page with "Terracotta translates from Latin as ‘burnt earth’ and is a type of clay-based ceramic or earthenware material that has been used for sculpture, pottery and architectural purp..."

New page

Terracotta translates from Latin as ‘burnt earth’ and is a type of clay-based ceramic or earthenware material that has been used for sculpture, pottery and architectural purposes throughout history. It is formed from a mixture of clay and water that is fired and can either be left unglazed, painted, slip glazed or glazed.

Terracotta can be used structurally or non-structurally on both the exterior and interior of a building. Some of the typical uses that terracotta has had in construction include chimney pots, air bricks, copings, planters, water and waste water pipes, roofing tiles and shingles, capitals and other architectural details and ornaments.

Terracotta is formed by moulding an appropriate refined clay to the required shape by pouring or pressing it into a plaster or sandstone mould and leaving to dry. It is then placed in a kiln and fired, typically at around 1,000 °C (1,830 °F). The characteristic red-brown colour of terracotta occurs as a result of the iron content in the clay reacting with oxygen during the firing. It is slowly cooled after firing and then hand-finished. If the terracotta is to be painted, gesso (a type of primer) is applied first. Hollow pieces are backfilled with mortar and can be placed into a wall, suspended from metal anchors, hung on metal shelf angles, and so on.

The performance of terracotta is often influenced by its porosity, and it is also weak in tension and shear strength but has strong compression properties. As a result, terracotta often fails due to one or a combination of the following reasons: inadequate manufacturing and installation, weathering, atmospheric pollution that causes salt formation, freeze-thaw cycling, and so on. Poor installation can be due to improper loading, or the mortar used being too strong, which transfers stress to the terracotta block.

Terracotta was used for building by many different civilisations throughout history from the ancient Greeks, to the Egyptians, the Chinese and Native Americans. The Chinese and Indian cultures used terracotta as a form of elaborate roof decoration for temples and such like. The American architect Louis Sullivan used terracotta for his ornamentation designs, and it was also commonly used for buildings in Victorian England.

By the 1920s, a process known as mechanised extrusion was capable of mass-producing terracotta blocks in standard forms for flooring, roofing and cladding applications. However, it was incapable of successfully competing with more modern building materials such as concrete, structural steel and plate glass, and the changing aesthetic preferences of minimalism and Modernist architecture meant that it largely declined in use throughout the 1930s.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===

* Brick.
* Ceramics.
* Clay.
* Construction materials.
* Earth building.
* Earthen construction.
* Mortar.
* Practical Building Conservation: Earth, Brick and Terracotta.
* Sanitaryware.
* Sustainable materials.
* Terrazzo.
* Tessera.
* Unfired clay masonry: An introduction to low-impact building materials.

[[Category:Construction_techniques]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]