The terracotta floor is one of the most used floors in the world of high quality construction, green building and interior design.
Handmade terracotta, obtained from a particular process of working and firing clay, in the past was used both as a poor material in the construction of rural houses and for artistic friezes, and only in more recent times has it become a required and particularly valuable.
Furthermore, terracotta is characterized by its particular versatility: it is in fact suitable for different types of environments, from the most prestigious cottages, to interiors, up to external surfaces.
But what are the differences between the various types of terracotta floorsand how to choose the most suitable for whole or external cladding DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COTTO FOR EXTERIORS AND COTTO FOR INTERIORS
Although handmade terracotta has excellent resistance characteristics, the same type of terracotta cannot be used indifferently both for interiors and exteriors.
When choosing a terracotta to pave external surfaces one must necessarily pay attention to its characteristics of resistance to atmospheric agents, impacts and wear.
Interior tilestherefore they cannot be used for flooring or for cladding of external environments, as they would be too delicate and unable to withstand the elements of atmospheric agents; moreover, the loads to which terracotta for outdoor use is accustomed and tempered are not the same for terracotta for interiors, which is suitable for less heavy loads. In this regard, the external appearance of the terracotta made
also assumes a certain importance : when you want to cover interior environments, in fact, you usually opt for a type of terracotta with a particularly elegant and refined design, which combines with the shades of the house, or you can choose different shades of glazed terracotta or decorated tiles; terracotta for outdoor useon the other hand, while not neglecting the aesthetic aspect (which will not be treated like that of the internal environments, for reasons that really concern the intended use), it is decidedly thicker, less refined and with a much more accentuated resistance , in able to counteract the effect of atmospheric agents, especially frost and temperature changes.
But how to recognize during the purchase, if a type of terracotta is more suitable for indoors or outdoors
Ask the manufacturer the difference, and where possible refer to the online reviews or direct experiences of those who have purchased the same type of product. ADVICE ON BUYING COTTO
When choosing terracotta for your home,quality is the first element to take into account , as a poor product could lead to poor resistance over time, forcing you to renovate again a short distance away.
It is therefore advisable to always contact quality brands or producers for the purchase of terracotta: perhaps furnaces with solid experience and years of history behind them (terracotta has been produced in Castel Viscardo since the sixteenth century and there are the best masters kilnsmen, such as Fornace Bernasconi) who will be able to direct you with specialist advice. If, on the other hand, you decide to move independently, here are some useful tips for your choice of handmade terracotta:
- First of all you need to make sure that the tiles have the necessary size and finish to suit the use for which they are intended . To choose the color, size and shape you want, it is advisable to compare the tile directly inside the room to be covered, so as to carefully evaluate the combinations.
- Although it is possible to buy terracotta in specialized shops, it is also useful to know the existence of web portals for the purchase of terracotta within which, in addition to the possibility of ordering with a click, you can observe the various types of materials and obtain free estimates to get an idea of ​​the prices that characterize that market. For the most demanding, some producers give customers the opportunity to visit the furnace to be able to “touch” the quality of production.
- Another element to take into consideration is the expected frequency of terracotta treatment : a quality terracotta will less often require treatment to revive it, affecting (positively) maintenance costs.
