Terracotta is a wonderful ceramic material obtained by firing clay. This makes it a natural and ecological material, as well as being very aesthetically pleasing. It is used particularly for pottery and sculptures, but also for construction and renovation work. It is this specific area that we will focus on today. Let’s discover together these exceptional products, handcrafted in France.
The building’s bricks and heritage
The so-called “old” terracotta brick was used in the past to build beautiful homes, cathedrals, and ramparts, as well as to create more traditional house facades. Suitable for both exterior and interior use, it adds a touch of authenticity to a building and boasts numerous qualities, including exceptional durability and excellent thermal insulation. Indoors, it can be found in various forms, including decorative cladding, brick slips, tiles, and brick slips, allowing for a perfect fit against the wall surface.
Refractory bricks
Who hasn’t dreamed of owning a real pizza oven? Well, thanks to terracotta, it’s now very accessible. Firebricks have ideal properties, such as high thermal inertia, for baking pizzas and bread. To build your bread oven, you’ll simply need to buy firebricks, a food-grade oven floor, and refractory mortar to assemble everything. You’ll find plenty of helpful tips and well-explained tutorials online for construction .
Terracotta floor tiles
When you think of terracotta tiles, do you immediately picture your grandparents’ old-fashioned floor tiles? Well, terracotta now comes in a multitude of styles, for both wall and floor tiles. Its many qualities place it among the top three materials used for kitchens and bathrooms. Use it as a backsplash or countertop in the kitchen and as wall tiles in the bathroom. You’ll find a wide selection of colors, shapes, and finishes to create tiles that perfectly match your interior design. Speaking of indoor tiles, terracotta is also available for outdoor use, perfect for your patio or pool deck.
Glazed enamel tiles
Highly prized in the south of France and by contemporary architects, terracotta tiles elegantly adorn and protect your roof. Several types exist: the more common flat tile, the curved tile (canal tile) which offers richer reflections due to its shape, the rounder fish-scale tile, and the more distinctive spear-shaped tile. Some architects appreciate them so much that they also use them to clad building facades.
Now you know a little more about this multifaceted material, which boasts numerous aesthetic and technical qualities. So, which terracotta product will you be tempted by?
